New Orleans Outlasts Colorado Springs, 11-10

Published on August 8, 2010 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


The New Orleans Zephyrs earned a series split as they outlasted the Colorado Springs Sky Sox 11-10 on Saturday night at Security Service Field in front of 7,428 fans.

Big innings and crazy plays were the name of the game for the night. New Orleans plated five runs in the fourth inning as they took advantage of some sloppy play by the Sox defense. In the frame, the Sox committed three errors, two by third baseman Travis Metcalf, that led to two unearned runs. Scott Cousins, Mike Lamb and Nic Ungs all had an RBI in the inning as the Zephyrs went up 6-0.

New Orleans plated two more runs in the fifth on an RBI triple by Cousins who then scored on an RBI single by Cameron Maybin to push the Z's lead to 8-0.

The Sox battled back in the fifth with a five inning of their own. Mike Paulk led off the inning with a solo homer, Kaz Matsui drove in two with a single and Cole Garner finished off the scoring with a two-run double to chase starter Ungs. The offensive eruption cut the Z's lead to 8-5.

Maybin almost single-handedly put the Zephyrs up 9-5 in the seventh. With two outs, Maybin singled to left and a few pitches later stolen second. On the play, Michael McKenry's throw to second looked to be in time to catch Maybin stealing but the ball hit Maybin's foot and kicked the ball into left field. Reacting quickly, Maybin jumped up and was able to scamper all the way home before the ball could be retrieved and thrown home.

An equally odd, two-out situation allowed the Sox to get a run back in the bottom of the seventh. After the first two batters were retired, Matsui tripled to right-center field. Jonathan Herrera then walked and on the next pitch reliever Matt Peterson made an awkward pick off move and was called for a balk to allow Matsui to trot home to make the score 9-6.

In the eighth, New Orleans scored a run on an RBI double by John Raynor but the Sox would answer in the bottom half of the frame. Paulk singled with one out and after a groundout, McKenry smashed his eighth homer to right-center field off reliever Chris Leroux to cut the lead to 10-8.

The final bizarre run of the game was scored by New Orleans in the ninth and would prove to be a very important run. Cousins led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a Maybin single. After Brian Barden lined into a double play, the Sky Sox were in the process of intentionally walking Lamb when McKenry's throw back to the pitcher on the second ball got away from Andrew Johnston and allowed Cousins to race home and make the score 11-8.

The Sky Sox wouldn't go down without a fight however as they fought hard against Z's closer Scott Strickland. In the bottom of the frame, Strickland got the first out before walking Herrera to bring up Garner. Garner battled in the at bat and worked the count full before launching a towering home run to dead center to cut the lead to 11-10. Strickland would settle down from their though and retire the next two batters to end the game.

At the end of a wacky game, the win went to reliever Brett Sinkbeil (2-3) and Kurt Birkins (4-6) took the loss. Strickland notched his 13th save despite giving up two runs in the ninth.

Tomorrow afternoon at 5:05 PM (MDT) the Sky Sox welcome the Oklahoma City RedHawks to the ballpark as they begin a four-game series. RH Alan Johnson (10-6) will take the mound for the Sox to face off against LH Michael Kirkman (11-3, 2.99).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 8, 2010


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