Sky Sox Walk Off on Wild Pitch

Colorado Springs, Colo. -  A walk and a pair of wild pitches provided the formula for the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the Colorado Springs Sky Sox defeated the Oklahoma City Dodgers, 2-1, in the series opener of the teams' four-game set Saturday night at Security Service Field.
Tied, 1-1, in the bottom of the ninth inning, Tyrone Taylor drew a walk with one out. With Dylan Moore at the plate, Dodgers reliever Ariel Hernadez fired a wild pitch. Catcher Cael Brockmeyer was slow getting to the ball at the backstop, as Taylor went all the way to third base uncontested.
The Dodgers (24-10) elected to intentionally walk Moore to set up a potential double play. But OKC never had the chance to turn two. Facing Gabriel Noriega, Hernandez (1-1) threw his second wild pitch of the inning, allowing Taylor to score the winning run. 
 
It was the third time this season the Dodgers have been on the wrong end of a game that ended in walk-off fashion. Including Saturday, the Dodgers have lost five of their last seven road games, but by a combined total of six runs. 
OKC also lost for the 10th time in the team's last 12 games at Security Service Field, as well as for the seventh time in their last eight games at that ballpark.
The Dodgers had been shutout through seven innings and trailed, 1-0. Kyle Garlick led off the eighth inning as a pinch hitter and promptly tied the game with a home run to right-center field. It was Garlick's fourth home run in the last three games, as well as his fifth in his last five games.
Later in the inning, the Dodgers got back-to-back singles with one out by Alex Verdugo and Jacob Scavuzzo. Sky Sox reliver Rhadames Liz escaped the jam after Henry Ramos flied out near the wall in right field and Danny Espinosa struck out.
Each team notched seven hits, combining to go 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and collect just one extra-base hit - Garlick's home run.
After Sky Sox scheduled starting pitcher Freddy Peralta was a late scratch, Tristan Archer retired all nine batters he faced over three innings. The Dodgers threatened against Tim Dillard in the fourth inning, loading the bases on a walk, a single and hit batter with two outs. However, Dillard struck out Jake Peter on a pitch that barely caught the outside corner to leave the bases loaded.
Colorado Springs (22-13) ended the stalemate in the sixth inning. Noriega led off with a single and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt. Nate Orf followed with a RBI single to right field to give the Sky Sox a 1-0 lead. 
It was the only blemish on a solid outing from OKC starting pitcher Tyler Pill. He went a season-high six innings, allowing just the one run and seven hits, with no walks and four strikeouts. All seven hits were singles, and he held the Sky Sox 2-for-12 with runners on base. 
Between Pill and relievers Joe Broussard, Edward Paredes and Hernandez, the pitching staff had retired 10 straight batters and 12 of the previous 13 batters prior to Taylor's walk in the ninth inning.
In addition to avoiding trouble the eighth inning, Liz (4-2) worked around a one-out walk in the ninth inning and earned the win.
The Dodgers continue their series out west with a Mother's Day matinee at 2:30 p.m. Central time Sunday at Security Service Field. Live coverage begins 15 minutes before first pitch on AM 1340 "The Game," 1340thegame.com, or through the free iHeartRadio mobile app.