DODGERS FORCE SKY SOX TO MONDAY DIVISION DECISION
POSTGAME NOTESSunday, September 2, 2018 vs. Oklahoma City Dodgers (LAD)Colorado Springs Sky Sox (73-64) | Oklahoma City Dodgers (73-65)DODGERS FORCE SKY SOX TO MONDAY DIVISION DECISION Dodgers Win Two Straight To Stay Alive In American North Division Race, Doubleheader Scheduled For Tomorrow COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Sky Sox dropped two
POSTGAME NOTES
Sunday, September 2, 2018 vs. Oklahoma City Dodgers (LAD)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (73-64) | Oklahoma City Dodgers (73-65)
DODGERS FORCE SKY SOX TO MONDAY DIVISION DECISION
Dodgers Win Two Straight To Stay Alive In American North Division Race, Doubleheader Scheduled For Tomorrow
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Sky Sox dropped two straight games to the Oklahoma City Dodgers Sunday, forcing a division decision on Labor Day Monday with a scheduled doubleheader. The Sky Sox are seeking just one win to clinch the American Northern division while the Dodgers will have to sweep the twin bill to claim the title. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at Security Service Field.
Game One:
After three frames comprised of just four hits overall, Oklahoma City broke open first. In the top of the fourth,
The Dodgers added another solo run in the top of the fifth to take a 2-0 lead. After
The Sky Sox, who made a late comeback Friday night, sparked a late rally yet again in the bottom of the fifth. After a one-out double by
With
The game resumed the next day, beginning in the top of the seventh inning. Both sides did not successfully plate a run so the game headed into extra innings.
With a runner starting on second base, Ramos moved over the runner on his sacrifice bunt. With the go-ahead run 90 feet away,
Game Two:
The Dodgers, with their backs to the wall, wasted zero time getting on the board in game two. In the top of the first, Connor Joe led off with a base hit and, with two outs, Edwin Rios homered to centerfield to put them up 2-0.
In the Sky Sox second,
Then, in the third, Liriano led off the inning with a double to centerfield. After two consecutive strikeouts, Moore came up and lifted a ball up and over the left-centerfield wall to give the Sky Sox the 3-2 advantage, marking his 10th long ball with the Sky Sox.
The Dodgers caught a late rally in the fourth with two outs after Taijeron drew a walk. With two strikes, Peter clubbed a sky-high home run to right field to gain the 4-3 lead. Starter
The Sky Sox crept back in the bottom of the fifth after reliever
The Dodgers came right back in the sixth with two runs to extend to a 9-5 lead. Ramos started the rhythm after he brought around his fourth RBI of the game on his one-out double to centerfield. Donovan would single and Rios walked behind him, which led to
The Sky Sox, trailing five runs in the bottom of the seventh, started things off with Orf's one-out walk. After two wild pitches to advance Orf to third, Moore was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. Taylor followed and with one swing on an 0-2 count plated three runs via his 20th home run, moving the Sky Sox to within two runs of the Dodgers.
The Dodgers added a final run in the ninth with two outs to make it an 11-8 advantage and the Sky Sox couldn't find late magic to make the comeback, forcing a Monday faceoff.
The Sky Sox head into the final day of regular season tomorrow against the Oklahoma City Dodgers at Security Service Field tomorrow with a 12:30 p.m. MT first pitch in game one. 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: The Sky Sox head into the fourth of the five-game set against the Oklahoma City Dodgers at Security Service Field tomorrow with a 12:30 p.m. MT first pitch. Righty
Battle of the American North: The Sky Sox stand only one win shy from clinching their second-consecutive playoff run, battling it out with other contender of the American North - the Oklahoma City Dodgers - who will need a sweep in tomorrow's doubleheader to claim the title. Currently, the Sky Sox hold a half-game lead over the Dodgers with two regular season games left in 2018. Last season, the Sky Sox broke one of the longest postseason droughts in professional sports - taking the American North division for the first time and breaking their 20-year absence.
Taylor Extends To 13: Outfielder Tyrone Taylor extended his hit streak Sunday to 13 games after going 2-for-5 with a home run. Over the 13 games, he is 21-for-52 with seven runs, a triple, three home runs, and 18 RBI.
Two-Out Scoring: Nine of the Dodgers' 11 runs on Sunday night in game two came with two outs. In the fourth inning, the Dodgers scored all five of their runs with two outs.
67 players: With
In the Club: Christian Bethancourt and Tyrone Taylor marked their 20th homers with the Sky Sox and are only the second and third players during the Brewers affiliation to have a 20-homer season with the Sky Sox (other:
Lights out, Wilkerson: Sky Sox starter
Back to Yester-Year: Last season, the Sky Sox clinched playoff berth on charter buses en route from New Orleans to Round Rock while Hurricane Harvey was hitting near Houston. Due to Harvey in the area, all flights were cancelled.
Playoff Clinch History: A Sky Sox playoff clinch at home would mark the first time in nearly a quarter of a century. The last playoff clinch for the Sky Sox at home happened in 1994 when the team won the first half at home vs. Edmonton. The other two instances at home came in 1990 and 1991. In 1990, the Sky Sox clinched the wildcard playoff berth on last day at home vs. Albuquerque. (Albuquerque won both halves, Sky Sox was wild card team and all five games were played in Albuquerque. Dukes won in five.) In 1991, the Sky Sox clinched their playoff berth, winning second half, at home vs. Tucson during final game. (Lost to Tucson in playoffs in four.) In 1989 (Tucson), 1992 (Tuscon), 1995 (Vancouver), 1997 (Tacoma), and 2017, the Sky Sox clinched while on the road.
Record Attendance: Friday night's crowd of 8,998 marks the fifth largest crowd all-time in Sky Sox history, passing the 8,995 from July 4th against New Orleans this season. It is also the largest crowd since the 2006 stadium renovation to the current stadium configuration.
Late Magic: The Sky Sox late rally in the opening game of the series improved the team's record to 9-39 when trailing after six innings. Colorado Springs now total 33 four-run frames overall this season.
Nine-Run Second: The nine-run second inning on Thursday night marked only the third time the Sky Sox have allowed nine runs in the second inning, both other instances in Colorado Springs. The last time an opponent scored nine runs in the second inning: Iowa on June 14th, 2016, in game two of a doubleheader, with Iowa winning that game, 15-5. The only other instance came on July 26th, 2008, when the Oklahoma Redhawks scored 11 runs in the top of the 2nd inning at Security Service Field, a game where Oklahoma won, 15-12. It was also only the second time where Omaha scored nine runs or more in any inning against the Sky Sox. The only other instance came on July 29th, 1999, at Sky Sox Stadium, when the Omaha Golden Spikes scored 12 runs in the top of the third inning in game two of a doubleheader. Omaha won that game, 13-11. Omaha was known as the Golden Spikes from 1999-2001. The last time the Sky Sox gave up nine runs in any inning on the road was on July 25th, 2010 when the Salt Lake Bees stung the Sky Sox for a 9-run third inning at Spring Mobile Ballpark in Salt Lake (now Smith's Ballpark), as the Bees beat the Sky Sox, 15-7.
Hit By Tim: The two hit by pitches by
Bubba Bein' Bubba: Bubba
Series Summary: Over 16 games accrued over the 2018 season with Omaha, the Sky Sox hold a 12-4 overall record on the Storm Chasers. On the road, Colorado Springs is 6-2, while they compiled a 6-2 record at home. In nine of the 16 meetings, the games have been decided by two runs or less.
Good Company: With Christian Bethancourt being selected to the Sky Sox All-PCL team this season, Bethancourt becomes the first Sky Sox catcher to ever get All-PCL team honors. Here is the full list of the Sky Sox All-PCL team over the years: 1988 - Luis Medina (OF), Rod Allen (DH), 1989 - Paul Zuvella (SS), Steve Olin (Relief P), Mike Hargrove (MGR), 1991 - Geronimo Berra (OF), Luis Medina (DH), 1992 - Alvaro Espinoza (SS), Wayne Kirby (OF), Denis Boucher (LHP), Charlie Manuel (MGR), 1994 - Jason Bates (SS), 1995 - Trenidad Hubbard (OF), Harvey Pulliam (DH), 1996 - Neifi Perez (SS), Bob Goughan (Executive), 1997 - Todd Helton (1B), Neifi Perez (SS), 1998 - Derrick White (OF), 1999 - J.R. Phillips (1B), David Wainhouse (Relief P), 2000 - Phil Hyatt (1B), 2003 -
Blanco Comes Up Big: Andres Blanco hit a two-run homer in game two against the Dodgers Saturday night for his ninth longball of the season. His two RBI were the only two the Sky Sox offense produced in the game.
Seven Straight: The Sky Sox marked seven straight wins with Friday night's 6-5 victory. It was the Sky Sox' longest winning streak since the 2007 season (May 7-13, 2007).
Will To Win: The Sky Sox, who entered Friday night with a 6-37 record when trailing after six innings, improved their record to seven wins with a three-run comeback in the top of the seventh to take a hold the lead for the eventual victory.
Third One-Run W: The Sky Sox completed their third one-run victory against the Dodgers this season in Friday night's 6-5 win. The team earned wins on back-to-back occasions on May 12 and May 13 with 2-1 and 4-3 wins respectively.
This Week's Preview: The Sky Sox are hosting their divisional rivals, the Oklahoma City Dodgers, as they battle it out in the final series of the season.
NEXT GAME:
Monday, September 3 @ 12:30 p.m. MT vs. Oklahoma City Dodgers @ Security Service Field
RHP Freddy Peralta (6-1, 2.75) vs. RHP Zach Neal (3-2, 3.90) - Broadcast on XTRA Sports 1300
PROMOTIONS: Shirt Off Your Back Jersey Raffle, End Of Season Post-Game Celebration
GAME ONE:
COS TOP PERFORMERS
Tyrone Taylor (2-for-4, 3B, RBI)
Richie Shaffer (1-for-1, HR, R, 3 RBI)
Adrian Houser (5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K)
OKC TOP PERFORMERS
Henry Ramos (2-for-3, 2B, 3 RBI)
Will Smith (1-for-4, HR, R, 2 RBI)
GAME TWO:
COS TOP PERFORMERS
Dylan Moore (1-for-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI)
Tyrone Taylor (2-for-5, HR, 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI)
Christian Bethancourt (2-for-3, HR, 2B, R, 2 RBI)
OKC TOP PERFORMERS
Henry Ramos (5-for-6, HR, 2B, 2 R, 5 RBI)
Edwin Rios (2-for-4, HR, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB)
Jake Peter (3-for-5, HR, 1 R, 2 RBI)