Redbirds See Five-Game Winning Streak Snapped in 4-3 Loss

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado - The Memphis Redbirds did not score after the third inning Friday night, and the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Brewers) scored twice in the seventh inning and took game one of a four-game series in Colorado Springs, 4-3.

The division-champion Redbirds are now 89-49 on the season. Colorado Springs, who will face the Redbirds in the opening round of the playoffs next week, is now 79-55.
Memphis got home runs from Breyvic Valera and Tyler O'Neill in the first inning, with Valera's leading off the game and O'Neill's his 29th of the season. Memphis' other run came in the third, when starting pitcher Ryan Helsley doubled, went to third on a Valera single, and scored on a Rangel Ravelo base knock.
In his Triple-A debut, Helsley worked 5.0 innings, giving up two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. He left with Memphis leading 3-2, but the Sky Sox scored twice in the bottom of the seventh off Josh Zeid to take a 4-3 advantage.
The Redbirds put the tying run on base in the eighth, but the final six went down in order to end the ballgame and snap Memphis' five-game winning streak.
The Redbirds and Sky Sox play three more games continuing tomorrow night at 7:00 (CT) before seeing each other in the playoffs, beginning at AutoZone Park on Wednesday, with game one presented by Coca-Cola, and Thursday. Playoff tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.memphisredbirds.com/playoffs, over the phone at (901) 721-6000, and at the AutoZone Park Box Office.