Sky Sox Beat Fresno 7-5 with Late Rally

Published on May 29, 2016 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The Colorado Springs Sky Sox led early, then fell behind, but ultimately came back to defeat the Fresno Grizzlies 7-5 on Sunday afternoon in front of 4,651 at Chukchanski Park.

Down a run with two outs and two runners on base in the top of the eighth, the Sky Sox needed a big hit to retake the lead. Will Middlebrooks delivered the big hit with a double to left-center to score Josmil Pinto and Garin Cecchini to give the Sky Sox the lead. Nate Orf increased the lead with a ground rule double, his third double of the game, later in the inning to give the Sky Sox a 7-5 lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Orf drove in the Sky Sox final run of the day, and he also scored the first by stealing it with his legs. With Orf on second and two out, Fresno starter Brad Peacock (0-1, 5.64) appeared to have Orf picked off between second and third. After receiving Peacock's throw at second base, Fresno's Danny Worth tried to throw Orf out at third, but his throw went array, allowing Orf to score the game's first run.

With two outs in the fourth, Orlando Arcia stole second after reaching on a single. With Arcia at second, Pinto blooped a single to shallow right field to score Arcia with the second run of the game.

After Fresno cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth, the Sky Sox responded to add to the lead in the fifth. Yadiel Rivera drove in Reed with an infield single to shortstop. A couple batters later, Orf came home on a ground out from Eric Young Jr. that scored the fourth Sky Sox run.

In the bottom of the fifth, Max Stassi led off the inning with a home run against Sky Sox starter Taylor Jungmann (1-2, 10.41). Later in the inning, the Grizzlies loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a single. Jungmann got out of the jam by inducing a fly out from Preston Tucker to leave the bases loaded.

In five innings, Jungmann allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits while striking out three. He finished with no decision.

Fresno took the lead in the bottom of the sixth on a double from Stassi that made it 4-3 Sky Sox. Then with two outs, Andrew Aplin hit a two run home run off Sky Sox reliever Austin Ross to give the Grizzlies a 5-4 lead.

Ross held the Grizzlies scoreless in the seventh, and his offense made him the winning pitcher with the eighth inning rally.

Jacob Barnes earned his first Sky Sox save by pitching two scoreless innings to close out the win. The game finished with Barnes inducing a double-play ground ball from Matt Duffy with the tying runs on base.

Through the first three games in the series, the Sky Sox have scored 18 runs with two outs.

The Sky Sox conclude their series with the Grizzlies in a Memorial Day matinee tomorrow afternoon. Jorge Lopez (1-3, 6.25) is scheduled to get the start against Cesar Valdez (1-0, 3.00). First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. MDT.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 29, 2016


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