Zephyrs Walk-Off on Sox in Extras

Published on July 30, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The Zephyrs won in dramatic fashion on Thursday night, concluding a 3-2 contest that began Wednesday evening in New Orleans as the Sky Sox fell before as crowd of 2,617 at Zephyrs field.

The Sky Sox and Zephyrs were scoreless in New Orleans with two outs in the fifth before the skies opened up, causing umpires to suspend play after a 33-minute delay at Zephyr Field on Wednesday night.

Sox starter Hiram Burgos held the Zephyrs lineup hitless through four strong frames, allowing just one base-runner on a walk while striking out three.

Colorado Springs would collect four hits against New Orleans right-hander Kendry Flores, threatening with runners on the corners with two-out in the top of the fifth before Mother Nature had her way.

Left-hander Greg Nappo took over in the pivotal two-out situation when play restarted shortly after 5:30 PM MDT on Thursday, walking Kyle Wren before getting Luis Sardinas to fly out and end the threat.

After a slew of defensive changes, Drew Gagnon would be called upon to continue the contest in the fifth. Gagnon would continue a trend started by Burgos, holding the Zephyrs offense hitless for two innings to help the Sox keep New Orleans out of the hit column for six total innings. Reid Brignac would end any hopes of a combined no-hitter, leading off the home seventh with a go-ahead home run to give New Orleans a late 1-0 lead.

The Sox offense would strike back in the very next frame on the strength of Kyle Wren's first Triple-A home run. The speedy outfielder's solo blast against left-hander Chris Reed knotted the ballgame at one through nine as Michael Kirkman and David Goforth combined for 2.2 scoreless innings of relief to send the game in to extras.

The 10th and decisive inning would bring enough excitement for the ballgame that began more than 24 hours before the start of the frame. Facing Australian-native Travis Blackley (3-4, 5.72) in his second inning of work, Sox outfielder Matt Long led off by lining a solo homer over the right-centerfield wall to give Colorado a 2-1 lead. Blackley worked out of the frame without further trouble.

Jaye Chapman (2-2, 3.47) came on to close out the 2-1 contest in the bottom of the 10th. Unfortunately he would fall two out shorts of attaining that goal. After Marcell Ozuna reached on a Luis Sardinas throwing error to start the frame, Chapman would strike out Juan Diaz for the first out. Jordanny Valdespin followed with line drive double to right to put two runners in scoring position with one out. Chapman walked Austin Nola to load the bases before hitting Jonathan Solano to force in the tying run still with one out and the bases loaded. Isaac Galloway came through with an RBI base knock in the next at-bat, scoring Valdespin with the game-winner. New Orleans improves to 49-55 with the walk-off thriller while the Sox fall to 41-61.

First pitch for game three of this four-game took place around 9:00 PM MDT on Thursday night at Zephyr Field. Ariel Pena (1-1, 5.16) got the nod for Colorado Springs to take on New Orleans southpaw Justin Nicolino (6-6, 3.43).

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 30, 2015


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