Dillard Does It All in 9-5 Sky Sox Win

Published on May 11, 2016 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The Colorado Springs Sky Sox offense crushed three home runs, including one from a most unlikely player, to defeat the New Orleans Zephyrs 9-5 on Wednesday afternoon at Zephyr Park.

In the fifth, the Sky Sox rallied for four runs to break a 5-5 tie. With runners on second and third and one out, Garin Cecchini drove a sacrifice fly to give the Sky Sox the lead. Then Eric Young Jr. lined a double to score Manny Pina to give the Sky Sox a 7-5 lead, but the Sky Sox offense wasn't done yet.

After pitching the bottom of the fourth, Sky Sox relief pitcher Tim Dillard stepped to the plate with Young Jr. at second and two outs in the fifth. After taking the first pitch for a ball, Dillard crushed the second pitch of the at-bat deep over the left field wall for his first home run since 2007. The improbable blast gave the Sky Sox a 9-5 lead they would hold for good.

On the mound, Dillard pitched three innings, allowing just one earned run on three hits to earn his second win of the season.

The Sky Sox started off the game well with Orlando Arcia hustling out an infield single with two out in the first, then he scored when Zephyrs left fielder Isaac Galloway misplayed Will Middlebrooks' fly ball for an error that allowed the first run to score.

The Zephyrs were able to take the lead off Sky Sox starter Ariel Pena (0-0, 7.24) in the second. A bases loaded double from Austin Nola cleared the bases to give the Zephyrs a 4-1 lead after two.

Colorado Springs cut into the deficit in the third as Andy Wilkins homered off New Orleans starter Chris Narveson (0-0, 4.50). The solo shot cut the New Orleans lead to 4-2.

Pena pitched three innings for the Sky Sox, allowing four runs on four hits while striking out three.

The Sky Sox retook the lead in the fourth as Keon Broxton hit his team leading fifth home run of the season to left. The three-run blast scored Cecchini and Young Jr. as well to give the Sky Sox the lead at 5-4.

New Orleans evened the score off Dillard in the fourth as Nola plated a run with a single to tie the game at five heading to the fifth.

After the Sky Sox took the lead off New Orleans reliever Hunter Adkins in the fifth, the Sky Sox relievers shut the door.

Dillard held the Zephyrs scoreless in the fifth and sixth. Austin Ross came in and pitched clean seventh inning.

Drew Gagnon worked around a hit to pitch a scoreless eighth, and then Jacob Barnes struck out two of three batters he faced in the ninth to finish off the win.

The series against the Zephyrs continues tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m. MDT at Zephyr Park. Tyler Cravy (0-0, 3.18) is scheduled to get the start for the Sky Sox.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 11, 2016


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