Christian Colonel’s bat didn’t wake up in time to earn a September call-up, but it might help him play in a few more games this month.

Colonel’s four hits — his third game with at least three hits in a span of seven starts — helped the Sky Sox outlast Portland 12-9 on Wednesday at Security Service Field.

The win was the third in a row for Colorado Springs, which held its two-game lead on Tacoma with five games remaining.

Today marks the Sky Sox’s home finale before four games in Tacoma.

“We’ve been in first place for a few months and we don’t want to be the team that choked it away,” said Colonel, who drove in three runs and raised his average to .352 since Aug. 1. “So there’s a lot of pride in it. We’re looking forward to having Tacoma next.”

Mark Bellhorn added three RBIs for the Sky Sox, joining a carousel of veterans — Matt Murton on Monday, Sal Fasano on Tuesday — who have collected big hits and rescued the team from a stretch where they lost seven of eight.

The Sky Sox offense collected 18 hits and nearly needed every one as their own pitching staff gave up 12 hits and 10 walks.

Dan Ortmeier went 0-for-4 for Colorado Springs yet scored three runs. It was that kind of night.

Starting pitcher Russ Ortiz, making his third appearance since joining the Rockies organization as a free agent, was tagged for six runs — five earned — in just four innings. Ortiz walked seven and struck out three.

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