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Fresno Takes Second Straight in the Springs, 9-6

May 4, 2010 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


On the heels of an arduous 14-4 loss last night, the Sky Sox were unable to rebound, dropping their second straight to Fresno at Security Service Field, 9-6.

With quick surge in the first, the Sky Sox wasted no time putting the pressure on Grizzlies starter Joe Martinez. With three consecutive singles to start the game, Colorado Springs jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Cole Garner scored on a Brad Eldred double-play groundout to put the Sox up by two, the inning ending one batter later on a Chris Iannetta ground out.

After a sharp 1-2-3 first, Sox starter Chaz Roe ran into trouble in the second. A leadoff walk by Buster Posey followed by a one-out Brett Pill single got the inning started for Fresno. The next batter, Jesus Guzman, tapped a slow roller down the third base line that ground to a halt just before the bag, loading the bases. A Brad Boyer force out at home got the Sox close to escaping the inning unscathed. However, starter Joe Martinez helped his own cause with a broken-bat flare over the head of third baseman Travis Metcalf. The hit finding fair territory, two runners scored to tie the game at 2-2.

Breaking the deadlock in the top of the fourth was Jesus Guzman, lifting a wind-aided home run over the wall in left-center to put Fresno up 4-2. The Grizzlies would add one more in an inning where Chaz Roe took some unfortunate bounces. With two out, Ryan Rohlinger hit a weak groundball up the middle that seemed certain to end the inning. However, the ball collided with the second base bag, sending it over second baseman Warren Schaeffer's head into centerfield, allowing the Grizzlies to plate Martinez from third.

The Sox and Grizzlies traded runs in the fourth and fifth, respectively, before things quieted down until the eighth.

There, the Grizzlies roared back from their hibernation with a three-run surge, extending their lead to 9-3, making the final all but official. The first three batters reaching via two walks and a hit by pitch, Ryan Rohlinger drove in two with a no-out single, putting the Grizzlies up 8-3. A Brett Pill groundout scored Ben Copeland from third, extending the lead to six.

The Sky Sox weren't about to go quietly into the night, however. With walks to three of their first four batters to start the eighth, Travis Metcalf drilled a bases-loaded double to right-center, pushing two across the plate with one out. A Paul Lo Duca groundout to short scored the Sky Sox third run of the inning.

Though providing some late-inning suspense in the ninth, including a Matt Miller double and bloop single by Brad Eldred, the Sky Sox fell just short for a second night in a row - the game ending on a groundball double-play by Chris Iannetta, the team's third of the game.

With the loss, the Sky Sox fall to 13-12, while the Grizzlies improve to 17-8. Fresno's Joe Martinez (2-0, 3.81) recorded the win while Chaz Roe (1-4, 5.76) takes his fourth defeat of the season.

Tomorrow, the Sky Sox look to reign in the Grizzlies, sending Alan Johnson (1-0, 3.00) to the mound to take on Horacio Ramirez (1-0, 3.78). First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 PM.

Notables:

With catcher Steve Holm subbing in at right field in the bottom of the eighth, the Grizzlies used every position player on their roster. As a result, Fresno was forced to use last night's winning starter Eric Hacker as a pinch-hitter in the ninth. Hacker, true to his name, struck out on three pitches.

In the eighth inning, both the Sky Sox and the Grizzlies scored three runs on one hit apiece. Fresno pitchers walked four in the inning while the Sky Sox walked three and hit a batter.

Tonight, Brad Eldred was forced to make his second appearance at third base in his career, recording an assist for the first out in the bottom of the ninth. Travis Metcalf was moved to second base during the half-inning.

Former Sky Sox pitcher Denny Bautista came on to record the save for Fresno.

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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.

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