Sox and Sacramento Trade Big Innings in Split of Modified Doubleheader

Published on June 9, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


The Colorado Springs Sky Sox (29-31) won the series opener against the Sacramento Rivercats (38-23) by exploding for seven runs in the seventh inning, breaking open a one-run ballgame to notch their fourth win against the Rivercats in the last 21 meetings between the two teams. The game was suspended on June 7 due to inclement weather and finished on June 8 as the first game of a modified doubleheader.

The seven-run seventh inning was the most in a inning at home this season and tied a season high for runs in an inning for the Sky Sox, which was set in the seventh inning of Colorado Springs' 22-8 win against the Salt Lake Bees on May 30. Six different Sky Sox players notched hits and five knocked in runs during the offensive outburst, with shortstop Tommy Field delivering the knockout punch with a bases-loaded triple after the Sox had already scored three runs in the inning before he stepped to the plate. Field has totaled 10 RBI and twelve runs scored this season from the leadoff spot in the lineup in 13 games.

Sky Sox third baseman Brandon Wood led the way for Colorado Springs with 5 RBI, tying for the most RBI by a Colorado Springs player in a game this season, which included a two-run homer before the game was called on Thursday night. Wood gave the Sky Sox the lead 4-2 with his two-RBI double in the fourth inning after Sacramento tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the inning, where the game resumed on Friday afternoon, and notched his fifth RBI on a bases loaded hit by pitch.

After the Rivercats tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth inning, the Colorado Springs bullpen held Sacramento to just four baserunners in the final five innings to seal the series-opening win. Sky Sox reliever Mike Ekstrom struck out three in his two innings of work to collect his Pacific Coast League-leading ninth hold of the 2012 season, and the right-hander leads all Colorado Springs relievers with 32.2 innings this season and owns the lowest WHIP on the team at 1.13.

The win improves the Sky Sox record against Sacramento this season to 2-3 after the Rivercats won three of four games in Sacramento earlier this season.

Game 2: Friday, June 8

The Colorado Springs Sky Sox (29-32) offense was completely shut down in the back end of a modified doubleheader 11-2 against the Sacramento Rivercats (39-23), with Rivercats starter A.J. Griffin allowing zero earned runs in his complete game outing and the Sox giving up 11 runs in the final two innings.

The game was scoreless and the two teams combined for just four hits through the first five innings, but Sacramento designated hitter Manny Ramirez sparked two rallies for the Rivercats as he broke up a 0-0 tie with a RBI single to start a four-run sixth inning for Sacramento and knocked in the first run of the seven-run seventh by smashing a RBI double to collect his first extra-base hit and also his first multi-RBI game of the season. In the seventh inning, eight straight Rivercats batters reached base as Sacramento turned the tables on the Sky Sox who had scored seven runs in the seventh inning of their 12-4 win in the first game of the modified doubleheader.

Sky Sox starter Drew Pomeranz (2-3, 1.80 ERA) suffered the loss despite allowing no earned runs in 5.2 innings and only one hit through the first four innings of the game, but gave up five hits and four unearned runs in his last 1.2 innings to lose his third straight decision after winning his first two career Triple-A starts. Pomeranz has allowed only three earned runs in 19.0 innings at Security Service Field but has a 1-2 record at home, with both of his two home losses coming as the starter of a seven-inning game.

After every Sky Sox batter had at least one hit in the first game of the modified doubleheader, Colorado Springs tied a season low with three hits in the ballgame but scored two unearned runs in the final frame of the game to avoid being shut out for the fifth time this season. Sacramento has held the Sky Sox to three runs or less in four of the six meetings between the two teams this season.

In the third game of the series, the Sox will send out right-hander Carlos Torres (2-1, 2.13 ERA), who has allowed only one earned run in his last 13 innings, against Rivercats right-hander Tyson Ross (1-1, 3.38 ERA) at 6:05 p.m. MT.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 9, 2012


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