Big Innings Lead Fresno Past Colorado Springs, 8-1

Published on July 13, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


A three-run sixth inning by Fresno broke a 1-1 tie and lifted the Grizzlies past Colorado Springs 8-1 in front of 5,271 fans at Security Service Field Sunday.

Scott McClain knocked the third of three consecutive Grizzlies' hits in the sixth inning, a double to left field that plated Matt Downs as the go-ahead run.

Sean Smith (3-2) pitched brilliantly through five innings, allowing just two hits, before running into trouble in the sixth inning. The Sky Sox starter followed the McClain double with an intentional walk to load the bases, but the strategy backfired when Smith walked Jake Wald on the next at-bat to allow Justin Leone to score from third base. McClain came around to score on Clay Timpner's foul out to right field.

Matt Downs staked Grizzlies starting pitcher Jesse Foppert to an early lead when he took Smith deep in the first inning.

Foppert allowed the Sky Sox to come right back in the bottom half of the inning when he gave up singles to both Cory Sullivan and Jon Herrera. A double play off the bat of Ian Stewart pushed Sullivan across the plate, but it was just what Foppert needed to avoid the big inning.

The natural reliever, who was making a spot start in place of injured pitcher Patrick Misch, allowed only one more runner to reach base during his three innings of work.

Ryan Sadowski (3-2) entered a tied ball game in the fourth inning, in relief of Foppert. He went three innings and allowed just two hits while earning the victory.

The Grizzlies broke the game open by scoring four runs in the eighth inning off five hits, three of them going for extra bases. Eli Whiteside hit a two-run double to the left field gap that made the score 7-1 shortly after Jake Wald's RBI single plated the Grizzlies fifth run of the game.

The Sky Sox and Grizzlies will play the finish off the first half tomorrow with a 12:35 PM start time. Valerio De Los Santos (3-4, 5.86) will get the start for the Sky Sox opposite Brad Hennessey (5-5, 5.61).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 13, 2008


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