Sky Sox Offense Erupts In 6-4 Win

After the offense was silent for most of the previous two games, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox offense had its best performance of the young season on Sunday afternoon, scoring six runs on 15 base hits to win the finale of the season opening four game series in Memphis. The win gave the Sky Sox a split of the series.  

The Sky Sox bats got off to a fast start in the first. Alex Presley led off the game with a double to right field. Orlando Arcia drove him home with a single to left for his first career Triple-A RBI. Michael Reed followed with a single for the Sky Sox third consecutive hit to start the game. A couple batters later, Will Middlebrooks doubled down the left field line to score to score both Arcia and Reed and give the Sky Sox an early 3-0 lead off Memphis starter Thomas Lee (0-1, 7.20).

In the bottom of the inning, Memphis rallied for a run off Sky Sox starter Jorge Lopez (0-0, 7.36) and had the bases loaded with two outs. Batter Mike Ohlman hit a line drive that bounced to right fielder Shane Peterson. Alertly, Peterson fired to first to get the force out to end the inning and get Lopez out of trouble.

The Sky Sox added to the lead in the third on an RBI single by Josmil Pinto. But Memphis answered in the bottom of the third on an RBI ground out from Patrick Wisdom.

In the fourth, the Sky Sox again added to their lead on a single from Garin Cecchini on a hit and run play. Reed, running on the play, scored from first on a fielding error by right fielder Carlos Peguero. Dean Anna cut the Sky Sox lead back to two in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single.

With two outs in the fourth, Lopez was pulled from the game and Mitch Lambson entered with two men on. With one pitch, Lambson got out of the jam to end the inning. In his first Triple-A start, Lopez struck out five and allowed three earned runs in 3.2 innings.

Jacob Barnes (1-0, 0.00) pitched the fifth and sixth innings and didn't allow a run to get his first win of the season. Brooks Hall followed by pitching two scoreless innings of his own to give the Sky Sox a 5-3 lead going to the ninth inning.

Reed extended the lead in the ninth by driving home Arcia with a single. Arcia and Reed each finished with three hits.

David Goforth allowed a run in the bottom of the ninth, but was able to nail down his first save of the season.

The Sky Sox will conclude their season opening eight game road trip with four games in Nashville against the Sounds. The first game is tomorrow at 5:35 pm MDT. Hiram Burgos (NR) will make his 2016 debut against Sean Manaea (NR).