Sky Sox Drop Series to Memphis with Finale Loss

Published on May 20, 2018 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Sky Sox dropped their third straight game and the series 3-1 to the Memphis Redbirds with a final 6-1 score at Security Service Field. The series loss marks the third for Colorado Springs in 2018. The squad falls to two-and-a-half games back of Oklahoma City in the American North after their 11-2 victory over Nashville.

In a two-hit ballgame through two full innings, Memphis came into the third inning and struck first. After two quick outs with strikeouts by Dakota Hudson and Oscar Mercado, Rangel Ravelo doubled to left field and came home on Patrick Wisdom's line drive single to make it a 1-0 contest.

After Memphis scored another solo run in the fourth, the Redbirds would continue the trend into the fifth, plating two more to take a 4-0 lead over the Sky Sox. After Ravelo drew a one-out walk, Wisdom singled sharply up the middle while Alex Mejia brought in the first run on his single to centerfield. The second run was plated on Adolis Garcia's force out groundball hit to shortstop Eric Sogard.

In the bottom of the seventh, following two more runs by Memphis in each of the sixth and seventh innings, the Sky Sox, who have not been shut out in 2018, kept the stat true after Kyle Wren's sacrifice fly ball to right field broke the zero on the board. Colorado Springs loaded the bases on Dylan Moore's leadoff single and two consecutive walks by Tyler Heineman and Gabriel Noriega. Pinch-hitter Quintin Berry batted in the pitcher's spot and recorded the first out, going down on strikes. Wren then knocked a fly ball to right field to score Heineman and cut the deficit to 6-1, which would be the end of scoring on either side.

The Sky Sox hit the road for an eight-game road trip starting tomorrow. Starting tomorrow, Colorado Springs will take on the Nashville Sounds for four games before heading to Memphis and play the Redbirds again for four more games. The Sky Sox head back home for a five-game homestand beginning May 30 against the Iowa Cubs. 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 first game of the four-game set against the Nashville Sounds, the Sky Sox are sending righty Aaron Wilkerson to the mound to face righty Daniel Gossett for the Sounds. The last time the Sky Sox faced the Sounds, they won three of the four games with the final game being suspended due to a travel curfew.

Shut Out, I think Not: The Sky Sox, who were shut out nine times in 2017, including three straight games against Iowa (8/16-17), avoided their potential first shutout of 2018 as the Memphis Redbirds took them through six innings scoreless. However, in the seventh, Kyle Wren knocked a sacrifice fly with bases loaded to break the shutout bid.

Ke-Boom: Keon Broxton knocked his sixth home run of the season in game two of Saturday's doubleheader and second of the homestand. His home run Saturday marked his third leadoff home run with the Sky Sox and the first, first-pitch leadoff home run since Eric Young, Jr. on April 21, 2010 in Colorado Springs against the Tacoma Rainiers. Broxton's first four home runs came within the first seven games of season when he hit one on Opening Day (April 5) and hit home runs in three straight games between 4/10 and 4/14.

On-Base Hacker: On Sunday, Kyle Wren continued his on-base rhythm. Wren has only recorded three instances in 2018 where he did not get on base, and they have been all recorded in the month of May. His one hit Sunday gave him 329 hits, tying Eric Young, Jr. for 11th place on the all-time hits list.

Big 10: The 10-run top of the first inning by Memphis marks the FIRST time in Sky Sox history (during the Triple-A era, since 1988), where an opponent scores 10 runs in the first inning [previous high was 9 runs in the first: Salt Lake, 5/5/1996 (Road); Albuquerque, 8/27/2000 (Home); Sacramento, 5/11/2002 (Home); Tacoma, 4/25/2005 (Home); Fresno, 6/13/2005 (Road); and Sacramento, 7/19/2006 (Home)]. The 10-run top of the first inning by Memphis marks the 14th time an opponent scored 10 runs or more in any inning (12 in Colorado Springs, other 2 in Las Vegas) - Last instance: May 11th, 2017 by Sacramento (in CS), which was a 13-run 7th inning, and the River Cats winning, 17-7. Finally, this is the fourth time an opponent scored 10 runs or more in both games of a traditional doubleheader - Last time: August 10th, 1993 at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson (the only road instance).

Phillips Reaches 600: Brett Phillips played his 600th career Minor League game in the first game on Saturday. In 600 games, Phillips totaled 2,207 at bats, 385 runs, 626 hits, 1060 total bases, 122 doubles, 54 triples, 68 home runs, 317 RBI, 271 walks, 611 strikeouts, and 78 stolen bases.

Just A Bit Inside: With the hit batsmen by Tim Dillard on Saturday in game one of the doubleheader, he has surpassed Jason Young for first place in career-hit batsmen with Sky Sox, sitting at 26 total. Jason Young pitched for the Sky Sox from 2002 to 2005.

Dilly Dilly: Saturday's appearance by Tim Dillard was his 97th regular season appearance, passing Bobby M. Jones for 11th place in games pitched. Zach McClellan is just in front in 10th place with 101 games pitched.

Two Almost Cycles: In the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, Redbirds' Patrick Wisdom collected three hits - a double, triple and single by the fourth inning, but was unable to pick up a home run. In game two, Sky Sox outfielder Keon Broxton collected a home run, double, and single in just four pitches through four innings. Neither of them, however, could complete their respective cycles in each of the seven-inning contests.

Green Light: The stolen base-leading Colorado Springs Sky Sox nabbed two more bases Sunday afternoon and now total 61 as a team in 2018. The closest team to the Sky Sox among the league is Sacramento with 41 total stolen bags.

300 Club: A week ago, Kyle Wren became the 18th player in Sky Sox history with 300 regular season games played. As of Thursday night, Wren has now tied Choo Freeman and Jayhawk Owens for 16th with 303 regular season games played.

This Week's Preview: The Sky Sox head out of Colorado to play eight games on the road. Starting tomorrow, Colorado Springs will take on the Nashville Sounds for four games before heading to Memphis and play the Redbirds again for four more games. The Sky Sox head back home for a five-game homestand beginning May 30 against the Iowa Cubs.

NEXT GAME: Monday, May 21 @Nashville Sounds - 5:35 p.m. MDT @ First Tennessee Park

RHP Aaron Wilkerson (0-0, 3.18) vs. RHP Daniel Gossett (4-0, 1.63)-| Broadcast on XTRA Sports 1300

Next Sky Sox Home Game: May 30 vs. Iowa Cubs @ Security Service Field

COS TOP PERFORMERS

- Dylan Moore (3-for-4, 2B, R)

- Kyle Wren (1-for-3, RBI)

- Andres Blanco (1-for-4, 2B)

  MEM TOP PERFORMERS

- Alex Mejia (3-for-5, RBI)

- Patrick Wisdom (2-for-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB)

- Oscar Mercado (2-for-5, RBI)

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 20, 2018


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