Sky Sox Win Home Opener Handily

Published on April 11, 2018 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Colorado Springs Sky Sox won their home opener 8-1 against the New Orleans Baby Cakes on Tuesday night at Security Service Field. The Sky Sox scored four early runs in the first two innings of the game before tacking on three more runs in the fourth inning off of homers from Keon Broxton and Christian Bethancourt.

NOTES

Early and Often: The Sky Sox didn't waste any time in 2018 putting runs on the board at Security Service Field, scoring once in the bottom of the first frame and thrice in the bottom of the second in Tuesday's home opener against New Orleans. Keon Broxton tacked on another in the fourth inning with a solo shot over the left-center field wall, followed quickly by a two-run homer from Christian Bethancourt to go up by seven.

Freddy Starts Strong: Freddy Peralta is off to a strong start in the first week of this 2018 season. In his first appearance of the season- on April 5 in game two of a doubleheader- Peralta threw five scoreless innings of one-hit ball, striking out six and walking just two en route to a victory. Tonight Peralta threw another five scoreless innings, this time allowing three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts, earning his second win of the year in as many starts.

Broxton Bombs: Keon Broxton opened the year by going 4-for-4 with a bomb in the season opener in Omaha. Tonight Broxton smacked his second homer of the season with a solo shot over the left-center field wall that narrowly missed the scoreboard.

Historical Opening Day: Tonight marks the first time since September 24, 1916 that a Colorado Springs professional baseball team dressed as the Millionaires; the first professional baseball team in the Springs. On May 2, 1901, the Millionaires opened their inaugural season, falling to the Des Moines Hawkeyes 5-2 at Washburn Field. The losing pitcher for the Millionaires was Welcome Gaston.

Lucky Number Seven: The Sky Sox 8-1 victory tied the largest margin of victory in a Sky Sox home opener at 7 runs, which has been done two other times: April 3rd, 1997, Sky Sox beat the Phoenix Firebirds, 10-3; April 14th, 2000, Sky Sox beat the Edmonton Trappers, 10-3.

Did you Know: Omaha and Des Moines are the only two cities to field an opposing team against a Colorado Springs professional baseball team in each era: the Millionaires (1901-05, 1916), Sky Sox (1950-54), and modern era Sky Sox (since 1998). Since 1988, Tacoma and Las Vegas are the only two cities to play all 31 years in the PCL with the Sky Sox.

Sun's Out, Run's Out: With Colorado Springs notorious for their cold April games, the 61 degrees at first pitch tonight is one of the better days (temperature-wise) on home openers in recent years, and the warmest since 2014 (April 11th, 2014 vs. Round Rock - 75 degrees). There were only two times when the home opener was postponed: April 13th, 1996 vs. Calgary (snowed out), and April 11th, 2008 vs. Tacoma (cold temperatures). On April 7th, 1998, the home opener vs. Oklahoma was shortened to six innings due to snow, Sky Sox winning 6-2. On April 16th, 1999 vs. Tacoma, the game was suspended in the second inning due to snow, with the Sky Sox winning the completion of the suspended game the next day, 7-4 over the Rainiers.

Homecoming: The Sky Sox are now 16-15 in the first home game of the season at Security Service Field. This will also mark the second time that New Orleans played Colorado Springs at the Sky Sox home opener. The other instance came on April 13th, 2001, when the Zephyrs beat the Sky Sox, 13-4.

Wednesday's Expectation: Tomorrow, in game two of this three-game series against New Orleans, right-hander Brandon Woodruff is expected to take the mound for the Sky Sox, with righty Zac Gallen (1-0, 0.00 ERA) set to oppose him on the bump for the Baby Cakes.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 11, 2018


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