Thornburg's Bat Can't Carry Sox In 2-1 Loss

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The Sky Sox fell in another one-run contest with the Redbirds in a 2-1 loss in front of 2,136 fans at AutoZone Park in Memphis on Thursday evening.

Right-hander Tyler Thornburg would toss five innings of one-run ball in his third outing for the Sox since being sent to Triple-A to stretch out his innings. He would allow two hits and three walks while striking out two over that time. The run would come in the very first inning as Xavier Scruggs scored Dean Anna on a sacrifice fly after Anna lead off the home half with a single.

The Sky Sox would score their lone run in the fifth, thanks to Thornburg's own two-out RBI triple that plated Nevin Ashley to knot the game at one.

Redbirds starter Zach Petrick twirled an impressive six inning outing, allowing just the one run on four hits and two walks while striking out three in a no decision.

The game would become a battle of the bullpens after the starters went five and six innings respectively, giving either side a chance to take home the W.

Redbirds righties Tyler Waldron and Marcus Hatley (1-1, 2.35) would toss three combined scoreless inning in relief of Petrick with Hatley recording four strikeouts in his two frames.

Taking over for Thornburg in the sixth, left-hander Michael Kirkman made his Sky Sox debut in the sixth inning, tossing a scoreless frame with three consecutive groundouts.

Chris Leroux (1-3, 3.94) took over in the seventh, also pitching a scoreless frame before going out for a second inning in the bottom of the eighth. With runners on second and third after a walk and errant throw on Dean Anna's sacrifice bunt opened, Leroux faced an uphill battle with Ed Easley at the dish in the next at-bat.

Easley would please the home crowd with an RBI single to centerfield, scoring Ty Kelly from third easily before Anna was cut down at the plate on a Logan Schafer throw to Nevin Ashley. Leroux would work out of further trouble, however, Kelly's run would be the final scored in the ballgame as the Redbirds would close out Colorado Springs 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth to secure a 2-1 series-ending win.

The Sky Sox will look to get back on track on Friday night as they travel to Iowa to take on the Cubs in the first of a four-game set. Drew Gagnon (1-2, 5.40) will take the hill against fellow right-hander Donn Roach (3-0, 2.59) with first pitch set for 6:08 PM MDT at Principal Park.