Nashville Runs Away with Game Three with Monster First Inning

Published on May 10, 2018 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Though the Sky Sox had won five games in a row against Nashville coming into Thursday night, the Sounds effectively brought that streak to an end in the very first inning, scoring eight runs in the first frame en route to a 12-7 victory over Colorado Springs.

After dropping the first two games of this series, the Sounds came out swinging in game three. After the Sky Sox went three up and three down in the top of the first, Nashville came rushing out of the gates in the bottom of the first. Nick Martini led off with a single. BJ Boyd also hit a single to put runners on the corners. Franklin Barreto then doubled for Nashville's first extra-base hit and RBI of the game to make it 1-0. Anthony Garcia, who has been heaving a great series against Colorado Springs, singled to score both Boyd and Barreto. Josh Phegley doubled to put two on for Slade Heathcott, who singled to score Garcia and make it 4-0. Sky Sox starter Michael Brady then struck out Sheldon Neuse for the first out of the inning. With one away Dustin Garneau hit an RBI single to plate Phegley and advance Heathcott to third. Jorge Mateo became Brady's second strikeout victim in the next at-bat, and with two on and two away Martini stepped into the box for the second time that inning. Martini ripped an RBI double to clear the bases and make it 7-0 Nashville, which proved enough to knock Brady from the game still in the first inning. He was replaced on the mound by former Sound Tim Dillard, who gave up a single to Boyd that scored Martini and made it 8-0 before Barreto flied out to end the disastrous first inning.

The second and third innings saw no score change, but in the top of the fourth the Sky Sox offense cut the deficit in half. With one out Keon Broxton reached on a single, stealing second for his ninth swipe of the season. Ji-Man Choi drew a walk, and then was replaced on first by pinch-runner Dylan Moore. Jacob Nottingham singled to score Broxton and get Colorado Springs on the board. Kyle Wren followed Nottingham's single with a single of his own, scoring Moore to make it 8-2. A Nashville throwing error allowed both Nottingham and Wren to move up 90 feet, and a Gabriel Noriega single scored them both to make it 8-4 for a four-run fourth for the Sky Sox.

In the bottom half of the inning the home team responded with a pair of runs. Barreto drew a two-out walk, coming home one batter later on a Garcia home run that extended Nashville's lead to 10-4.

Quintin Berry was hit-by-pitch to begin the fifth frame, and with his 19-game hitting streak on the line Nate Orf singled to extend his streak to 20 games. Broxton reached on a fielder's choice that saw Orf out at second base but Broxton and Berry safe at first and third, respectively. With Moore at the plate Colorado Springs executed a double steal, with Broxton swiping second base for his second steal of the game and Berry stealing home to make it a 10-5 ballgame.

After a scoreless sixth, the Sounds offense scored an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh. Heathcott drew a one-out walk, then stole second for his second stolen bag of the night. A Neuse double plated Heathcott to make it 11-5 Nashville.

In the top of the eighth Nottingham crushed a solo homer on the second pitch he saw to reduce Nashville's lead to five runs. Wren reached second on a Nashville error, advancing to third on a wild pitch. Noriega grounded out to score Wren and make it 11-7, as the Sky Sox scored two runs on one hit and an error in the inning.

Martini led off the bottom of the inning with a four-pitch walk, and after a Boyd strikeout, Barreto drew a walk as well to put two on. A wild pitch advanced both runners a base, and a Garcia sacrifice fly scored Martini to make it 12-7. That would be Garcia's fifth RBI of the night, and his second five-RBI game against the Sky Sox in a week.  He also had one last week against the Sky Sox in Security Service Field. 12-7 proved to be the final score of the contest, as Nashville won game three to put the series at 2-1.

Tomorrow's final game against the Nashville Sounds is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. MST at First Tennessee Park. The Sky Sox return to Security Service Field for an eight-game, nine-day homestand on May 12 where they will host the Oklahoma City Dodgers and Memphis Redbirds. For all information on Sky Sox, follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and visit the team's website at www.skysox.com.

NOTES

Tomorrow's Expectation: In the fourth game of this four-game series against the Nashville Sounds the Sky Sox are sending righty Corbin Burnes to the mound to face right-hander Chris Bassitt for Nashville.

Hard to Come Back From That: The Sounds scored eight runs in an upside-down first inning Thursday night.  The last time an opponent scored eight runs in the first inning against the Sky Sox took place last season on July 24th, 2017, when the Reno Aces scored eight runs in the top of the first inning at Security Service Field in Colorado Springs. Reno won that game, 12-5. The last time an opponent scored eight runs in the first inning against the Sky Sox on the road took place on June 13th, 2005, when the Fresno Grizzlies scored nine runs in the bottom of the first inning at Grizzlies Stadium (now known as Chukchansi Park) in Fresno. Fresno won that game, 14-3.

You Underestimate the Streakiness: Nate Orf currently boasts an active 20-game hitting streak, which was continued Thursday night with a single in the fifth inning. In 20 games, Orf has gone 35-for-78 with 17 runs, 14 RBI, and four stolen bases. Of those 20 games, Orf has had multiple hits in 11 of them. In fact, there have only been four games this season when Orf has NOT had a hit. His longest streak last season was nine games.

That's A First: The mighty four-run seventh inning in Wednesday night's contest in Nashville marked the first win for Colorado Springs when trailing after six innings. Coming into the night, the Sky Sox held an 0-5 team record when behind in the score through six frames. The Sky Sox continued the momentum when leading after seven and eight innings, holding 20-2 (lead after 7) and 17-1 (lead after 8) records, respectively.

Wednesday Warriors: Heading into Wednesday night's game the Sky Sox were undefeated at 4-0 in Wednesday contests this season, and with the win improved to 5-0 on hump day in 2018.

Familiar Faces: Boone Logan threw one scoreless inning of relief Tuesday night against the Sounds, walking one and striking out three. In so doing he became the seventh Sky Sox player to play for the Sky Sox during both the Colorado Rockies affiliation (1993-2014) and Milwaukee Brewers affiliation (2015-present): Boone Logan (2014 COL, 2018 MIL), Michael McKenry (2010, 2014 COL, 2016 MIL), Jim Miller (2011 COL, 2016 MIL), Chris Nelson (2010-2012 COL, 2015 MIL), Josh Roenicke (2011, 2014 COL, 2015 MIL), Rob Scahill (2012, 2014 COL, 2016-2017 MIL), Eric Young, Jr. (2009-2011 COL, 2016 MIL). This will now equal the number of seven Sky Sox players to play for the Sky Sox during both the Cleveland Indians affiliation (1988-1992) and Colorado Rockies affiliation (1993-2014): George Canale (1992 CLE, 1993 COL), Alan Cockrell (1990, 1992 CLE, 1994-1996 COL), Jerry Dipoto (1992 CLE, 2000 COL), Tom Kramer (1991-1992 CLE, 1996-1998 COL), Nelson Liriano (1992 CLE, 1993, 1998 COL), Rudy Seanez (1989-1991 CLE, 1993 COL), Terry Wells (1992 CLE, 1993 COL).

K's for Days: Alec Asher struck out seven batters on Tuesday night, continuing the trend of-high strikeout counts for Colorado Springs starters lately. Freddy Peralta struck out eight batters through four innings on Monday, the day after Corbin Burnes struck out 13 batters through seven innings. That's 28 strikeouts through 16.1 innings between Asher's, Peralta's, and Burnes' back-to-back-to-back starts.

Burnes' Baker's Dozen: After striking out 13 on Sunday, Corbin Burnes becomes only the fourth Sky Sox pitcher in team history to record 13 or more strikeouts in a game. Burnes ties Edwar Cabrera and the late Mark Brownson as the other two pitchers with 13 strikeouts in a game. John Thomson holds the single game record, with 14 strikeouts. The Sky Sox home record is 12 K, by Nate Minchey, vs. Tucson Sidewinders, June 4th, 1997 (12 K in 9 IP) [CG], and by Mike Saipe, vs. Vancouver Canadians, May 15th, 1998 (12 K in 9 IP) [CG].)

This Week's Preview: The Sky Sox are currently in the midst of an eight-game road trip. After playing four games in Oklahoma City against the Dodgers and going 1-3, the Sky Sox are set for another four-game series against the Nashville Sounds before returning home on the 12th for an eight-game, nine-day homestand that will see them host the Dodgers for four games followed by the Memphis Redbirds for four games.

NEXT GAME: Thursday, May 10 @ Nashville Sounds - 5:35 p.m. MDT @ First Tennessee Park

RHP Corbin Burnes (1-0, 4.55) vs. RHP Chris Bassitt (1-1, 4.76) | Broadcast on XTRA Sports 1300

  COS TOP PERFORMERS

- Keon Broxton (2-for-5, 1 R, 2 SB)

- Jacob Nottingham (2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR)

- Kyle Wren (2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI)

  NAS TOP PERFORMERS

- Nick Martini (2-for-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB)

- Anthony Garcia (2-for-4, 2 R, 5 RBI, HR)

- Slade Heathcott (1-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 SB)

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