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Sox Fall In Slugfest, 14-10

Eight starters record a hit and score a run in Thursday's defeat.
The Sky Sox turn their attention to the division-rival Iowa Cubs for a four-game series in three days at Security Service Field. (Paat Kelly)
June 9, 2017

Andrew Susac, Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Garrett Cooper each drove in two runs, but the Round Rock Express clinched the four-game series by defeating the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, 14-10, Thursday night in front of 6,023 at Security Service Field.

Andrew Susac, Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Garrett Cooper each drove in two runs, but the Round Rock Express clinched the four-game series by defeating the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, 14-10, Thursday night in front of 6,023 at Security Service Field.

The Sky Sox (33-24) sent 11 batters to the plate in the first inning, jumping out to a quick 6-0 lead with the first six batters scoring. Cooper lined a bases-loaded single to center field to plate Kyle Wren for his 46th RBI of the season. After Nate Orf scored on a wild pitch, Ryan Cordell grounded a single to left field to score Lewis Brinson and extend the lead to three runs.
Nieuwenhuis followed Cordell's base knock with a double down the right field line, scoring Cooper. With one out, Gabriel Noriega grounded out to shortstop to plate Cordell, and Susac drove in Nieuwenhuis one batter later with a single to left for his first RBI since coming off the disabled list June 6.
After Round Rock (30-31) tied the game with a six-spot in the top of the second inning, Colorado Springs responded and re-took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. With two out, Susac grounded a RBI double down the third base line to score Noriega for his second RBI of the night. The catcher came in to score one batter later, when Wren blooped a broken-bat single to shallow right field for his third hit of the game in as many innings.
The Sox cracked the scoreboard again with a single run in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 9-6. Nieuwenhuis drove his second double out to the batter's eye in center field, easily scoring Cooper for the second time.
The hosts didn't go quietly in the ninth inning, as Cooper lined his second RBI single of the night to score Susac and cut the deficit to four runs. Cooper maintains third place in the Pacific Coast League with 47 RBIs in 2017.
The homestand continues Friday night at 7 p.m. when the division-rival Iowa Cubs come to Security Service Field for the first time in 2017. LHP Josh Hader (3-4, 5.37) makes his 13th start of the season against Iowa RHP Williams Pérez (0-6, 7.79). Friday night is Girl Scout Night as well as Home Runs for Mental Health with a post-game fireworks show, presented by AspenPointe, Peak View Behavioral Health and Cedar Springs Hospital.