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Rivera Homers Leads Sox over Sounds 3-2

July 29, 2016 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - Behind a home run from one of their more unlikely players and strong relief work from the bullpen, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox held on to defeat the Nashville Sounds 3-2 at First Tennessee Park on Friday night to earn a split of their four game road series.

For the third straight game, the Sounds got on the board first. After Billy Burns led off with a walk against Sky Sox southpaw Josh Hader (0-3, 6.05), Chad Pinder hit a triple off the center field wall to score Burns with the game's first run. The next batter, Renato Nunez, grounded out to score Pinder from third and give the Sounds a 2-0 lead after the opening inning.

Nate Orf lined a single to center with one out in the second off Sounds starter Jesse Hahn (1-6, 3.66) for the first Sky Sox hit of the night. But the Nashville right hander stranded Orf at first base to keep the Sky Sox off the board. In the bottom half, Hader rebounded from the rough first to strike out the side in order. Hader recorded five of his first six outs of the night with strikeouts.

Hahn was also strong on the night. In the first five innings, he allowed just two base hits without allowing a run.

In the sixth, the Sky Sox put a pair of runners on base with nobody out as Kyle Wren walked then Orlando Arcia reached on an error. But Hahn worked around the base runners to pitch a scoreless inning.

The Sky Sox turned to Tyler Cravy out of the bullpen in the sixth, ending Hader's night. He pitched five innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits while walking three and striking out nine.

In the seventh, Garin Cecchini and Eric Young Jr. reached with one-out singles to put the go-ahead run at the plate. After Michael Reed lined out, the Sky Sox needed a two-out hit to get on the board. Yadiel Rivera delivered in a big way, launching a three-run home run to left field, his first with the Sky Sox, to give Colorado Springs a 3-2 lead at the seventh inning stretch. In the bottom half, Cravy came back to the mound and retired the side in order to keep the Sky Sox ahead.

Michael Kirkman came in for the Sky Sox in the eighth and allowed a pair of singles before being replaced by David Goforth with two runners on and nobody out. Chad Pinter singled to center to load the bases. Goforth then struck out Nunez for the first out. The next two batters, Matt Olson and Matt McBride, each popped out to Arcia at short to get Goforth and the Sky Sox through the inning with the lead.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Sky Sox turned to closer Damien Magnifico. He also found himself in a jam as the Sounds quickly put runners on first and second with nobody out. Looking to sacrifice, Rangel Ravelo laid down a bunt toward the mound. Magnifico fielded the ball, threw to Rivera at third to get the lead runner, and then Rivera fired to first to get Ravelo for a double play. Magnifico then struck out Burns to end the game and earn his 13th save of the season.

Cravy earned his third win of the season with two scoreless relief innings. Offensively, the five through nine hitters in the Sky Sox lineup each had one hit to total all five of the Sky Sox hits on the night.

The Sky Sox return home to begin a four game series with the Oklahoma City Dodgers on Saturday night. Hiram Burgos (5-7, 4.95) is scheduled to start for the Sky Sox against Jose De Leon (3-1, 3.83). First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. at Security Service Field.

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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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