Bullpen Blows Two Late Leads in 12-10 Loss

Published on August 4, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


COLORADO SPRINGS, CO -The Sky Sox dropped a wild 12-10 contest to the Iowa Cubs in disappointing fashion before a crowd of 2,145 at Security Service Field on Monday night.

The Sky Sox got off to yet another fast start, this time against Iowa starter Felipe Paulino as Colorado Springs plated a first-inning run on an RBI single by Jason Rogers that scored Kyle Wren from third. The first-inning run was the fourth scored by the Sox offense in the opening frame in their last two games.

Iowa tied it up at one with a run in the fourth thanks to a run-scoring error by first baseman Matt Clark. Sox starter Hiram Burgos would work out of the inning without further damage before the Colorado Springs offense took control in the very next frame. Michael Reed and Yadiel Rivera combined to drive in three run in the home fourth on RBI singles as five Sox hitters reached safely on four hits and a Clark hit-by-pitch.

Jason Rogers, who drove in three on Monday night, finished 4-for-5 with three runs scored and a two-run home run that extended the Sox lead to 6-2 in the seventh. The long ball came off of Iowa left-handed reliever Zac Rosscup with one out in the frame.

Burgos allowed just two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out a whopping nine I-Cubs batters over 6.0 extremely strong innings of work before handing the ball off to David Goforth for a scoreless seventh.

Paulino would exit after allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out four over six. Rosscup surrendered three total runs in relief, including Rogers' two-run shot, to help Colorado Springs extend their lead to 7-3 through seven.

After seven impressive innings from their first two pitchers, the final four arms out of the Sox pen would combine to allow 10 runs (nine earned) over the game's final two frames. Austin Ross would not record an out in the top of the eighth as he was tagged for five runs (four earned) on two hits and two walks with the big blow coming on a John Andreoli bases-clearing triple.

After the six-run I-Cubs eighth, Colorado Springs trailed 9-7 heading into the home half of the inning. The Sox offense battled back, scoring three runs on four hits and an intentional walk against reliever Joe Ortiz (3-1, 5.54) to retake a 10-8 lead going to the ninth. RBI knocks by Kyle Wren and Luis Sardinas gave the Sox the late lead once again before Domingo Santana plated a run with an RBI groundout. The RBI was Santana's fourth in two games since joining the Sky Sox.

Rob Wooten (4-2, 6.25) and Jeremy Horst could not keep the Iowa offense at bay in the ninth as the Cubs rallied for four runs on three hits and two walks with Javy Baez's bases-clearing two-out double serving as the proverbial dagger. Carl Edwards, Jr. (S, 2) came on to toss a scoreless bottom of the ninth, securing the back-and-forth battle for Iowa with a 12-10 defeat of the Sox.

Colorado Springs would ultimately outhit Iowa 16-12 as Wren, Sardinas, Rogers, Clark and Centeno each recorded multi-hit games for the Sox.

With the loss, the Sky Sox fell to 43-64 while the I-Cubs improved to 59-50. The Sky Sox will look to salvage the final game of this four-game set with Iowa on Tuesday night as RHP Drew Gagnon (1-11, 7.00) takes the hill against RHP Carlos Pimentel (7-5, 3.28). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM MDT from Security Service Field.

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