Sky Sox salvage split of doubleheader

Brian Tollberg's strongest outing of the season gave the Sky Sox a split in their doubleheader against the first-place Iowa Cubs on Monday.

Tollberg allowed one run on three hits over six innings to lead Colorado Springs to a 8-2 victory in Game 2 as 3,537 watched at Sky Sox Stadium. Iowa won the opener 5-2 as the Rockies' Joe Kennedy made his first rehab start for the Sky Sox.

The Sky Sox swept a doubleheader from the Cubs on Sunday, taking three of four games in the series.

"I didn't try to treat (this game) like any other," said Tollberg, who improved to 6-8. "I was happy with it. I threw a lot of strikes and (Iowa) put the ball in play."

The Sky Sox remain two games back of Iowa in the Pacific Coast League Central Division. The clubs do not play each other again this season. The Sky Sox are 56-46 with 41 games remaining. Iowa (57-43) has 43 games remaining.

"To take three of four from a team like (Iowa), you can't complain," Tollberg said.

Tollberg retired the side in order twice. Casey Kopitzke spoiled his shutout bid with two outs in the fifth when he belted his first home run of the season.

The Sky Sox led 2-1 heading to the bottom of the fifth when they sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs. Choo Freeman's RBI triple was the big hit in the inning.

Clint Barmes had three hits and scored three runs in the game.

Kennedy, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 8 with inflammation in his pitching shoulder, threw 2q innings in Game 1. He allowed two runs on four hits, struck out two and did not walk a batter in 48 pitches (33 for strikes).

"I wasn't concerned with the results," said Kennedy, who is 5-4 with a 3.95 ERA in 17 games for the Rockies. "I was rusty with my change-up and slider, but I didn't have any pain. I feel 100 percent."

Kennedy, who is scheduled to make at least one more start for the Sky Sox, left trailing 2-0 when he reached his pitch count.

The Sky Sox tied the score with two runs in the fifth, one coming on a Brad Hawpe single.

Iowa got a three-run home run in the top of the sixth from Bill Selby off Javier Lopez. Lopez was recently demoted by the Rockies.

Extra bases

The Sky Sox begin an eightgame road trip to Tacoma and Portland with a fourgame series at Tacoma, which entered Monday with a halfgame lead over Portland in the Northern Division.... Erick and Hector Almonte are the first siblings to play for the Sky Sox.... Sky Sox hall-of-famer and current Iowa outfielder Trenidad Hubbard is the cousin of former Buffalo Bills 1,000-yard running back Joe Cribbs.... Sky Sox shortstop Clint Barmes leads the PCL in hits (138), runs (84) and doubles (33).

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