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Sky Sox Stun Dodgers with Four in Ninth

June 24, 2015 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - Home runs would set the tone early Tuesday afternoon as the Sky Sox used one big three-run shot to complete an impressive comeback in a 7-6 win over the Oklahoma City Dodgers before a crowd of 6,851 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

As they've done with great frequency over the last two weeks, the Sky Sox jumped out to a quick lead against OKC starter Deck McGuire thanks to the team's first long ball since June 14th in Iowa. Matt Clark would provide the thump, taking the first pitch he saw from the right-handed McGuire over the right field wall to score Kyle Wren and give the Sox a 2-0 lead after one.

Tyler Cravy would struggle in his second shortest outing of the season, giving up six runs on nine hits while striking out four over four plus innings of work. The normally reliable starter gave up a solo home run to top-prospect Corey Seager in the home first, allowing the Dodgers to cut the lead in half after one. Seager would make life a little more difficult for Cravy before all was said and done.

Nevin Ashley added a solo blast of his own in the top of the second to regain a two-run advantage for Colorado Springs. The lead would not last long however as Cravy would allow five singles and three runs to the Dodgers offense in the very next frame. Brian Ward and Darwin Barney collected RBI base knocks in the second with Darnell Sweeney picking up an RBI on a sacrifice fly.

Each team would keep their opponent off the scoreboard for the next two innings before OKC broke through against Cravy for the final time in the home fifth. Barney led off the frame with a double, bringing Seager to the plate for a prime run-producing opportunity. The shortstop took full advantage as he drilled a Cravy pay-off pitch over the right-centerfield wall to extend the Dodger lead to 6-3. The long ball chased the Sox starter as Rick Sweet elected to go to Ariel Pena out of the Colorado Springs bullpen to finish the fifth. Pena would strike out the side, not before walking the bases loaded, to keep the Sox deficit to three.

Former MLB closer Brandon League came on to relieve McGuire after five strong innings of five hit, one run ball that saw the righty strike out five along the way. League tossed two solid innings to keep Colorado Springs at bay, allowing just one hit while striking out one. Lefties Michael Kirkman and Nick Additon (3-2, 6.23) provided the Sky Sox exactly what they need over sixth, seventh and eight innings as the two combined for three scoreless frames to maintain the 6-3 score. Kirkman tallied three strikeouts in his two-inning stint.

With a scoreless frame already under his belt, OKC would send lefty David Huff (3-1, 1.88) to the mound for his second inning of work in hopes of closing out the Sky Sox in the ninth. Huff issued a free pass to Clark to lead off the ninth before getting Matt Dominguez to ground into a double play in the next at-bat. Sweet sent Robinzon Diaz to the plate to pinch-hit for Additon in hopes of providing one last spark. The catcher, in signature style lined a single to right-center to keep the Sox hopes alive. Matt Long followed with another base hit, bringing Ashley to the plate with two on and two out. Ashley would ground to short, leaving the normally sure-handed Seager to end the ballgame with an accurate throw. Seager couldn't do it as his throwing error allowed Diaz to score and Ashley to reach, giving Colorado Springs hope for a rally.

Now the ballgame rested on the shoulders of the slap-hitting Yadiel Rivera as the Sox had two on with two out in the top of the ninth, trailing 6-4. Rivera wasted no time, smacking the first pitch he saw from Huff over the left field wall for a clutch lead-taking, three-run home run. Pete Orr followed with a single to chase Huff before reliever Juan Gonzalez induced an inning-ending groundout off the bat of Wren to stop the bleeding.

David Goforth pitched a scoreless ninth to nail down the 7-6 comeback victory over the Dodgers, helping the Sox improve to 29-41. With the loss, OKC falls to 47-24 on the season.

The Sky Sox are back at it tomorrow as they take on these same Dodgers in the rubber game of the current three-game set. Tyler Thornburg (1-4, 5.13) will look to turn in a solid performance against OKC and starter Matt Shelton (0-1, 1.80) with first pitch slated for 6:05 PM MDT at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on Thursday.



Pacific Coast League Stories from June 24, 2015


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