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Sky Sox Rally Late to Defeat Aces, 5-4

July 7, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


Down 4-1, entering the bottom of the eighth inning, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (47-41) scored four runs to seize the lead from the Reno Aces (35-55), and win their third game of the series, 5-4 after an hour delay to begin the game.

With their second straight win on the line, shortstop Charlie Culberson began the rally in the eighth with a double down the line off of right-hander Brett Lorin (L, 0-1). After a ground out to first by Tim Wheeler, Charlie Blackmon singled home Culberson to cut the Aces' lead in half. Red-hot Ryan Wheeler then stepped to the plate looking to extend his hitting streak to a season-high 12 games and succeeded by knocking a RBI double to right field. Now down one, Xavier Nady came up also looking for his first hit of the day. The major league veteran responded with a double, and then advanced to third on a throwing error, for his first RBI in a Sky Sox uniform.

Reno pulled Lorin after the hit and brought in Evan Marshall. Coming into the game the righty was 1-1 against the Sky Sox with his one loss coming on April 6 when he allowed a walk-off RBI single to Ben Paulsen in the bottom of the 15th inning to give the Sox the 3-2 win.

Tonight Marshall again faced the first baseman, and for the second time this season gave up a costly RBI single to Paulsen which gave Colorado Springs the 5-4 lead. The four runs in the inning would be all the Sky Sox would get however, as Paulsen was thrown out trying to advance his RBI single into his second double of the game.

Hanging on to a one-run lead Coty Woods, who is second on the team in saves with three, stepped onto the mound with the hope of clinching the team's second straight victory. The inning started off precariously for the side-armed reliever, as he allowed a lead-off single to Alfredo Marte. Marte then proceeded to advance to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Bortnick. On a 3-1 count Woods walked Juan Rivera to put the go-ahead runner on first. The runners advanced to second and third on a ground-out by Josh Wilson, but Aces' center fielder Brad Snyder grounded out to Hernan Iribarren to end the game.

The win gives the Sox a 2-1 series lead over the Aces and their second win in July. Tonight's starting pitcher Chris Volstad went five innings and gave up four earned runs including a solo shot to Chris Owings in the third. Volstad's opponent Mark Serrano stymied the Sox' offense for five innings, only allowing one run on four hits. Colorado Springs' reliever Hisanori Takahashi (W, 2-0) got the win after pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

Tomorrow the Sky Sox are going for their first series win since winning three out of four games against the Tacoma Rainiers from 6/18-6/21. Newly called up pitcher, Collin McHugh (NR) will pitch for Colorado Springs after spending the beginning of the season with the Las Vegas 51s. The righty will be facing off against Nate Adcock (2-0, 6.75) in a Sunday matinee beginning at 1:35 P.M. MT.

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