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Express Take Game One of Series with Five-Run Seventh

April 21, 2018 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Sky Sox dropped game one of this three-game series against the Round Rock Express 6-1, with most of the damage coming in the form of a five-run seventh inning for the Express; the most runs the Sky Sox have given up in a single inning all season.

Game one of this series proved to be a pitcher's duel at first, with Sky Sox starter Brandon Woodruff not giving up his second hit of the game until the bottom of the sixth inning, and Express starter David Ledbetter keeping Sky Sox batters in check, allowing only five hits and one run through six frames.

Colorado Springs scored their first run of this series in the top of the third inning to crack the scoreless pitcher's duel. Nate Orf drew a five-pitch walk, advancing to second on a balk by Round Rock's starter Ledbetter. Shane Opitz lined a single to center field to get Orf within 90 feet of home, and Keon Broxton grounded into a fielder's choice to score Orf and give the Sky Sox a 1-0 lead.

Woodruff was cruising through the game until the sixth inning, when he gave up a leadoff double to Christian Lopes for only his second hit of the night. The only other hit Woodruff had allowed up to that point was a single back in the third inning, also off the bat of Lopes. Jose Cardona followed Lopes' double with a single, and Scott Heineman walked to load the bases and knock Woodruff from the game. Erik Davis came into the game for Colorado Springs to replace Woodruff on the mound, recording the first out of the inning via a Willie Calhoun strike out. Davis then hit Tommy Joseph with a pitch to force in the tying run, but on the next pitch drew a double play to get out of the inning and leave the game tied at one run apiece.

The Express blew the game open in the bottom of the seventh, scoring five runs to put an end to the short-lived tie. Cameron Rupp led off the inning with a single. Nick Noonan followed suit with a single of his own. Hanser Alberto reached on a sacrifice bunt to load the bases. Lopes doubled to score Rupp and Noonan, before Cardona homered to clear the bases and make it 6-1 Round Rock.

As the eighth inning was set to start a thick fog rolled in, enveloping the field and forcing a delay of game for a little over half an hour. The game resumed around 9:00 p.m. Colorado time for the final two frames.  The Sky Sox went three up, three down in the top of the eighth, with the Express recording all three outs in the bottom of the eighth by way of strikeout.

Robie Rojas and Tyrone Taylor both struck out in the top of the ninth, with Orf drawing a two-out walk for his third walk of the game. Opitz grounded out for the final out of the game, with the Express taking game one of the series.

The Sky Sox are set to play game two against the Express tomorrow at 12:05 p.m. MDT, with righty Bubba Derby scheduled to take the mound for Colorado Springs and lefty Yohander Mendez set to take the mound for Round Rock, as both pitchers look to pick up their first win of the season. After this series with Round Rock wraps, the Sky Sox will be returning to Security Service Field on Wednesday for a nine-game home stretch.

NOTES

Damage Control: The five runs the Sky Sox gave up in the seventh inning were the most runs Colorado Springs had given up in a single inning all season. Prior to tonight, the most runs the Sky Sox had given up in a single frame was three, with the last occurrence of that coming on April 17 against New Orleans.

One-Run Woodruff: Brandon Woodruff had another excellent start for the Sky Sox tonight, taking a one-hitter into the sixth inning. The only hit he allowed in the first five frames was a single off the bat of Christian Lopes in the third. Lopes struck again in the sixth with a double, for Woodruff's second hit allowed on the night. Woodruff's final line on the evening was 5.0 innings pitched with three hits, seven strikeouts, and just one walk. For the third start in a row Woodruff only surrendered one run.

Fog Delay: The last Sky Sox fog delay was last season on August 11th, 2017 against the New Orleans Baby Cakes, when there was a 14-minute fog delay in the bottom of the 7th inning at Security Service Field. New Orleans won that game 6-4 in 10 innings. There were two instances where the Sky Sox had a game suspended due to fog, both at Security Service Field. The first was May 25th, 1993 (Game 2 of a DH) vs. Phoenix Firebirds - Suspended in the bottom of the 4th inning due to fog. (The game was resumed the next day, with the Sky Sox winning, 7-3.) The next came on May 4th, 2006 (Matinee) vs. Tacoma Rainiers - Suspended in the top of the 3rd inning due to fog. (That game was resumed on June 5th, 2006, with the Sky Sox winning, 4-3.) One other game was postponed due to fog and misty conditions, a home game at Security Service Field against the Las Vegas 51s.

K-Machine: Corbin Burnes' nine strikeouts on Thursday night marked the most strikeouts by a Sky Sox pitcher this season so far. The previous high was Freddy Peralta's seven recorded on April 15 against Round Rock. The last Sky Sox pitcher to collect 10 or more strikeouts was Josh Hader - on August 21, 2016, he struck out 12 batters at Round Rock.

Sunday's Expectation: Tomorrow, in game two of this three-game series, right-hander Bubba Derby (0-0, 3.21) is set to face southpaw Yohander Mendez (0-3, 7.20) as both pitchers look to pick up their first win of the 2018 season.

Previewing Next Week: The Sky Sox are set for one of the longest homestands of 2018 next week - a nine-game stretch while hosting the Omaha Storm Chasers, Triple-A affiliate of the Royals, and the Nashville Sounds, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics.

NEXT GAME: Sunday, April 22 vs. Round Rock Express - 12:05 p.m. MDT @ Dell Diamond (Round Rock)

RHP Bubba Derby (0-0, 3.21) vs. LHP Yohander Mendez (0-3, 7.20) | Broadcast on XTRA Sports 1300

  COS TOP PERFORMERS

- Brandon Woodruff (5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 7 SO)

- Nate Orf (1-for-1, 1 R, 3 BB)

  RR TOP PERFORMERS

- David Ledbetter (6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 SO)

- Christian Lopes (4-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI)

- Jose Cardona (2-for-5, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR)

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