Colorado Springs Scores Four in the Eighth Inning to Pick Up 10-6 Win Over Las Vegas 51s
Sunday, July 6, 2008 at 08:41AM MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com -
MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - Colorado Springs had all the answers in a 10-6 win over Las Vegas Saturday at Security Service Field, in front of 7,028 fans.
After surrendering two leads, the Sky Sox batted around and scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to secure the contest. The inning featured five hits, all singles, as Colorado Springs moved station-to-station in the game-deciding inning.
The 51s opened the game in style. A single up the middle by leadoff man Jason Repko was followed by a Ramon Martinez home run to give Las Vegas a two-run advantage before an out was recorded.
The Sky Sox would answer the 51s early lead by placing a three spot on the board in the second inning. Colorado Springs aided from uncharacteristic command issues from Las Vegas starting pitcher Dwayne Pollok, who had walked just 12 batters in 69.1 innings coming into the game. The right hander issued three free passes in the second inning, including a two-out walk to Sky Sox pitcher Valerio De Los Santos to load the bases. Cory Sullivan made him pay for the wildness with a two-run double to right field.
The Sky Sox added two more runs in the third inning with consecutive hits by Christian Colonel , Ian Stewart and Jayson Nix to lead off the inning.
The 51s wouldn’t go down easily, though. Still trailing by three runs in the fifth inning, Rene Rivera led off with a home run. Las Vegas then chased De Los Santos from the game when Terry Tiffee’s two-out single to right field pushed Martinez to third base and brought the go-ahead run to the plate.
De Los Santos, who was making his first appearance since June 5, allowed eight hits and struck out one batter in his 4.2 innings of work. He would finish with a no decision when Matt Daley immediately surrendered a game-tying double to John Lindsey.
Colorado Springs wouldn’t take long to respond. For the second time, the combination of a leadoff double from Colonel was followed by a single from Stewart to give the Sky Sox the slimmest of leads.
Steven Register (4-1) pitched the eighth inning and would eventually pick up the win despite allowing the 51s to tie the game at six. The Sky Sox’ saves leader loaded the bases with one out after surrendering a hit, hitting a batter and issuing a walk. Wilkin Ruan’s single to right field would plate Lindsey, and suddenly a game with postgame fireworks seemed destined for extra innings.
Greg Miller (2-3) pitched the eighth inning for the 51s.
Ryan Speier pitched the ninth, allowing just a walk to Repko before retiring the side.
Colorado Springs and Las Vegas will play the series finale Sunday at 1:05 PM. The Sky Sox, who haven’t lost a home series since they were swept by Portland on April 15-18, will send Kip Wells (0-1, 8.59) to the mound in the rubber game. The 51s will counter with Justin Orenduff (2-5, 6.88).
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