The Sky Sox looked like they were headed for their first loss of the series as they trailed by a 4-1 margin in the bottom of the eighth inning of Thursday’s ballgame. But then the comeback started, sparked by a Kyle Wren single and capped off by a Jett Bandy three-run double and in a blink, I mean IN A BLINK, the Sox held an 8-4 lead with three outs to gets, and sure enough they got those outs. The win marks the fifth straight W for Colorado Springs and capped off a perfect 5-0 homestand.

Forrest Snow and rehabbing lefty Danny Duffy took the hill for the Sox and Chasers respectively and things began as a pitcher’s duel. The Sox would strike first for a run on a Garrett Cooper double to center in the first and held a 1-0 lead for a looooong while. In fact, both starters had departed from the game before another run was notched. Snow went the first five in scoreless fashion, while Duffy allowed the one run in 4 2/3 innings, and struck out five.

Omaha jumped in front with a three run sixth, thanks to a Ryan O’Hearn three run homer, and added another in the seventh on a Frank Schwindel solo shot, 4-1 and the bullpen looked lights out.

All of that would change in rapid fashion in the bottom of the eighth inning. Wren singled, Dubon singled, and Brinson doubled to make it 4-2. Ivan De Jesus tripled…4-4…Garrett Cooper and Brett Phillips were intentionally walked to load the bases in front of Jett Bandy. Bandy sliced a three-run double down the right-field line to make it a 7-4 lead and scored two batters later on a sac fly. 8-4. Ballgame.

Unbelievable.

GAME STORY HERE

Hitting Notes – 

The Sox picked up eight runs on 10 hits and had three multi-hit games. One at the top of the order, one in the middle of the order, and one at the bottom of the order, all well placed.

Ivan De Jesus went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI, lifting his batting average to a PCL-best .364.

Mauricio Dubon went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored.

Kyle Wren snapped an 0-fer the series with a leadoff single in the eighth and picked up another knock in that same frame! Baseball is a funny game.

Jett Bandy went 1-for-4 with a three-run double.

Lewis Brinson went 1-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored.

Nate Orf went 1-for-4 with a double.

Garrett Cooper walked twice, had a double, scored a run and drove in a run, too.

Pitching Notes – 

Forrest Snow was outstanding again for the Sky Sox as he turned in another five scoreless innings in the start. He allowed three hits, struck out five and didn’t walk anyone.

Stephen Kohlscheen was roughed up over his two-inning outing and allowed four runs on five hits, two homers, and walked won.

Tim Dillard earned the win with a scoreless eighth.

David Goforth locked it down with a scoreless ninth.

Play of the Game – 

The whole eighth inning stands up as the best frame for the Sox…The play of the game is most definitely the Jett Bandy double. What a debut week he’s had with Colorado Springs!

Pregame Interview with Dan Karcher and Rick Sweet, another edition of Sweet 16! 

The series takes a turn east and finds itself at Werner Park in Papillion, Nebraska, home of the Storm Chaser. Let’s get to tonight’s preview!

Colorado Springs Sky Sox (48-30) vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (37-41) – 6:05 p.m. 

Game Notes / Listen Live at 5:30 p.m.

Pitching Probables: RHP Taylor Jungmann (4-1, 1.67) at RHP Yender Caramo (1-5, 5.65)

Sky Sox Starter: Right-hander Taylor Jungmann gets the call in the opener of the four game series today against the Storm Chasers at Werner Park in Papillion. In two relief appearances and four starts with the Sox he’s accrued a 4-1 record and a 1.67 ERA, allowing seven runs on nineteen hits, walking fourteen and fanning 31. PCL opponents are hitting .170 against the 2011 first round pick. He opened the season with the Brewers and went two-thirds of an inning before being optioned to Double-A Biloxi. There he went 1-2 with a 4.36 ERA with the Shuckers in the Southern League. Jungmann has pitched on the road four of his six outings with Colorado Springs and is 2-1 with a 2.11 ERA through 21 1/3 innings away from Security Service Field. He has yet to face the Chasers in 2017.

Drafted by the Brewers in the 1st round of the 2011 draft out of the University of Texas, Jungmann has made 127 MiLB appearances, 119 starts, and is 44-39 with a 4.08 ERA. He’s 9-13 with a 4.54 ERA in 30 MLB starts.

Last Time Out – June 25 – Loss at New Orleans – 

Jungmann took the loss in the Big Easy, but didn’t get much run support for his trouble. He allowed four runs, three earned on four hits, two hit batters, a walk, and three strikeouts. He threw 95 pitches, 62 for strikes in the 7-1 loss.