Sox Pitching Sees Red in 15-1 Loss to Memphis

Published on July 5, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The Sky Sox had no answers for Memphis on Independence Day as the visiting Redbirds piled on 22 hits in their 15-1 series-opening victory before a sold out Colorado Springs crowd of 8,896 at Security Service Field on Saturday night.

Memphis would get to starter Tim Dillard (2-2, 7.14) for 12 runs (11 earned) in the game's first two frames. Dillard lasted just 1.1 innings in the blowout loss, surrendering 11 hits and a walk in that time. Nine of Memphis' hits went for singles as Cody Stanley, Nick Martini, Matt Williams, Dan Johnson and Jeremy Hazelbaker combined for 10 RBI in the early going with Stanley and Williams each collecting three.

Wirfin Obispo relived the struggling Dillard with one out in the second, tossing three total innings of one-run ball on four hits while striking out a whopping six Redbirds.

With the score now 13-0 in favor of Memphis, Nick Additon would come on with one out in the fifth in hopes of keeping the Redbirds right where they were. He did just that in the fifth before going on to pitch 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out four.

Redbirds righty Zach Petrick (5-4, 3.64) benefitted from far better fortunes on America's birthday, shutting down the Colorado Springs lineup over 7.2 innings of truly impressive work. The starter allowed just six hits while walking none and striking out four, benefiting from an abundance of groundball outs.

Newest Sox addition Austin Ross took over in the ninth to round out the arms used by manager Rick Sweet in a tough night for the home town pitching staff. Ross worked a scoreless inning, striking out one along the way in his Security Service field debut to send the Sox to the bottom of the ninth still trailing by 15.

The Sky Sox showed signs of life in the contest's final frame, recording a run with hits by Logan Schafer and Matt Long before a Yadiel Rivera sacrifice fly to left scored Schafer from third to end the shutout. The run came off of reliever Joey Donofrio whom the Sox were clearly thankful to see, notching four base hits and their lone run against the righty in his 1.1 innings. Already with three hits under his belt in a perfect night at the plate, Juan Centeno came up with a man on and two out in the ninth and followed with a game-ending fly out to center.

The Sky Sox managed ten hits in the while every Redbirds starter collected at least one knock with seven notching multi-hit performances. Stanley led the offensive charge for Memphis with his five-hit, four RBI night.

Colorado Springs falls to 32-48 with the loss, helping Memphis improve to 42-41 on the season.

The crowd of 8,896 on Saturday night represents the seventh largest Pacific Coast League season crowd in team history, and largest since Security Service Field's 2006 renovation. An exhibition between the Rockies and Sky Sox on 4/21/1994 saw a slightly higher attendance with 8,947 fans enjoying the contest.

The Sox will look to get back in the win column after a quick turnaround on Sunday afternoon as they take on these same Redbirds in the second of a four-game set. Tyler Thornburg (1-4, 4.75) is set to take on Memphis lefty Tyler Lyons (5-4, 3.10) with first pitch set for 1:35 PM MDT at Security Service Field.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 5, 2015


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