Z's storm past Sky Sox in series opener

Brian Flynn worked around four walks to hold the Colorado Springs Sky Sox scoreless on two hits through the first six innings on Thursday, and the New Orleans Zephyrs exploded for five runs in the seventh inning on their way to an 8-2 win at Security Service Field in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Jake Marisnick put the Zephyrs in front 1-0 with a home run in the fifth inning to put Flynn (4-2) in line for the victory, but the Z's offense did its most damage two innings later when Brian Bogusevic hit a two-run triple that drove in Rob Brantly and Marisnick.

Colorado Springs starter Christian Friedrich (1-4) then walked Juan Diaz and gave pinch hitter Matt Angle an intentional pass before Rob Scahill entered the game in relief. Scahill gave up run-scoring singles to Josh Rodriguez and Kyle Jensen that sandwiched a sacrifice fly from Mark Canha that drove home Bogusevic.

The Zephyrs entered the seventh-inning stretch with a 6-0 lead, but the final three runs were unearned because Marisnick had reached base on an error by Josh Rutledge, Colorado Springs' second of the game.

One of the Z's three errors cost them in the bottom half of the inning when Diaz made a throwing error on a ball hit by Rafael Ynoa against reliever Chaz Roe with two outs, and Ryan Wheeler and Drew Garcia both scored on the play.

Roe also pitched a perfect eighth inning with two strikeouts, and Grant Dayton finished the game, allowing a lead off hit to Wheeler in the ninth before retiring the next three hitters.

Dayton entered the game with a six-run lead, however, and Jordany Valdespin hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot off of Greg Burke after Angle had opened the inning with a single.

The Zephyrs finished with 10 hits and have had double-digit hit totals in four of their last five games, as eight different batters picked up at least one hit Thursday.

Rodriguez and Bogusevic both went 2-for-4, while Marisnick and Angle each had a hit and scored two runs apiece.

The Zephyrs and Sky Sox will continue their four-game series with a game at 7:35 p.m. Friday at Security Service Field. Bryan Evans (4-1, 4.50 ERA) is scheduled to take the hill for the Z's against Pedro Hernandez (0-2, 6.75) of Colorado Springs.