SKY SOX DROP FINAL GAME AFTER 7-RUN SEVENTH BY MEMPHIS

POSTGAME NOTES
Thursday, June 28, 2018 vs. Memphis Redbirds (STL)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (43-35) | Memphis Redbirds (48-32)
SKY SOX DROP FINAL GAME AFTER 7-RUN SEVENTH BY MEMPHIS
 
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - After taking a 2-1 series lead with a walkoff win yesterday afternoon, the Sky Sox dropped the final game of their four-game set against the Memphis Redbirds 7-5 to split the series 2-2 Thursday night.
After a thoroughly rambunctious game three yesterday afternoon that saw the Sky Sox win 9-8 in curious fashion via a walkoff bases-loaded balk in the bottom of the ninth inning, the final game of this four-game series against the Memphis Redbirds Thursday night proved to be a low-scoring pitcher's duel for the majority of the game.
After two-and-a-half fairly quick and quiet innings started off the Thursday night contest, the Sky Sox found their way onto the board first in the bottom of the third inning. Colorado Springs starting pitcher Bubba Derby helped out his own cause, leading off the inning with a single, advancing to second on a Memphis throwing error.  Brett Phillips then hit his seventh triple of the season to score Derby and make it 1-0.  Tyrone Taylor followed up with a walk to put runners on the corners for Nate Orf, who grounded into a double play, scoring Phillips from third to extend the Colorado Springs lead to 2-0.
The two-run third inning was followed by three more scoreless innings, with Derby finishing the day with a quality start.  Through six innings, Derby allowed no runs on just three hits with one walk and six strikeouts.  At the onset of the seventh inning, he was replaced on the mound by Tristan Archer.  Patrick Wisdom led off the inning for the Redbirds with a single off Archer, with Carson Kelly homering two pitches later to even the game at 2-2.  One out later, Edmundo Sosa doubled for the third hit of the inning, before Archer hit both Max Schrock and Oscar Mercado with pitches to load the bases for Rangel Ravelo.  Ravelo then lined a single to score both Sosa and Shrock to give Memphis a 4-2 lead for their first lead of the evening.  Luke Voit then hit a sacrifice fly to score Mercado and make it a 5-2 ballgame.  Tyler O'Neill then hit a two-run homer over the left field wall to make it a 7-2 game, ending Archer's day in the process.  Colorado Springs got out of the inning without further damage, sending it to the bottom of the seventh.
The bottom half of the inning proved to be eventful as well, with the first two Sky Sox batters reaching safely.  Andres Blanco led off with a walk, advancing to third on a Dylan Moore single, with Moore ending up at second on the play after the Redbirds second error of the evening.  A wild pitch in the next at-bat allowed Blanco to trot home and Moore to move up to third, and a Phillips groundout scored Moore to make it 7-4.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Sky Sox offense went back to work.  After two quick outs, pinch-hitter Quintin Berry doubled, scoring one batter later on a Jacob Nottingham single to reduce the Redbirds lead to just two runs, before sending it to the final inning of the series.
The ninth inning proved to be another quiet one, as both teams failed to score, with Memphis winning 7-5 to split the series 2-2 with Colorado Springs.
The Sky Sox head out onto the road tomorrow for a five-game set against the Express in Round Rock, before returning home on Independence Day to host the New Orleans Baby Cakes for five games.  For all information on Sky Sox, follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and visit the team's website at www.skysox.com.
 
__NOTES__
Wheels:  With Brett Phillips' RBI triple in the third inning Thursday night, that was Phillips' 7th triple this season, and his 17th career regular season triple with the Sky Sox. With that triple, Phillips passes Ben Paulsen into a tie for 8th place all-time in career regular season triples at 17, with Choo Freeman, and current teammate Nate Orf. (Next up at tied for 6th: Edgard Velasquez Clemente and Nelson Liriano, with 18 triples each.)
7-Run 7^th: The 7-run 7th inning by Memphis on Thursday marks the first time that Memphis scored 7 runs in the 7th inning against the Sky Sox. It's the most runs scored in an inning against the Sky Sox since Memphis scored 10 runs in the top of the first inning, back on May 19th (Game 2 of DH).  The last time an opponent scored at least 7 runs in the 7th inning against the Sky Sox was on May 11th, 2017, when Sacramento scored a whopping 13 runs in the top of the 7th against the Sky Sox. That 13 runs was the most runs scored by any opponent in a single inning against the Sky Sox in the modern team's history (since 1988). Sacramento won that game, 17-7.
Middle-of-the-Week Triumph: With the come-from-behind walkoff win on Wednesday afternoon, the Sky Sox improved to 9-1 through their first 10 Wednesday contests this season.
First Game, Last Game: With today being the final game for the Memphis Redbirds in Colorado Springs, here's a brief look back at the first Redbirds game here at Sky Sox Stadium: The first Memphis game here in Colorado Springs took place on June 4th, 1998.  Placido Polanco went 3-for-5 with a RBI, and Juan Munoz went 2-for-5 with 2 RBI, as the Redbirds rallied from a 7-5 deficit, scoring 3 runs in the 7th and 2 runs in the 9th to beat the Sky Sox, 10-7. Matt Arrandale picked up the win, while Kerry Woodson took the loss.
Don't (Or Do) Call It a Comeback: Prior to Wednesday's come-from-behind win, the Sky Sox were 2-20 in games when trailing after six innings this season.
Not the First Time: The Sky Sox won game three against the Redbirds on Wednesday afternoon in wild fashion with a bases-loaded walkoff balk in the bottom of the ninth. On April 13th, 2005, in game one of a doubleheader against the Tucson Sidewinders, Jason Bulger balked in the winning run in the bottom of the 7th, with the Sky Sox winning 4-3 in seven innings.
In the Clutch: Jacob Nottingham (7) and Tyrone Taylor (8) collected home runs in the sixth and seventh innings to help bring the Sky Sox back from the seven-run deficit they faced against the Redbirds on Wednesday. In the sixth, Nottingham slugged a two-run home run to get the squad within two runs as Taylor launched a solo home run in the seventh to tie the game at seven each.
Got Hot: The Sky Sox collected nine hits from the sixth inning on in Wednesday afternoon's contest. Through the first five innings, Colorado Springs had only collected one single.
Comeback Kids: The seven-run comeback Wednesday was the biggest of the season for the Sky Sox this season, but not the largest comeback in Sky Sox history, which was 10 runs on April 30th, 1996 against Tacoma. Tacoma had a 10-0 lead after two-and-a-half innings, and rallied to win, 11-10. On May 1, 2001, the Sky Sox trailed Memphis 15-0 after seven-and-a-half innings on May 1st, 2001 and scored 10 runs in the eighth and four in the ninth, before falling short and Memphis winning 15-14.
Long Ball Downfall: After surrendering four home runs Tuesday night to the Redbirds, the Sky Sox allowed three more on Wednesday afternoon. Over the two days, the homers combined for 11 RBI.
Out of Ordinary: Righty Brandon Woodruff was not in usual fashion Wednesday afternoon. Woodruff, for the Sky Sox, allowed a season-high five earned runs on also season-high nine hits, including a high of three home runs surrendered, on Wednesday. It marked just the second time he allowed three or more earned runs in a start, fourth time he allowed five or more hits, and first time he allowed multiple home runs in a start this season. Coming into the game, he held a 1-0 record with a 1.69 ERA over two game starts in day game appearances. Overall, he has tossed 10 starts for the Sky Sox.
We See You, Q: In his sixth game played in June with the Sky Sox on 6/27, Quintin Berry collected his first multi-hit game of the season with a double and a single. He also nabbed his fourth stolen base and added his fourth RBI of the year.
Peralta Report: Sky Sox former ace Freddy Peralta made his Miller Park debut Tuesday night in Milwaukee. He tossed seven one-hit shutout innings while walking one and striking out 10. According to a report, Peralta is first pitcher since at least 1908 to allow three or fewer hits with five or more strikeouts in each of his first four career appearances. The 35 Ks through first four MLB games is record for Brewers.
Error Streak Over: With the three errors on Tuesday night, the Sky Sox ended their errorless streak they have been on, which began on June 19.
Burnes Outta' the Pen: Righty Corbin Burnes made his third appearance out of the pen on Tuesday night with a 1.1-inning performance. In 5.1 innings of relief, Burnes has allowed 10 hits, seven runs, walked two, and struck out seven.
Dillard's Outing: The relief appearance by Tim Dillard on Tuesday night was his 101st regular season relief appearance with the Sky Sox, tying him with Zach McClellan for 10th place on the Sky Sox games pitched list. McClellan made 101 appearances from 2005-2007 with the Sky Sox.
Pinch-HR: Keon Broxton came into the game in the eighth inning Monday night to pinch-hit, hitting a three-run homer for the Sky Sox FIRST pinch-hit home run of the 2018 season. He was recalled on Tuesday for the first time this season.
This Week's Preview: The Sky Sox head out onto the road to Round Rock to face the Express for five games, before returning home on Independence Day to host the New Orleans Baby Cakes for five games prior to the All-Star Break July 9-11.
 
 
NEXT GAME: Friday, 6/29 at 6:05 p.m. MT vs. Round Rock Express @ Dell Diamond in Round Rock, TX
TBD vs. TBD - Broadcast on XTRA Sports 1300
Next Home Game: Wednesday, July 4 at 7:00 p.m. MT @ Security Service Field
 
 
COS TOP PERFORMERS
 Bubba Derby (6.0 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 6 SO)
 Brett Phillips (1-for-5, 3B, 1 R, 2 RBI)
 Andrés Blanco (1-for-2, 1 R, 2 BB)
 
   MEM TOP PERFORMERS
 Rangel Ravelo (3-for-3, 2B, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB)
 Tyler O'Neill (1-for-5, HR, 1 R, 2 RBI)
 Carson Kelly (2-for-3, HR, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB)