Link Report for Saturday 7/25

[Mass Haas]

Friday's game --

 

Colorado Springs' Jason Rogers hits a solo homer in the Sky Sox's 4-2 loss to Omaha

 

[Mass Haas]

Final: Omaha 7, Colorado Springs 6

 

Late Comeback Falls Short In 7-6 Loss To Omaha

Sky Sox score four runs in the ninth but fall to Storm Chasers in Omaha

By Nick Dobreff / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/3/8/2/138786382/cuts/04_12_094_pk_h6k016cl_7uk00ixy.jpg

 

Elian Herrera hit a two-run home run in Saturday's 7-6 loss to the Storm Chasers. (Photo from prior game by Paat Kelly)

 

The Colorado Springs Sky Sox dropped game two of their four-game series against the Omaha Storm Chasers by a score of 7-6 in front of 6,804 fans at Werner Park.

 

The Sky Sox took a brief 2-1 lead in the third inning after a two-run single by Logan Schafer against reliever Clayton Mortensen (6-8, 5.94). However, RBI hits by Jose Martinez, Brett Eibner and Angel Franco in the bottom half of the inning allowed the Storm Chasers to retake the lead for good at 4-2.

 

Trailing 7-2 in the ninth, the Sky Sox rallied to close the deficit to one run with four runs in the inning. A Pete Orr RBI single and an RBI groundout by Matt Long pulled the score to 7-4. Elian Herrera would follow with a two-run home run, cutting the deficit to 7-6. However, Scott Alexander induced a flyout by Jason Rogers with a runner on to end the game, while earning his 11th save.

 

With the loss, the Sky Sox fell to 40-58 while the Storm Chasers improved to 57-44 with the win. The Sky Sox will look to snap a two-game losing streak on Sunday afternoon as RHP Tyler Thornburg (2-6, 5.33) takes the hill for the Sky Sox against RHP Aaron Brooks (5-5, 3.84). First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM MDT (2:05 Central).

 

***

 

Storm Chasers survive scare in ninth to win sixth straight

By Tim Perera / Omaha World-Herald correspondent

 

The Omaha Storm Chasers probably didn’t envision Colorado Springs sending the go-ahead run to the plate when they went to the ninth with a 7-2 lead.

 

But that’s exactly what Omaha and reliever Scott Alexander faced after a four-run ninth brought the Sky Sox to within 7-6.

 

Alexander, who came on in relief of Chris Dwyer after a two-run homer by Elian Herrera got Colorado Springs to within one, allowed a single to Logan Schafer to bring Jason Rogers to the plate.

 

Rogers ripped a 3-1 pitch from Alexander to left, but left fielder Jose Martinez hauled it in to preserve a 7-6 win in front of a Werner Park crowd of 6,804.

 

The win was Omaha’s sixth in a row and, combined with Oklahoma City’s 7-4 loss to Round Rock, got the Chasers to within five games of the American Northern division lead for the first time since May 14.

 

Alexander said he was trying to keep the ball down and force Rogers to hit a ground ball, but Rogers was able to get the ball up.

 

“I just tried to attack the zone, try to put something down. Fortunately he hit a line shot right at someone,” Alexander said.

 

Alexander got credit for the save, his 11th of the season and 10th in his last 12 appearances.

 

Omaha (57-44) opened the scoring in the first without the benefit of a hit as Rey Fuentes drew a leadoff walk and came home on a wild pitch by Drew Gagnon to take a 1-0 lead.

 

Chasers starter Brandon Finnegan and reliever Clayton Mortensen combined to retire the first eight Sky Sox batters.

 

But Mortensen surrendered three straight hits in the third with two outs, including a two-RBI single by Schafer, as the Sky Sox (40-58) went ahead 2-1.

 

Jose Martinez and Brett Eibner each had an RBI-double in the third inning and Angel Franco singled in another as the Storm Chasers regained the lead at 4-2.

 

Gagnon, who entered the game with a 6.96 ERA, lasted just 2 1⁄3 innings and surrendered four runs on four hits and four walks.

 

Gagnon fell to 1-11 with the loss, while Mortensen got the win to improve to 6-8 this season.

 

Eibner drew a walk with the bases loaded in the fourth inning to force Christian Colon home as Omaha extended its lead to 5-2.

 

Whit Merrifield collected his third hit of the game in the sixth inning, doubling in Colon, and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Martinez as the Chasers’ lead grew to 7-2.

 

Storm tracking: Former Iowa Western Reiver Jeremy Horst pitched the seventh inning for Colorado Springs on Saturday. Horst, who played at Iowa Western in 2004 and 2005, allowed a leadoff single to Kotchman before retiring the next three Storm Chasers in his first appearance with the Sky Sox.

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

Let's get RHP Drew Gagnon out of the rotation, just for his own sanity - he also committed an error on a pickoff throw...

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: Pregame interview with one of the new members of the Helena roster, non-drafted free agent RHP Alex Farina (stats)

 

A very interesting ride to pro ball, easy to root for...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Billings 9, Helena 6

 

Mustangs Sweep Brewers With 9-6 Win

Helena Brewers

 

The Billings Mustangs (15-20) swept the Helena Brewers (16-19) in a two-game series with a 9-6 win on Saturday at Kindrick Field.

 

Tanner Rainey (1-0) picked up his first pro win, pitching five innings in the start for Billings and giving up just one hit. The second-rounder out of West Alabama struck out two while giving up two runs.

 

J.B. Kole (0-3) was shaky for the Brewers, giving up five runs in five innings and surrendering six hits. Kole would take a liner off his hip in the third inning when Blake Trahan drove one back up the middle. He would stay in the game, but would be in noticeable pain. Trahan had another solid night at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a double, three runs, and two RBI.

 

George Iskenderian extended his hitting streak to eight games for the Brewers, coming up with an RBI double in the eighth off Sandy Lugo.

 

Helena was stymied by the Mustangs' pitching staff, coming up with just four hits all night and scoring a majority of their runs courtesy of walks and defensive mistakes. They would post just two hits through the first seven frames.

 

The Brewers will now face the Missoula Osprey in the first of a two-game series Sunday at Kindrick Field. First pitch is set for 4:05 PM (3:05 Central).

 

Helena Box Score

 

In his Helena debut, CF Joantgel Segovia had an eventful day, 1-for-4, SB, HBP, outfield assist...

 

Helena Game Log

 

16th round RHP Conor Harber (University of Oregon) made his pro debut with a scoreless frame --

 

Billings Top of the 6th

 

Pitching Change: Conor Harber replaces J. B. Kole.

Mitch Trees flies out to center fielder Joantgel Segovia.

Zach Shields strikes out swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Conor Harber. Zach Shields to 1st.

Joe Jocketty grounds out, shortstop Jake Gatewood to first baseman Steven Karkenny. Zach Shields to 2nd.

Blake Trahan grounds out, pitcher Conor Harber to first baseman Steven Karkenny.

[Mass Haas]

Final: AZL Cubs 11, AZL Brewers 0

 

Maryvale Box Score

 

A six-run 9th vs. struggling RHP Connor Baits (four walks, two HBP's and five wild pitches in 1.2 innings, only one run earned, but still a tough go) took the game from 5-0 to a true blowout.

 

21-year-old RHP Jordan Desguin, the 36th round RHP out of Florida Gulf Coast University, made his professional debut with a two-inning start (4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K).

 

LHP Jarret Martin (Shawn Zarraga trade) began a 2nd attempt at a rehab assignment (shoulder), last pitched July 2nd...

 

CF Trent Clark singled twice, but quiet 0-for-4's for SS Gilbert Lara and RF Demi Orimoloye...

 

Maryvale Game Log