Eight runs in the eighth inning propelled the Sky Sox to an unlikely 11-9 victory Friday night at Security Service Field.

Matt Miller provided the big hit, a three-run double with two outs to tie the score. Matt Murton added an RBI double and Dan Ortmeier followed with a run-scoring single.

“We come up with a lot of big innings somewhere in the second half of games,” said Miller, who is hitting .345 with 55 RBIs in 57 games.

It’s the third win for Colorado Springs when trailing in the eighth inning. The Sky Sox are 15-13 when the opponent scores first. In contrast, Las Vegas is only 10-23 when the other team scores first.

The 51s were seemingly in control after scoring four runs in the top of the eighth for a 9-3 lead as Aaron Mathews and Angel Sanchez blasted back-to-back homers. Randy Ruiz slugged a two-run homer in the third inning.

The players endured a 36-minute rain delay in the bottom of the fifth when Las Vegas led 4-3.

Sky Sox starter Alan Johnson, who gave up 11 hits and five runs in six innings, was saved by the late rally for a no-decision. Ryan Mattheus (1-1) earned the win by getting two outs in the eighth, and Juan Rincon pitched a perfect ninth for the save.

“It looked like we were down and out but we put a lot of quality at-bats together in that eighth inning,” said Sky Sox manager Stu Cole. “It was a total team effort.”

Murton started the rally with a single and Ortmeier doubled. Edwin Bellorin had a sacrifice fly, Mark Bellhorn walked and Christian Colonel singled home a run.

After a strikeout, Eric Young Jr. walked and Mike McCoy walked with the bases loaded for the second time.

Miller, who grounded into a double play with the bases loaded in the second inning, delivered on his second chance to go from worst-case result to best.

“We could’ve scored eight in the second inning,” Miller said. “He made a good pitch and I rolled it over. I got something to drive in the eighth. It’s fun to hit a ball like that with the bases loaded, especially in a big situation.”

NotePitcher Franklin Morales was optioned to the Sky Sox by the Rockies. , based largely on his ineffective outing Thursday when the promising but inconsistent 23-year-old southpaw gave up nine runs in 4.1 innings. … In Saturday’s doubleheader, both games are set for seven-innings.

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