MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com-Third baseman Christian Colonel delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the tenth inning to give the Colorado Springs Sky Sox a 3-2 win over the visiting Portland Beavers on Sunday afternoon at Security Service Field in front of 3,656 fans. Colonel’s hit made a winner of reliever Matt Belisle (1-1) who worked two scoreless innings in relief and put the loss on Portland reliever Eulogio de la Cruz (0-3).

Before Colonel’s walk-off heroics in extra innings, the game featured a good old-fashioned pitchers duel between Sox hurler Alan Johnson and Beavers pitcher Brian Lawrence. Johnson turned in a great performance giving up just two runs on six hits over seven innings of work and was almost outdone by Lawrence who tossed eight innings and gave up two runs, one earned, on seven hits.

Portland struck first in the game when leftfielder Chad Huffman launched a two-run homer over the left field wall off Johnson. It turned out to be all the offense Portland could muster. So far in the series, Huffman has accounted for all of the Beavers RBIs (three yesterday, two today).

The Sky Sox fought back and tied the game at 2-2 in the third with a little help from Portland. After the first two Sox were retired, leadoff hitter Mike McCoy singled and then came around to score on a triple by centerfielder Chris Frey. The next batter, Matt Murton, then sent a bouncing ball towards third base and Craig Stansberry misplayed the ball to allow Frey to scamper home to tie up the game.

With the scored knotted at two all for the next six innings, the Sox finally rallied in the bottom of the tenth. With one out, Murton worked a walk and then moved to third on a single to left by second baseman Jeff Baker. Pinch-hitter Mark Bellhorn was then intentionally walked to load the bases to bring up Colonel who feasted on the first pitch from De la Cruz and sent a high chopper over third base and into left field for the winning hit.

Game three of the series is set for tomorrow night at 7:05 PM and will feature RH Adam Eaton (3-0, 0.95 ERA) for the Sox versus RH Matt Buschmann (3-8, 6.48 ERA).

 

Colorado Springs Sky Sox 3, Portland Beavers 2
June 28, 2009

Beavers starting lineup:
Matt Antonelli (2B), Mike Baxter (RF), Craig Stansberry (3B), Valentino Pascucci (1B), Drew Macias (CF), Chad Huffman (LF), Jose Lobaton (C), Sean Kazmar (SS), Brian Lawrence (P), 

Sky Sox starting lineup:
Mike McCoy (SS), Chris Frey (CF), Matt Miller (LF), Matt Murton (RF), Jeff Baker (2B), Yorvit Torrealba (1B), Christian Colonel (3B), Sal Fasano (C), Alan Johnson (P), 

Umpires -- John Tumpane (HP), Delfin Colon (1B), (2B), Jeff Macias (3B).

Gametime Weather: 74 degrees, Partly Cloudy. 
Wind: 15 MPH, R To L. 

First pitch by A. Johnson at 01:09 PM local time. 

Beavers 1st (Beavers 0, Sky Sox 0) -- M. Antonelli struck out looking. M. Baxter grounds out, Y. Torrealba to A. Johnson. C. Stansberry singles to right-center field. V. Pascucci grounds into a force out, C. Colonel to J. Baker, C. Stansberry out at 2nd. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB) 

Sky Sox 1st (Beavers 0, Sky Sox 0) -- M. McCoy grounds out, S. Kazmar to V. Pascucci. C. Frey struck out looking. M. Miller strikes out swinging. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB) 

Beavers 2nd (Beavers 2, Sky Sox 0) -- D. Macias hit by pitch. C. Huffman hits a home run to left field on a 1-1 pitch, D. Macias scores. J. Lobaton strikes out swinging. S. Kazmar flies out to M. Miller. B. Lawrence grounds out, J. Baker to Y. Torrealba. 
      (2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB) 

Sky Sox 2nd (Beavers 2, Sky Sox 0) -- M. Murton flies out to M. Baxter. J. Baker grounds out, S. Kazmar to V. Pascucci. Y. Torrealba singles to right-center field. C. Colonel grounds out, B. Lawrence to V. Pascucci. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB) 

Beavers 3rd (Beavers 2, Sky Sox 0) -- M. Antonelli strikes out swinging. M. Baxter grounds out, Y. Torrealba to A. Johnson. C. Stansberry grounds out, C. Colonel to Y. Torrealba. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB) 

Sky Sox 3rd (Beavers 2, Sky Sox 2) -- S. Fasano grounds out, S. Kazmar to V. Pascucci. A. Johnson flies out to M. Baxter. M. McCoy bunt singles to third base. C. Frey triples to left-center field, M. McCoy scores. M. Miller reaches on fielding error by S. Kazmar, C. Frey scores. M. Murton singles to left field, M. Miller to 2nd. J. Baker lines out to S. Kazmar. 
      (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors, 2 LOB) 

Beavers 4th (Beavers 2, Sky Sox 2) -- V. Pascucci struck out looking. D. Macias grounds out, M. McCoy to Y. Torrealba. C. Huffman singles through the hole at shortstop. With J. Lobaton batting, C. Huffman caught stealing 2nd base, S. Fasano to M. McCoy. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB) 

Sky Sox 4th (Beavers 2, Sky Sox 2) -- Y. Torrealba flies out to D. Macias. C. Colonel grounds out, M. Antonelli to V. Pascucci. S. Fasano doubles to right field. A. Johnson strikes out swinging. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB) 

Beavers 5th (Beavers 2, Sky Sox 2) -- J. Lobaton walks. S. Kazmar grounds into double play, M. McCoy to Y. Torrealba, J. Lobaton out at 2nd. B. Lawrence grounds out, M. McCoy to Y. Torrealba. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB) 

Sky Sox 5th (Beavers 2, Sky Sox 2) -- M. McCoy flies out to D. Macias. C. Frey strikes out on foul tip. M. Miller grounds out, C. Stansberry to V. Pascucci. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB) 

Beavers 6th (Beavers 2, Sky Sox 2) -- M. Antonelli grounds out, C. Colonel to Y. Torrealba. M. Baxter singles to right-center field. C. Stansberry flies out to C. Frey. V. Pascucci singles to center field, M. Baxter to 3rd. D. Macias struck out looking. 
      (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB) 

Sky Sox 6th (Beavers 2, Sky Sox 2) -- M. Murton flies out to D. Macias. J. Baker doubles to left-center field. Y. Torrealba flies out to C. Huffman. C. Colonel grounds out, B. Lawrence to V. Pascucci. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB) 

Beavers 7th (Beavers 2, Sky Sox 2) -- C. Huffman lines out to J. Baker. J. Lobaton singles to deep second base. S. Kazmar flies out to C. Frey. B. Lawrence grounds out, C. Colonel to Y. Torrealba. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB) 

Sky Sox 7th (Beavers 2, Sky Sox 2) -- S. Fasano flies out to D. Macias. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter D. Ortmeier replaces A. Johnson. D. Ortmeier walks. M. McCoy out on a sacrifice bunt, B. Lawrence to V. Pascucci, D. Ortmeier to 2nd. C. Frey grounds out, M. Antonelli to V. Pascucci. 
      (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB) 

Beavers 8th (Beavers 2, Sky Sox 2) -- Pitcher Change: D. Moss replaces A. Johnson, batting 9th. M. Antonelli pops out to Y. Torrealba in foul territory. M. Baxter flies out to M. Murton. C. Stansberry singles to shortstop. V. Pascucci grounds into a force out, C. Colonel to J. Baker, C. Stansberry out at 2nd. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 1 LOB) 

Sky Sox 8th (Beavers 2, Sky Sox 2) -- M. Miller singles up the middle. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner E. YoungJr. replaces M. Miller. M. Murton strikes out swinging. J. Baker reaches on force attempt, fielding error by C. Stansberry, E. YoungJr. to 2nd. Y. Torrealba grounds into double play, B. Lawrence to S. Kazmar to V. Pascucci, J. Baker out at 2nd. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 1 LOB) 

Beavers 9th (Beavers 2, Sky Sox 2) -- Defensive switch from shortstop to left field for M. McCoy. Defensive Substitution: J. Herrera replaces E. YoungJr., batting 3rd, playing shortstop. D. Macias doubles to left field. Pitcher Change: M. Belisle replaces D. Moss, batting 6th. Defensive Substitution: K. Perez replaces pitcher D. Moss, batting 9th, playing 1st. With C. Huffman batting, S. Fasano picks off D. Macias at 2nd on throw to J. Herrera. C. Huffman grounds out, J. Herrera to K. Perez. J. Lobaton grounds out, J. Herrera to K. Perez. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 0 LOB) 

Sky Sox 9th (Beavers 2, Sky Sox 2) -- Pitcher Change: E. De La Cruz replaces B. Lawrence, batting 6th. Defensive Substitution: P. Ciofrone replaces pitcher B. Lawrence, batting 9th, playing left field. C. Colonel singles to right-center field. S. Fasano lines out to M. Baxter. K. Perez walks, C. Colonel to 2nd. M. McCoy strikes out swinging. C. Frey grounds out to V. Pascucci. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors, 2 LOB) 

Beavers 10th (Beavers 2, Sky Sox 2) -- S. Kazmar singles through the hole at shortstop. P. Ciofrone grounds into a force out, J. Herrera to J. Baker, S. Kazmar out at 2nd. M. Antonelli grounds into a force out, C. Colonel to J. Baker, P. Ciofrone out at 2nd, M. Antonelli advances to 2nd on throwing error by J. Baker. M. Belisle intentionally walks M. Baxter. C. Stansberry grounds into a force out, J. Herrera to J. Baker, M. Baxter out at 2nd. 
      (0 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors, 2 LOB) 

Sky Sox 10th (Sky Sox 3, Beavers 2) -- J. Herrera flies out to D. Macias. M. Murton walks. J. Baker singles through the hole at shortstop, M. Murton to 3rd. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter M. Bellhorn replaces M. Belisle. E. De La Cruz intentionally walks M. Bellhorn, J. Baker to 2nd. C. Colonel singles through the hole at shortstop, M. Murton scores; J. Baker to 3rd; M. Bellhorn to 2nd. 
      (1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors, 3 LOB) 

Final: Sky Sox 3, Beavers 2

WP: Matt Belisle (1-1). 
LP: Eulogio De La Cruz (0-3). 
Time: 2:45. 
Attendance: 3656. 
Official Scorer: Ken Jones.

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Box Score