The Colorado Springs duo of Brandon Woodruff and Andrew Susac combined to lead the Sky Sox to the best start to a season in franchise history in Sunday's 7-3 victory over the Fresno Grizzlies in front of 3,512 at Security Service Field.
The Colorado Springs duo of Brandon Woodruff and Andrew Susac combined to lead the Sky Sox to the best start to a season in franchise history in Sunday's 7-3 victory over the Fresno Grizzlies in front of 3,512 at Security Service Field.
With the win, the Sky Sox (18-8) clinched the best start through 26 games, surpassing the 17-9 mark set by the 1989, 1997 and 2009 squads. The Sox also won their third consecutive game and fifth in the last six, and have secured at least a split of the four-game season series with Fresno (13-18).
Woodruff (5-0, 1.83) earned his fifth win and remained undefeated at home by tossing six scoreless innings while allowing three hits and striking out seven Grizzlies, tying him for the season-high in a game with Hiram Burgos and Paolo Espino. At 6,035 feet above sea level, Woodruff sports a 4-0 record with a 1.54 earned run average against the Pacific Coast League in home starts.
Meanwhile, battery mate Susac led the offense from his No. 9 spot in the batting order, going 2-for-4 with a run and four runs batted in to pace Colorado Springs. The catcher opened the scoring with a two-run single to centerfield, plating Ivan De Jesus and Yadiel Rivera before Eric Sogard's bunt single drove in Kyle Wren to cap off the three-run second inning.
Susac got to Fresno starter Edison Frias again in the fourth inning, belting his second home run of the season halfway up the scoreboard, scoring Wren to give the Sox a 5-0 lead. The home run barrage continued two batters later, when Sogard drove in his second run of the day on a solo shot to right field, his third long ball of 2017.
Garrett Cooper then extended his hitting streak to nine games by belting the third home run of the inning to the batter's eye in straightaway centerfield. The long ball is Cooper's sixth of the year and third in less than a week, tying him for the team lead with Brett Phillips.
The Sox look to earn a series win Monday night at 6:40 p.m. MT. Left-handed pitcher Josh Hader (3-2, 4.40) heads to the mound against Grizzlies starter Francis Martes (0-0, 2.92). Monday is another ARC Community Ticket Day, where fans can pick up complimentary ticket vouchers from any of the four Colorado Springs ARC Thrift Store locations.
