Nelson homers twice in Sox win over Tacoma

Posted: Aug 26, 2011 12:00 AM by Lee Douglas/Sky Sox

The Colorado Springs Sky Sox won game two of their five-game set with the Tacoma Rainiers 11-7 behind a pair of home runs by Chris Nelson Thursday at Security Service Field.

Nelson wasted no time in putting the Sox on the board with a three-run shot in the first inning for a 3-0 lead. Nelson finished 2-for-4 on the night, adding a solo home run in the sixth in his first game since being optioned to the Sox from the Rockies.

The Sox would lead the game 9-0 after scoring two runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Joe Mather contributed with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly in support of starter Clayton Mortensen (2-7, 9.36) who picked up the win allowing five runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings. The win was the first for Mortensen since July 24th.

The Rainiers would make a game of it with a five-run sixth. Ralph Henriquez had a two-run double in the inning and finished the night 3-for-5. Nelson's homer in the bottom half of the inning gave the Sox some breathing room at 10-5 and the Sox held on for the 11-7 victory.

Closer Jim Miller recorded the final four outs for his 22nd save of the season. Tacoma starter Erasmo Ramirez (3-1, 6.14) took the loss allowing nine runs (seven earned) on 11 hits in 4.1 innings.

With the win, the Sox improve to 60-73 on the year while Tacoma falls to 64-69. The Sox will look to make it two in a row Friday night as Greg Reynolds (6-7, 6.82) faces off against veteran lefty Nate Robertson (5-6, 6.43). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

Sox Notes:

• With tonight's paid attendance of 5,734, the Sox surpassed 300,000 in attendance for the 2011 season. It is the fourth-straight year that the team has reached that milestone and tied for with the 2010 season for the fewest amount of games to reach 300,000 fans (63).