Sox Shut Out Express, 4-0

Early offense plus some stout pitching from Taylor Jungmann gave the Colorado Springs Sky Sox a 4-0 shutout of the Round Rock Express in front of 8,741 at the Dell Diamond Thursday night.

Returning to the Austin area after pitching at the University of Texas, Jungmann (9-2, 2.59 ERA) threw his fifth straight six-inning quality start, allowing five hits while striking out five batters. The scoreless start was his fourth this season with the Sky Sox and first since June 30 at Omaha. Tristan Archer, Tyler Webb and Rob Scahill shut down Round Rock over the final three innings to complete the 10^th Sky Sox shutout of the season in their final road game of 2017.
Kyle Wren put the Sky Sox (78-55) ahead four pitches into the game by launching his fifth home run of the season off Round Rock RHP David Ledbetter. For the outfielder, the long ball to right-center field was his third leadoff shot in 2017 after starting the game with a home run on June 24 at New Orleans and August 15 at Iowa.
Colorado Springs extended their lead with two runs in the second inning. A walk in between two singles loaded the bases for Ivan De Jesus and the PCL leader in batting average lined a single to center fielder, scoring Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Tyler Heineman to put the visitors up 3-0.
The Sox tacked on another run in the eighth inning off reliever Jimmy Reyes. Orf reached on a double off the top of the wall for his fifth hit in two games and would score one batter later, just beating the throw home from Jared Hoying after Nick Noonan lined a RBI single to the center fielder.
The Sox return to Security Service Field for the final series of the 2017 regular season against the Memphis Redbirds. RHP Bubba Derby (5-0, 3.39 ERA) makes his first appearance against St. Louis' top affiliate when he squares off with RHP Ryan Helsley (0-0. 0.00 ERA).