Fowler's Cycle Propels Sox to Father's Day Victory, 13-4

Published on June 20, 2010 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


With a two-game losing streak in their midst, Sky Sox starter Esmil Rogers looked to end an ugly skid for both himself and the club. Rogers had been the victim of three poor starts coming into today's outing. The stretch beginning on June 4 against Reno, Rogers had surrendered 20 earned runs in his last 10.0 innings, while yielding three home runs.

The first inning didn't go so smoothly for the struggling starter. Though he retired the first two batters with ease, Sky Sox killer Brett Wallace launched a 3-2 offering from Rogers over the left field fence, putting Vegas on top, 1-0.

The Sox wasted no time mounting a comeback, however. Locking in on a 1-0 count, outfielder Dexter Fowler launched the next offering high over the left field wall to even the score at one. Though the 51s would put up two more in the top of the second, the Sky Sox took the lead, 4-3, with three runs in the inning's bottom half.

Helping the cause, Rogers settled in thereafter, throwing four consecutive scoreless innings before leaving after the seventh.

Meanwhile, the Sky Sox offense continued their unrelenting surge. Scoring runs in each of the first five innings, the Sky Sox blew the game wide open with a four run fifth, taking a 10-4 advantage.

The Sky Sox going up 13-4 in the eighth, Matt Reynolds closed the game out with a scoreless ninth.

Undoubtedly, the story of the day was Dexter Fowler's extraordinary performance. Completing the cycle with just one out in the bottom of the fifth, Fowler finished the game going 5-for-6 with five runs and three RBI - carrying the team to victory. The five runs also tied a franchise record for runs in a single game. Fowler did have an opportunity to score a sixth run, coming to the plate with one out in the eighth. He hit into a double-play however, the only at-bat on the day in which he was retired.

With the win, the Sky Sox improved to 33-37 while the 51s fell to 31-40.

The two teams will conclude their series tomorrow before the Sox travel to Reno for a four game set with the Aces. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

WP: Esmil Rogers (1-2, 8.33)

LP: Lance Broadway (2-6, 6.69)

Att: 7,658 (Season High)

Notables:

- With today's victory, the Sky Sox are now 13-13 all time on Father's Day.

- Veteran middle infielder Eider Torres made his Sky Sox and PCL debut today, having been called up from Tulsa on June 18. Torres finished the game 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI.

- Las Vegas first baseman Brett Wallace continues to give the Sky Sox fits, slugging his fifth homer of the season against the Springs. Wallace is now batting .350 (21-for-60) with 15 RBI against the Sox this season compared to a .267 average (58-for-217), seven home runs, and 25 RBI versus the rest of the league.

- Needing only a double and a single to complete the cycle, Dexter Fowler managed to stretch a routine single to center into a double - rounding second hard and just beating out a throw from shallow center field. The play nearly didn't happen, however, as first baseman Brett Wallace dropped a foul pop up on the second pitch to extend the at-bat. Fowler would complete the cycle in the bottom of the fifth with a single to center. Fowler is the fifth player in Sky Sox history to record a cycle, the team's sixth cycle all-time. His five runs also tied a franchise record.

- Today's attendance of 7,658 was a season high at Security Service Field.

- 51s' second baseman Jarrett Hoffpauir was removed from the game with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pacific Coast League Stories from June 20, 2010


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.

OurSports Central