Sox Stall League-Leading Aces Offense in 3-1 Win

Published on June 12, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


The Colorado Springs Sky Sox (30-34) gained ground in the Pacific Northern Division by defeating the division-leading Reno Aces (38-27) by a score of 3-1, with a strong overall pitching performance shutting down an Aces offense that came in to the game ranking first in the Pacific Coast League in runs scored and a late offensive surge by the Sox sealing the series-opening win.

The score was tied 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning, but four of the first five Sky Sox batters collected hits including a go-ahead RBI triple by right-fielder Matt McBride that scored center-fielder Tim Wheeler who led off the inning with a double, and third baseman Brandon Wood knocking in McBride in the next at-bat to provide an insurance run. Wheeler, McBride and Wood all notched multi-hit games on the day, and Wheeler extended his streak of having at least one hit in all his career games at Security Service Field to nine games. The victory was the seventh last at-bat win of the season for the Sox.

Five Colorado Springs pitchers combined to hold the only team in the Pacific Coast League to score more than 400 runs so far this season to one run, and scoreless in the last six innings. After the Aces scored their only run of the game, they had runners in scoring position in the fourth through the eighth inning, but Reno batters went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position for the game. Sky Sox starter Edgar Gonzalez allowed the only run of the game, but limited Reno to only three baserunners in his four innings of work, and Colorado Springs improved to 5-1 in games Gonzalez starts.

In the top of the eighth inning, Sky Sox reliever Dustin Molleken allowed a leadoff triple to Aces shortstop Stephen Drew, but retired the next two batters and struck out the final batter of the inning to put the Sky Sox in position to take the game in the bottom of the eighth and earn his third win of the season. Colorado Springs closer Zach Putnam retired the side in order in the ninth inning to post his team-leading ninth save of the season and first save since May 18th against New Orleans.

The Aces came in to the game riding the Pacific Coast League's longest winning streak at seven games and had won 12 of their last 13 games, but the Sky Sox have won three consecutive meetings with Reno dating back to the first series of the season. In those three wins, the Sky Sox have held the Aces to two runs or less.

Colorado Springs will look to continue to gain ground on the first place Aces as they send out right-hander Tyler Chatwood (0-2, 6.26 ERA), who is still searching for his first victory of the season, to match up with Reno righty Barry Enright (4-3, 4.59 ERA) in the second game of the series beginning at 7:05 p.m. MT.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from June 12, 2012


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