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Sky Sox Sting Bees with Five Run Ninth, 8-7

July 1, 2010 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


The Sky Sox topped the Bees in a thriller Thursday night at Security Service Field, trailing the whole way until surging in front with a five-run ninth, 8-7.

Few at the ballpark would expect the surprise ending, as the first few innings were very much a pitchers duel.

Starters Kurt Birkins and Eric Junge matched each other stride for stride in the early going - the game deadlocked at 0-0 through three.

Salt Lake designated hitter Paul McAnulty broke the draw in the fourth, launching a long home run to right to put the Bees up 1-0.

The Sky Sox scoreless in the bottom half, the Bees would take a commanding five run lead with a four-run fifth. Newcomer Alexi Amarista leading off with a single to right, Nick Gorneault plated the Bees' second run with a triple to deep center. Though the Sky Sox defense held Gorneault in place with a ground out to third, Darwin Perez drove him home with an RBI grounder for the inning's second out.

Though the two-out, none-on scenario looked innocuous enough, the Bees proved resourceful in using every opportunity granted them. Peter Bourjos striding to the plate, his single to right set off a string of three consecutive hits - capped off by Paul McAnulty's two-RBI double.

With the Sky Sox unable to solve Junge, Salt Lake continued to hit away, plating another run in the top of the sixth, 6-0, before the Sox finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh via a Mike Paulk two-run homer.

Both clubs exchanging runs in the eighth, 7-3, the Sky Sox looked dead in the water at the onset of the ninth - the Bees needing just three outs to capture the series' first match.

But as destiny would have it, it was the Sky Sox' night tonight, as the team orchestrated a miraculous comeback in the bottom of the ninth.

With Bees' righty Gabe DeHoyos striding on in relief, the Sox got to work. Coaxing a leadoff double followed by consecutive walks, DeHoyos was mercifully pulled in favor of Michael Kohn.

But Kohn would fare no better. Allowing a two-RBI single to Michael McKenry, 7-5, Kohn botched a Chris Frey sacrifice bunt attempt that scored the clubs sixth run. With two runners advancing to scoring position on the play, the Sky Sox had victory in their sights. After a subsequent Omar Quintanilla strikeout, Jay Payton delivered the death blow, launching clearing the bases with a two-RBI walk-off double to left.

With the victory, the Sky Sox improve to 37-43 while the Bees fall to 40-40. The two teams will face off again tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM.



Pacific Coast League Stories from July 1, 2010


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