POSTGAME NOTES
Wednesday, June 27, 2018 vs. Memphis Redbirds (STL)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (43-34) | Memphis Redbirds (47-32)
SKY SOX WALK OFF ON BASES-LOADED BALK AGAINST REDBIRDS
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Sky Sox won a wild one in game three against the Memphis Redbirds Wednesday afternoon, 9-8. After going down 7-0 initially, Colorado Springs rallied late to tie the game 7-7 in the seventh inning, before going down 8-7 in the top of the ninth, ultimately winning 9-8 via a bases-loaded walk-off balk.
On one of the hottest Colorado Springs days so far in 2018, Memphis jumped out of the gate first, scoring three runs in two consecutive innings. In the top of the second, after Patrick Wisdom homered (12) to lead off the inning, the Redbirds manufactured two more runs on two singles, a hit-by-pitch, bases-loaded walk, and sacrifice fly ball to take the early 3-0 lead.
The Redbirds started off the third frame similarly after Tyler O'Neill collected his 17th home run over the left field wall to lead off the inning. Two more singles and a throwing error in the half supported the other two runs to give Memphis the 6-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, Luke Voit homered, marking the third home run of the game for Memphis, making it a 7-0 advantage in favor of the Redbirds.
In the bottom of the sixth, with just one hit on the board, the Sky Sox rallied with seven hits and six runs to bring the Colorado Springs squad to within a run of the Redbirds. Pinch-hitter Shane Opitz broke the mold with the second hit of the game - a single to right field while Jake Hager followed with a second hit - a line drive off of the left field wall. After Tyrone Taylor struck out for the first out, Nate Orf collected an RBI single and Domingo Santana cleared the bases on his triple to right field. Following a pitching change, Jacob Nottingham stepped up and brought the Sky Sox within two on his seventh home run. With two outs, Quintin Berry made it a one-run ballgame on his RBI single to plate Andrés Blanco, who also singled.
The rally continued into the bottom half of the seventh when Taylor slugged his eighth home run to straightaway centerfield and tied the game at 7-7.
In the top of the ninth, the Redbirds took an 8-7 lead. O'Neill drew a one-out walk, advancing to second on a wild pitch. Wisdom then hit an RBI double to score O'Neill and give Memphis the late lead.
However, in the bottom of the ninth, the home team fought back. Hager reached second on a throwing error to kick off the half-inning, scoring one at-bat later on a Taylor triple to tie the game at 8-8 and put the winning run 90 feet from home. The Redbirds responded with two intentional walks to Orf and Santana to load the bases with no outs. Brett Phillips then came into the game to pinch-hit, but only saw one pitch before the Redbirds gave up the bases-loaded balk to give the Sky Sox a 9-8 walk-off win as well as a 2-1 series advantage.
The Sky Sox enter into the final game of a four-game homestand against the Memphis Redbirds tomorrow with a 6:40 p.m. MT scheduled first pitch at Security Service Field in Colorado Springs. 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 Preview: In the final game of this four-game set against the Memphis Redbirds, the Sky Sox are sending righty Bubba Derby to the mound to face Memphis righty Dakota Hudson. Derby is looking for his fifth win of the season, whereas Hudson is in search of his league-leading 11th of the year with the Redbirds.
Not the First Time:  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. 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.
Comback Kids: The seven-run comeback 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, 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 a record for Brewers.
Error Streak Over:  With the three errors on Tuesday night, the Sky Sox ended the 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. 
Wear It With Pride: The hit by pitch by Nate Orf on Monday, his 15th of the season, ties for the second most hit by pitches by a Sky Sox player in a single season, with Clint Barmes, who had 15 HBP in the 2004 season. Clint Barmes also holds the single season HBP record, with 22 HBP during the 2007 season.
Helpin' Out: Tyrone Taylor recorded yet another assist on Monday night, for his 12^th of the season, which leads all of the Pacific Coast League in assists.
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.
Zagurski Zaves: Mike Zagurski collected his second save in as many days after recording the save in the series finale on Sunday afternoon. In game two of a doubleheader on Saturday, Zagurski recorded a three-up-three-down save for his second save of the season.
This Week's Preview:  The Sky Sox head into game four against the Memphis Redbirds, St. Louis Cardinals top affiliate, tomorrow at Security Service Field before going back on the road for Round Rock on Friday.
NEXT: Bubba Derby (4-3, 3.91) vs. RHP Dakota Hudson (10-2, 2.04) | Broadcast on XTRA Sports 1300
Tomorrow's Promotion: $3 Thirsty Thursday - $3 Parking, Craft Beers, Upper Reserve Tickets
COS TOP PERFORMERS
 Jacob Nottingham (2-for-3, HR, 1 R, 2 RBI, BB)
 Tyrone Taylor (2-for-4, HR, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB)
 Domingo Santana (1-for-3, 3B, 1 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB)
   MEM TOP PERFORMERS
 Patrick Wisdom(3-for-5, HR, 2B, SB, 2 R, 2 RBI)
 Tyler O'Neill (1-for-4, HR, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB)
 Wilfredo Tovar (2-for-5, 2 R, 2 SB)