SKY SOX FALL TO SOUNDS IN EXTRA-INNING HEARTBREAKER

POSTGAME NOTES
Wednesday, May 23, 2018 @ Nashville Sounds
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (25-19) | Nashville Sounds (24-21)
SKY SOX FALL TO SOUNDS IN EXTRA-INNING HEARTBREAKER
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Sky Sox fell in 10 innings in game three to the Nashville Sounds and dropped their sixth-straight overall with a 3-2 loss Wednesday night. After the Sky Sox plated the go-ahead run in the top of the tenth, Nashville would come back and rally for two runs to walk-off on Colorado Springs. The Sky Sox have gone just two for 22 with runners in scoring position over the past two nights. With the loss, the Sky Sox look to avoid a four-game sweep tomorrow with a finale win. The Sky Sox continue to hold a minus three-and-a-half game position in the American North behind Oklahoma City.
For a third straight night, Nashville struck the board first with a solo run in the bottom of the first. Following a one-out single by Ramón Laureano, BJ Boyd knocked his fifth double of the season to right field to put two runners in scoring position. Anthony García manufactured the run on his groundout to third base and make it an early 1-0 Sounds lead.
The Sky Sox would answer back quickly entering the second inning in the tune of Brett Phillips' first home run of 2018 - a solo shot to right field to tie the game at 1-1 - but that is where the scoring would end through regulation.
Following the second inning, the Sky Sox would go 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position while the Sounds would nearly match, going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Three relievers for Colorado Springs would combine to allow just two hits over five innings and strike out nine. Oppositely, one reliever, following Nashville starter Eric Jokisch, Raúl Alcántara, would also hold the Sky Sox squad to two hits, keeping the game even through nine innings.
In the tenth inning, with Nate Orf starting on second base per the new Pace of Play rules, Eric Sogard grounded out to the right side to move Orf to third base. After Keon Broxton went down on strikes to record the second out, Christian Bethancourt came in the clutch and knocked a single to give the Sky Sox the 2-1 lead.
In the bottom half, with Jorge Mateo starting on second base, Sounds Nick Martini led off the frame with an RBI single to centerfield to tie the game at 2-2. Following another single by Laureano, a sacrifice bunt by Boyd to move runners in scoring position, and an intentional walk by reliever Radhames Liz to load the bases with the game on the line, Jake Smolinski fans to record out number two. Josh Phegley, who was 0-for-3 coming into his last at-bat, knocked a two-out, game-winning single to make it a 3-2 final in Sounds favor.
The Sky Sox head into the final game against the Nashville Sounds tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 5:35 p.m. at First Tennessee Park. Following the four-game series in Nashville, the squad will head to Memphis to play the Redbirds for five more games. 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 Expectation: In the final game of the four-game set against the Nashville Sounds, the Sky Sox are sending recently optioned righty Freddy Peralta to the mound to face righty Kendall Graveman for the Sounds.
Swiped the Lead: Speedster Keon Broxton recorded his 15th stolen bag on Wednesday night in Nashville. The outfielder leads the Pacific Coast League in the category while the Sky Sox squad leads the league overall in stolen bases with 65 total.
Phillips Goes Deep: Outfielder Brett Phillips knocked his first home run of 2018 in his 29th Sky Sox game played this season. Last season, Phillips first home run came on day two of the 2017 campaign against Omaha at Security Service Field. He would end up slugging 19 total throughout the year over 105 games with Colorado Springs.
Strong Bounceback: Righty Alec Asher, after a start comprised of two and two-thirds innings on May 19 while allowing four runs on five hits, bounced back strongly despite not going long enough to qualify for a decision. On Wednesday, Asher totaled four innings of work and the righty only allowed a solo run in the first inning on three hits allowed with three strikeouts. In 2018, Asher has totaled 20 and two-thirds innings while allowing eight earned runs (3.56 ERA).
Zig-Zagurski: Veteran southpaw Mike Zagurski currently holds the top spot in games pitched (21) and holds (10) throughout the Pacific Coast League. On Wednesday night, he improved his road stats to a 0.87 ERA (1 ER in 10.1 IP) with 18 strikeouts. In 19.2 innings pitched over 21 games, the lefty has only allowed 13 hits, six runs, and 10 walks while striking out 32. Opposing batters are hitting just .183 against Zagurski.
Free Baseball: The Sky Sox marked their third extra-inning contest of the season on Wednesday night in Nashville. With the 10th inning loss, they are now 1-2 in extra-inning games in 2018.
Six Straight: The Sky Sox 3-2 extra-inning loss brought by Nashville Wednesday continued the rise of the most consecutive losses for the Colorado Springs squad (6). The most consecutive losses for the Sky Sox marked in 2017 were three. In most recent history, the longest amount of consecutive games the Sky Sox lost was 8 back in 2016 when they dropped eight straight on the road (Tacoma and Reno). The Sky Sox have now dropped five games in a row to Nashville.
On-Base Hacker: On Wednesday night, Kyle Wren continued his on-base rhythm with his solo hit. Wren has only recorded three instances in 2018 where he did not get on base, and they have been all recorded in the month of May.
Climbing: Kyle Wren's one hit Wednesday gave him 331 hits, tying Edgard Velasquez Clemente for 10th place. Nate Orf (281 hits) is three hits away from joining the Top 25 list with Wren. As for runs scored, Wren holds 13th place with Jayson Nix with 183 career runs scored. Not far behind, Orf is at 178 runs scored, who holds sole possession of 18th place, having passed Webster Garrison, Jayhawk Owens, and Tim Wheeler.
Patterns: With the loss Wednesday night, the Sky Sox are now 5-5 against the Sounds this year. After having won five games in a row against Nashville initially, Colorado Springs has dropped five straight to the Sounds.
Orf on the Rise:  The sacrifice fly by Nate Orf in the fifth inning Monday night was his 16th career sacrifice fly with the Sky Sox, passing Garrett Atkins for 9th place on the sacrifice fly list. Next up at tied for 7th: Matt Miller and Ben Petrick with 17 sacrifice flies each.
Six of a Kind: The Sky Sox totaled their sixth one-run loss of the season after falling 5-4 Monday in Nashville. In total, half of the amount of one-run contests has come between Colorado Springs and Nashville. On May 9 at Security Service Field, the Sky Sox were victorious 6-5 while the other two meetings between the two squads have been in Nashville's favor, first with a 4-3 win and last night 5-4.
Phillips Reaches 600: Brett Phillips played his 600th career Minor League game in the first game on Saturday. In 600 games, Phillips totaled 2,207 at bats, 385 runs, 626 hits, 1060 total bases, 122 doubles, 54 triples, 68 home runs, 317 RBI, 271 walks, 611 strikeouts, and 78 stolen bases.
This Week's Preview: The Sky Sox are in midst of a nine-game stretch on the road. First, Colorado Springs will take on the Nashville Sounds for four games before heading to Memphis to play the Redbirds for five more games. The Sky Sox head back home for a five-game homestand beginning May 30 against the Iowa Cubs.
NEXT GAME: Thursday, May 24 @ Nashville Sounds - 5:35 p.m. MDT @ First Tennessee Park
RHP Freddy Peralta (5-1, 3.63) vs. RHP Kendall Graveman (2-0, 5.00) | Broadcast on XTRA Sports 1300
Next Sky Sox Home Game: May 30 vs. Iowa Cubs @ Security Service Field
COS TOP PERFORMERS

• Brett Phillips (2-for-4, HR, RBI, R, BB)
• Keon Broxton (2-for-5, SB)
• Christian Bethancourt (1-for-4, RBI, BB)

   NAS TOP PERFORMERS

• Ramon Laureano (2-for-4, R, BB)
• Josh Phegley (1-for-4, RBI)
• Nick Martini (1-for-5, R, RBI)