With the season in its infancy, the Sky Sox literally learned they had to walk before they could run.

By drawing eight bases on balls – four of which turned into runs – Colorado Springs overcame a four-run deficit to beat Las Vegas 9-6 in front of 2,414 at a chilly opening night at Security Service Field.

“I don’t know if you can say we got patient or if (starting pitcher Wade Miller) just kind of lost it,” Sky Sox manager Tom Runnells said.

Either way, a lack of control fueled a four-run fifth against the Toronto Blue Jays affiliate. Miller (0-1) walked four in the frame, including one with the bases loaded. To make matters worse, Las Vegas fell on the wrong end of one of baseball’s rarest calls.

After tipping a 2-1 pitch for what looked like strike two, Eric Young Jr. of the Sky Sox was awarded first base when home plate umpire Shawn Rakos ruled catcher’s interference on J.P. Arencibia.

“I guess my glove was out too far and he swung and hit it,” said Arencibia, rated by Baseball America as the Blue Jays’ No. 2 prospect. “It happens. It’s happened to me before.”

“There were definitely two nicks,” said Young, who eventually came around to score. “I nicked his glove and then I nicked the ball. The umpire jumped all over it.”

Designated hitter Kenny Perez punctuated the inning with a two-run bases-loaded single that put Colorado Springs up 6-5.

Perez finished with three RBIs.

Joel Peralta (1-0) and three other relievers made the lead stand up after taking over for ineffective starter Greg Reynolds.

Reynolds, the second overall pick in the 2006 draft, gave up five runs and needed 97 pitches to get through 4 1/3 innings.

“I definitely didn’t get into a rhythm,” Reynolds said. “I didn’t throw enough pitches for strikes. I didn’t throw enough strikes in general. I’m not going to blame it on the elements, I’m not like that. I’ve just got to go out there and get the job done.”

The Colorado Springs offense added single tallies in the sixth, seventh and eighth, pushing the lead to four runs.

The Sky Sox played relaxed once in the lead, with Young stealing two bases and Jonathan Herrera pounding a triple to the warning track in center field.

“Certainly early on the fact that we took some walks made a difference,” Runnells said. “But you can see some guys are just kind of getting loose. This was only the second game we’ve played in five days, but they kind of got things going.”

Note

Runnells confirmed that Franklin Morales – sent down after a solid start for the Rockies on Wednesday – would continue with his normal pitching schedule as part of the Sky Sox rotation. If that holds, Morales would start at home for Colorado Springs on Monday against Reno.

Sky Sox shortstop Jonathan Herrera forced Las Vegas’ Jason Lane in the first inning Thursday at Security Service Field. Photo by BRYAN OLLER, THE GAZETTE