Sky Sox Split With Baby Cakes, 10-5

Garrett Cooper and Brett Phillips combined for eight RBI, and Brent Suter allowed one earned run as the Colorado Springs Sky Sox earned a series split with the New Orleans Baby Cakes, 10-5, in front of 3,803 Friday night at Security Service Field.

For the first time in the four-game series, the Sky Sox (27-17) struck first, taking a 2-0 lead after one inning. Lewis Brinson drove in his first run since May 16, lining a triple to the right-centerfield gap to score Kyle Wren two batters into the game. Two batters later, Garrett Cooper drove in run No. 39-and his first since May 12-on a groundball single up the middle to plate Brinson.
The top of the order produced again in the third inning, scoring two more runs to double the Sox lead to 4-0. After Baby Cakes starter Scott Copeland walked the bases full to start the frame, Garrett Cooper lined a sacrifice fly to center field to score Wren for the first baseman's 40^th RBI of the season and second of the night. One batter later, Brett Phillips drove in his 35^th run of 2017 on the second straight sacrifice fly to score Brinson.
The big night for Cooper continued in the fifth inning against Baby Cakes reliever Odrisamer Despaigne, as the first baseman launched his eighth home run of the season off the scoreboard. The three-run shot scored both Brinson and Ryan Cordell and was the first home run for a Sky Sox batter since May 22 in Albuquerque.
New Orleans (17-31) scored three times in the seventh inning to cut the deficit to two runs, but the Sox scored three times in the bottom half of the inning to respond and re-extend the lead to 10-5. With one out, Phillips launched his 10^th home run of the season to right-centerfield, scoring Cooper for RBI No. 36 and 37 for the right fielder.
Two batters later, Yadiel Rivera grounded a RBI single up the middle to score Kirk Nieuwenhuis and give the Sox double-digit runs for the ninth time this season.
Meanwhile, Suter (3-1, 3.13) earned his third win on the mound, allowing one earned run on three hits with six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. In his four career appearances against New Orleans, Suter has allowed three earned runs and struck out 17 batters against both the Zephyrs and the Baby Cakes.
The Sky Sox head back on the road to wrap up May for five games in four days with the Nashville Sounds in Middle Tennessee. RHP Hiram Burgos (2-3, 5.94) leads Colorado Springs into First Tennessee Park to face fellow righty Daniel Gossett (2-2, 3.59) at 5:35 p.m. MT.