Record night too much for Sky Sox to overcome

A utility man morphed into a star slugger to earn a spot in the record books Saturday at Security Service Field.

Ryan Roberts, Oklahoma's second baseman and seventh-place hitter, slugged a pair of second-inning home runs - the second a grand slam, giving him seven RBIs - as the RedHawks erupted for 11 runs.

Oklahoma coasted to a 15-12 victory against Colorado Springs as Roberts tied Pacific Coast League records with two homers in one inning and seven RBIs in one frame.

"I didn't know anything about the records," Roberts said. "Sometimes you just get lucky."

The Sky Sox scored nine runs in the final two innings to make it close, capped by Humberto Cota's homer.

Nelson Cruz slugged his 36th homer in the fifth, a two-run shot against reliever Juan Morillo.

"We've got a good hitting team but there have been times this year where we've had to ride Nelson Cruz," Roberts said. "He's had a great year."

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Roberts had just six homers and 43 RBIs in 333 at-bats before his outburst. Mostly a utility infielder, he had two stints with the Toronto Blue Jays last season but spent most of 2007 at Triple-A Syracuse where he played six different positions.

Sky Sox starter Josh Towers (5-7) gave up just one hit in the first inning but nine in the second along with two walks.

Alberto Arias replaced Towers to start the third. He pitched two scoreless innings and faced eight RedHawks, all but his brother. Shortstop Joaquin Arias, 23, singled and scored in the RedHawks' second.

Joaquin Arias was part of the New York Yankees' trade that also sent Alfonso Soriano to Texas in exchange for Alex Rodriguez prior to the 2004 season.

Sky Sox infielder Kenny Perez pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings. A Sky Sox position player has pitched in every season but 1991, '92 and '95. Perez is the first to hurl two scoreless frames since J.R. Phillips in 1999.

Notes

Pitching for Oklahoma today is Brandon McCarthy, who graduated from Cheyenne Mountain. ... Sky Sox pitcher Greg Reynolds, the Rockies' No. 1 pick (second) in the 2006 draft, was today's scheduled starter but has shoulder inflammation and won't pitch for perhaps two weeks. Right-hander Josh Hall was signed from the Independent Atlantic League and will start today if he passes a physical.