POSTGAME NOTES
Monday, May 28, 2018 @ Memphis Redbirds
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (27-22) | Memphis Redbirds (32-20)
WOODRUFF ALLOWS ONE IN THIRD STRAIGHT LOSS TO REDBIRDS
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Sky Sox fell for a third straight game to the Redbirds Monday afternoon by a score of 2-1 to drop the series versus Memphis. After being shutout for the last two nights, the Sky Sox were able to scratch the scoreless inning count at 18 and two-thirds innings when they broke the streak in the top of the first with a solo run. Starter Brandon Woodruff put on another solid performance after going five innings and allowing just one run while striking out six, not getting a decision. Despite the team's struggles, the Sky Sox do not lose ground in the American North division as Oklahoma City fell to Nashville 3-2.
The scoring on the Memorial Day afternoon game started early for each side in the first inning. In the top half, Colorado Springs outfielder and leadoff man Keon Broxton got things started after taking first on a dropped third strike passed ball. On Orlando Arcia's single to centerfield, Broxton was able to come around and score as Arcia got into a pickle trying to stretch his single and would be tagged out.
In the bottom half of the first, Alex Mejia and Luke Voit both collected two-out singles off of Sky Sox starter Woodruff to manufacture a run, bringing around Rangel Ravelo, who walked with one out.
In the bottom of the sixth, Memphis pressured the tie ballgame after putting two runners on with no outs on Sky Sox reliever Tristan Archer. But following Andrew Knizner's sacrifice bunt to put each runner into scoring position, Archer was able to stop the threat after delivering a ground out and fly out to end the frame.
The tie was eventually broken in the seventh by Memphis. Randy Arozarena started the inning with a one-out hit-by-pitch to represent the go-ahead run. With two outs, Patrick Wisdom singled to put runners on the corners as Mejia singled to plate Arozarena and give Memphis the would-be final 2-1 advantage. The Sky Sox only batted six over the minimum following the first inning.
The Sky Sox head into the fourth of five games against the Memphis Redbirds tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 12:05 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 Preview: In the final game of the five-game set against the Memphis Redbirds, the Sky Sox are sending right-hander Alec Asher to the mound to face fellow righty Kevin Herget. In Asher's last outing on May 23 at First Tennessee Park against the Sounds, Asher made his fifth start with the Sky Sox, tossing four, three-hit innings while surrendering just one run with three strikeouts in Colorado Springs' 3-2 loss. Herget notched his second win of 2018 in his last outing against Oklahoma City on May 23.
Woodruff Continues: Starter Brandon Woodruff is keeping his rhythm after making his fifth start for the Sky Sox this season. On Monday afternoon, the right-hander tossed five quality innings of one-run, four-hit ball with six strikeouts. So far this season, Woodruff has not allowed more than five hits in a start and marked his fifth-straight start allowing just a solo run. Woodruff is 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA over 19 innings. He has surrendered 10 walks and totaled 17 strikeouts.
Houle's Firsts: On Monday afternoon, recently-called up catcher Dustin Houle made his Triple-A debut and marked his first-career Triple-A hit against Memphis at AutoZone Park, which came in the top of the eighth (single to CF). In the same frame, Houle swiped his first base at the highest Minor League level.
Dropped Series: The Sky Sox dropped their fifth series of the season Monday afternoon. The team now totals six series wins, five series losses, and two series ties.
Memorial Day Record: The Sky Sox are now 13-17-1 on Memorial Days (5-11-1 on the road). Yesterday afternoon was the first game where the Sky Sox played Memphis on the May holiday and marked the fifth straight year playing the date on the road.
Halted at Four Twice: The Sky Sox were held to four hits for the third and fourth times this season by Memphis pitching on Saturday night and Monday afternoon at AutoZone Park. Before this series, the last time Colorado Springs was held to four hits was by Oklahoma City at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on May 5. The first time the Sky Sox marked the four-hit low came on April 7 at Omaha in game one of the doubleheader.
Run Differential: Over the Sky Sox last 11 games, opponents have outscored the Colorado Springs squad 52-24. Over the 11-game stretch, the Sky Sox have averaged 2.18 runs per game.
Road Trip Scoring: Over eight games on the road trip, the Sky Sox have plated eight of 60 runners in scoring position. The Colorado Springs squad has collected a total of 53 hits with four home runs and seven doubles.
Short Ones: The two-hour and fourteen-minute Saturday night contest in Memphis marked the shortest game the Sky Sox have played in this season. The previous shortest game was ended at two hours and twenty minutes on May 6 at Oklahoma City. Sunday night fell within the same territory at just two hours and 22 minutes in length.
Duel of Dual Homers In Game One: Opposite to Friday night, after Dylan Moore made the difference in game one with his pair of home runs out of Colorado Springs' six total hits, the Redbirds sought revenge Saturday night, making the difference in game two with home runs by Rangel Ravelo and Patrick Wisdom within Memphis' six hits. The two-homer game by Dylan Moore in Memphis on Friday was only the 4th time a Sky Sox player had a two-homer game at Autozone Park in Memphis. The other three: Greg Vaughn, on April 21st, 2003, Drew Garcia on May 1st, 2014, and Will Middlebrooks on June 10th, 2016.
Blanked Twice: After marking their third team shutout Thursday night in the final game in Nashville, the Sky Sox powerhouse offense was finally put to a stop for the first time Saturday night, coming 48 games in. The shutout loss on Saturday was in game 48, the fourth latest to start a season before getting shutout. The longest to start a season was game number 92 in the 2008 season. The Sky Sox were shut out again Sunday night after another excellent outing from the Redbirds pitching staff, who only allowed six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in the combined shutout. The last time the Sky Sox were shut out in back-to-back nine-inning games was June 11th and 12th, 2016, both at Memphis. This marked only the fourth time the Sky Sox have been shut out in back-to-back nine-inning games. The others: 4/27-28/2006 at Las Vegas (7-0, 5-0), 7/22-23/2007 at Fresno (2-0, 4-0), and 6/11-12/2016 at Memphis (2-0, 5-0).
Taking On Memphis: In eight games played against the Redbirds so far this season, the Sky Sox are 2-6 after having taken game one at home 10-5 on May 17 but dropping the next three with a run differential of 8-28, then winning game one 3-1 Friday night and dropping Saturday and Sunday night's contests.
This Week's Preview: The Sky Sox head into the final day of the nine-game stretch on the road. Colorado Springs started the trip going 1-3 in a four-game set against the Nashville Sounds and are currently holding a 1-3 against the Memphis Redbirds. The Sky Sox head back home for a five-game homestand beginning May 30 against the Iowa Cubs.
NEXT GAME: Tuesday, May 29 @ Memphis Redbirds - 11:05 a.m. MDT @ AutoZone Park
RHP Alec Asher (2-1, 3.48) vs. RHP Kevin Herget (2-4, 3.72) | Broadcast on XTRA Sports 1300
Next Sky Sox Home Game: May 30 vs. Iowa Cubs @ Security Service Field
COS TOP PERFORMERS

• Brandon Woodruff (5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 6 K)
• Tyrone Taylor (1-for-4, 2B)
• Orlando Arcia (2-for-4)

   MEM TOP PERFORMERS

• Ryan Helsley (7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 10 K)
• Alex Mejia (3-for-4, RBI)
• Luke Voit (1-for-3, RBI)