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Sky Sox Open Road Trip with Loss in Nashville

May 21, 2018 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Sky Sox lost the first game of their road trip and their four-game series versus the Nashville Sounds 5-4 Monday night. The Sky Sox are now 5-3 against the Sounds this year. After having won five games in a row against Nashville initially, Colorado Springs has now dropped three in a row to the Sounds.

After going three up and three down in the bottom of the first inning, the home team found their way onto the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second. Anthony Garcia became the Sounds first baserunner of the evening after drawing a walk, advancing to third on a Christian Bethancourt throwing error on a pickoff attempt from behind the dish. Jake Smolinski drew a four-pitch walk to put runners on the corners, and a Ramon Laureano sacrifice fly brought home Garcia for Nashville's first run of the evening. A Sheldon Neuse double in the next at-bat would score Smolinski to give Nashville a 2-0 lead.

The Sounds tacked on another pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth frame to double their lead. With one out on the board, Smolinski walked for the second time tonight, and with two outs on the board Laureano singled to move Smolinski to third, advancing to second himself on the throw. Neuse walked to load the bases, and a Jorge Mateo brought home Smolinski and Laureano to make it 4-0 Nashville.

The Sky Sox rebutted in the top of the next inning with three hits in a row. Dylan Moore hit a bunt single on the first pitch he saw, followed by a Kyle Wren single to right. Still with no outs in the inning, Gabriel Noriega doubled to score Moore and push Wren to third. Nate Orf made the first out of the frame in productive fashion, flying out to left to score Wren from third and make it a 4-2 ballgame. Eric Sogard followed suit with a double to score Noriega and cut the deficit to one.

Tristan Archer retired five Nashville batters in a row for the Sky Sox between the fifth and sixth innings, but with two outs in the bottom of the sixth Laureano hit a solo jack for his second hit and RBI of the night to extend Nashville's lead to 5-3.

That score would hold until the top of the ninth inning, when the Sky Sox rallied late in an eventful inning. Down to their final two outs, Wren drew a walk, followed by a Noriega single. Quintin Berry then came into the game to pinch-run for Noriega at first and represent the tying run, but a double-steal attempt ended with Wren being thrown out at third and Berry safely taking second. The Sky Sox regained a little momentum when Orf was hit-by-pitch right on the hands to once again give Colorado Springs two baserunners with the tying run on first and the winning run at the plate. Down to his final strike, Sogard would single to score Berry and give Colorado Springs a fighting chance, but a Tyrone Taylor strikeout would strand Orf and Sogard and bring the game to an end with a final score of 5-4, as the Sounds won their third victory in a row over the Sky Sox.

The Sky Sox are in the midst of a nine-game road trip. First, Colorado Springs will take on the Nashville Sounds for four games before heading to Memphis to play the Redbirds for five 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 second game of the four-game set against the Nashville Sounds, the Sky Sox are sending righty Corbin Burnes to the mound to face righty Chris Bassitte- for the Sounds. The last time the Sky Sox faced the Sounds was in Nashville on their last road trip, splitting the series at two games apiece.

Orf on the Rise: The sacrifice fly by Nate Orf in the fifth inning Monday night was his 16th career sacrifice fly with the Sky Sox, passing Garrett Atkins for 9th place on the sacrifice fly list. Next up at tied for 7th: Matt Miller and Ben Petrick with 17 sacrifice flies each.

Patterns: With the loss Monday night the Sky Sox fell to 5-3 against the Sounds this year. After having won five games in a row against Nashville initially, Colorado Springs dropped three in a row to the Sounds.

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 Sunday 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 in game two of the doubleheader on Saturday 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.

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

NEXT GAME: Tuesday, May 22 @ Nashville Sounds - 5:35 p.m. MDT @ First Tennessee Park

RHP Corbin Burnes (1-1, 4.83) vs. RHP Chris Bassitt (1-2, 7.33)-| Broadcast on XTRA Sports 1300

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

COS TOP PERFORMERS

- Nate Orf (1-for-2, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 1 BB)

- Gabriel Noriega (2-for-4, 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI)

- Eric Sogard (2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI)

  NAS TOP PERFORMERS

- Ramon Laureano (2-for-2, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI)

- Jorge Mateo (2-for-3, 2 RBI)

- J.B. Wendelken (W, 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO)

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