PERALTA ORCHESTRATES SILENCE OF SOUNDS IN 4-0 SERIES FINALE

POSTGAME NOTES
Thursday, May 24, 2018 @ Nashville Sounds
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (26-19) | Nashville Sounds (24-22)
PERALTA ORCHESTRATES SILENCE OF SOUNDS IN 4-0 SERIES FINALE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Sky Sox snapped their six-game losing streak and avoided a series sweep with a 4-0 shutout victory over the Nashville Sounds Thursday night. Freddy Peralta, who was recently optioned by Milwaukee after two starts with the Brewers, was pure domination in his return, blindsiding the Sounds with five scoreless innings while allowing just three singles and striking out eight. The Sky Sox improve to a 26-19 overall record and gain a game in the American North standings with Oklahoma City's loss in Memphis.   
For the first time in the series against Nashville, the Sky Sox were first to strike on the board. In the top of the second inning, after Brett Phillips led off the inning with a single, fellow outfield companion Tyrone Taylor launched his fourth home run to left field to give the Sky Sox the early 2-0 lead.
The Sky Sox continued the trend into the third and fifth innings, plating solo runs in each frame. In the third, three consecutive singles by Kyle Wren, Keon Broxton, and Christian Bethancourt would manufacture the one run. In the fifth, after Nate Orf reached second base on a Nashville throwing error by shortstop Jorge Mateo on his groundball and moved to third on Quintin Berry's groundball, Bethancourt collected his second RBI of the night on his sacrifice fly ball which turned into an appealed play, resulting into an inning-ending double play, giving the Sky Sox the 4-0 advantage.
The Sky Sox bullpen continued the trend for Peralta after his exit. Michael Brady and Tristan Archer combined for four scoreless innings of five-hit ball with three strikeouts.
In the ninth, the Sounds tallied their first extra-base hit of the night - a leadoff double off the bat of BJ Boyd. They threatened with one out and runners on first and second, but a strikeout to Mateo and fly out to Phillips would end the rally and the ballgame.
The Sky Sox head into the first game of five against the Memphis Redbirds tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at AutoZone Park. The Sky Sox head back home for a five-game homestand beginning May 30 against the Iowa Cubs. For all information on Sky Sox, follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and visit the team's website at www.skysox.com.
__NOTES__
Tomorrow's Expectation: In the first game of the four-game set against the Memphis Redbirds, the Sky Sox are sending right-hander Bubba Derby to the mound to face righty Daniel Poncedeleon for the Redbirds.
Welcome Back, Peralta: Right-hander Freddy Peralta, who was optioned on May 21 from Milwaukee where the 21-year-old made Brewers rookie history in his MLB debut in Denver, was phenomenal Thursday night in Nashville. Peralta tossed five scoreless innings while allowing just three singles and striking out eight Sounds' batters. With his sixth win, he is tied for first place in the Pacific Coast League in the category.
Six Snapped: After tallying the most consecutive losses so far this season, and most since dropping eight straight in 2016, the Sky Sox broke the streak with a series finale shutout victory. The Sky Sox dropped five games in a row to Nashville before the win Thursday night. The Sky Sox now take a 6-5 season series advantage over the Sounds.
Third Shutout: The Sky Sox marked their third shutout Thursday night after 46 games played so far this season. The squad's first two shutouts game within the first 14 games of 2018. The first came on Opening Day in game two of the doubleheader against Omaha (4-0). The second came 12 games later on April 19 when Colorado Springs shutout New Orleans 3-0 at the Shrine.
Taking On Memphis: In four games played against the Redbirds so far this season, the Sky Sox are 1-3 after taking game one at home 10-5 on May 17 but dropping the next three with a run differential of 8-28. In Poncedeleon's last outing in game three at Security Service Field, the righty lasted five innings while allowing three runs on eight hits and struck out 10.
Zig-Zagurski: Veteran southpaw Mike Zagurski currently holds the top spot in games pitched (21) and holds (10) throughout the Pacific Coast League. On Wednesday night, he improved his road stats to a 0.87 ERA (1 ER in 10.1 IP) with 18 strikeouts. In 19.2 innings pitched over 21 games, the lefty has only allowed 13 hits, six runs, and 10 walks while striking out 32. Opposing batters are hitting just .183 against Zagurski.
Free Baseball: The Sky Sox marked their third extra-inning contest of the season on Wednesday night in Nashville. With the 10th inning loss, they are now 1-2 in extra-inning games in 2018.
On-Base Hacker: On Thursday night, Kyle Wren continued his on-base rhythm with another solo hit. Wren has only recorded three instances in 2018 where he did not get on base, and they have been all recorded in the month of May.
This Week's Preview: The Sky Sox are in midst of a nine-game stretch on the road. Colorado Springs started the trip going 1-3 in a four-game set against the Nashville Sounds and head to Memphis to play the Redbirds for five more games. The Sky Sox head back home for a five-game homestand beginning May 30 against the Iowa Cubs.
NEXT GAME: Friday, May 25 @ Memphis Redbirds - 6:05 p.m. MDT @ AutoZone Park
RHP Bubba Derby (2-2, 5.14) vs. RHP Daniel Poncedeleon (3-2, 2.76) | Broadcast on XTRA Sports 1300
Next Sky Sox Home Game: May 30 vs. Iowa Cubs @ Security Service Field
COS TOP PERFORMERS

• Tyrone Taylor (2-for-4, HR, 2 2B, 2 RBI, R)
• Christian Bethancourt (1-for-3, 2 RBI)
• Keon Broxton (2-for-3, BB)

   NAS TOP PERFORMERS

• Anthony García (3-for-4)
• BJ Boyd (1-for-4, 2B)
• Sheldon Neuse (1-for-3, BB)