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Gagnon, Key Hits Propel Sky Sox to 4-2 Win over Sounds

April 19, 2015 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The Sky Sox cliqued on all cylinders Saturday night en route to a 4-2 win over the Sounds before a crowd of 9,211 at First Tennessee Park in Nashville.

Both of the game's starting pitchers matched zeros through the first four frames before the Sky Sox was able break through in the third inning against Sounds starter Brad Mills (0-2, 7.27). A single by Donnie Murphy and an error on attempted force out allowing to Nevin Ashley to reach first gave Colorado Springs runners on first and second with no outs. Left fielder Matt Long would line a 3-2 pitch from Mills into centerfield to score Murphy for the game's first run. With runners on the corners, and still no outs, Luis Sardinas grounded into a bases-clearing double play, allowing Ashley to score from third base.. Elian Herrera would add a single before a Matt Clark ground out ended the inning with the Sox leading 2-0.

In his second start of 2015, Drew Gagnon (1-0, 5.23) would work through two neat innings before encountering trouble in the next two. With one out in the home third, Gagnon walked Anthony Aliotti who was then moved over to second base on a sacrifice bunt by the speedy Billy Burns. Second baseman Joey Wendle delivered a clutch two-out RBI double to right field, plating Aliotti and cutting the deficit to one. The Sounds would score again in the fourth on the strength of two walks and two singles, tying the ballgame when Kent Matthes crossed the plate on an Aliotti infield single.

Gagnon would set down his next five consecutive batters before being replaced by left-hander Brent Leach in the top of the sixth with one out and two on. Leach would induce an inning-ending double play off the bat of Sounds catcher Luke Carlin to seal the book on Gagnon and maintain the team's 4-2 lead. Gagnon would finish the day having given up just two runs on five hits while striking out six in 5.1 innings of work.

The Sox would play a little small ball to score their final two runs in the top of the fifth inning. With Mills still on the mound, Nevin Ashley would work a leadoff walk before advancing to second base on a Matt Long single. Sardinas moved the runners over on a sac bunt, giving the Sounds one out in the inning with Sox on second and third. Elian Herrera would score Ashley with an infield single to short, breaking the tie. Matt Clark followed with a deep fly ball to centerfield, allowing to Long to cross the plate with the Sox fourth run. Herrera would steal second base in hopes of creating a new scoring opportunity before a Shane Peterson pop out ended the threat.

The Nashville bullpen would pitch well in relief of Mills with three pitchers tossing a combined four innings of scoreless ball. Brock Huntzinger, Eury De La Rosa and Kevin Whelan teamed up to strike out seven Sky Sox over those final frames while allowing just two hits along the way.

The Sky Sox bullpen was just as effective as Leach led the way with 2.1 innings of sparkling relief, working out of a sixth inning jam before bridging the game to right-handers Rob Wooten and Corey Knebel to seal the win.

Knebel struck out two in the ninth on his way to securing his second save of the season and, more importantly, the Sky Sox 4-2 win over the Sounds.

The Sox will look to take control of the series on Sunday afternoon as Tyler Cravy (1-0, 3.00) takes the mound against fellow right-hander Chris Bassit (0-1, 4.76) at First Tennessee Park in Nashville. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM MDT.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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