SKY SOX ROUTE CUBS IN FOUR-HOMER VICTORY

POSTGAME NOTES
Friday, June 1, 2018 vs. Iowa Cubs
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (29-24) | Iowa Cubs (21-32)
SKY SOX ROUTE CUBS IN FOUR-HOMER VICTORY
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Sky Sox took advantage of the series, going up two games to one in the five-game set over the Iowa Cubs with a 10-3 victory the on Friday night at Security Service Field. After totaling three home runs in Wednesday night's contest, the Sky Sox combined for four home runs Friday evening. Sky Sox starter Corbin Burnes tallied five and one-third innings while allowing three runs on three hits with four walks and five strikeouts. With the win, the Sky Sox improve to a 29-24 record overall in 2018.
In the initial frame of the third matchup between the two squads, the Sky Sox got the better of Cubs starter Kyle Ryan. After leadoff Nate Orf singled and Keon Broxton walked, Tyrone Taylor and Brett Phillips recorded consecutive outs. With two outs, after a double steal with Andrés Blanco at the plate, Blanco would come through with a clutch single to right field to clear the bases and give the 2-0 lead to the Sky Sox. In the next at-bat, Dylan Moore slugged his third home run of the season to left field to extend the home advantage to 4-0.
In the fourth inning, Colorado Springs piled on another multi-run inning with two more runs. Blanco led the frame off with his second home run of the season while a one-out sacrifice fly ball by Orf scored Moore, who walked following Blanco's round-tripper, to bring the score to 6-0.
In the Cubs sixth, entering the inning with only one hit, they found a rhythm on Sky Sox starter Burnes. Mike Freeman led off the inning with their second hit of the game, a single to centerfield. After David Bote walked and Efren Navarro went down on strikes for the first out, Mark Zagunis knocked an RBI line drive single to plate Iowa's first run, ending Burnes night. With reliever Michael Brady in for relief, his first batter faced Victor Caratini sent his second double of the season to centerfield to plate two more, minimizing the Sky Sox lead to 6-3. Brady would get two consecutive groundouts to end the damage.
The Sky Sox made quick action and retaliated in the bottom half of the inning with three runs of their own. After Dustin Houle drew a leadoff walk, Shane Opitz, who entered the game at third base for Gabriel Noriega, stepped up and knocked the Sky Sox third homer of the night - a two-run shot to right field. With one out, Keon Broxton restarted the frame with his eighth double while Brett Phillips collected his fourth triple of the year to plate the third run of the half and go up 9-3.
The home team had the final say on the night with a 10th and final run scored on Dustin Houle's first Triple-A home run, making it a 10-3 final game three.
The Sky Sox are in the midst of a five-game homestand against the Iowa Cubs that will end on June 3, before going back on the road for nine days and seven games. Game four tomorrow is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and is Avengers Night at Security Service Field. 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 game four of the five-game set against the Iowa Cubs at Security Service Field, the Sky Sox are sending right-hander Brandon Woodruff to the mound to face righty Duane Underwood Jr. Woodruff will be looking for his third win of the season while Underwood is seeking his fourth.
Four the Win: After collecting three homers Wednesday against the Iowa Cubs, marking the most dingers in one game for the Sky Sox, Colorado Springs one-upped that stat with four total on Friday night in game three, which brought in six of the home team's 10 runs. Previously, the team had hit two homers five times previously this season, with the last coming on May 25.
Phillips Triple: Brett Phillips collected his team-leading fourth triple of the season in the bottom of the sixth inning Friday evening. He also collected his 11th RBI of the season.
Houle's First: Catcher Dustin Houle, who was transferred to Colorado Springs on May 26, knocked his first career Triple-A home run and first homer of the season. Houle played in 24 games for Double-A Biloxi prior to his promotion to the Sky Sox.
Wrapping Up Another Month: With the loss Thursday night, the Sky Sox finished the month of May with a 12-16 record. Colorado Springs had as many losses in May as they had wins in April, having gone 16-8 in the first month of the season.
Burnes Good Start to June: Corbin Burnes picked up the win the kick off June after falling in his last three decisions. The Bakersfield native picked up his first win of the season on April 19 in New Orleans versus the Baby Cakes after throwing 6.1 scoreless innings, allowing only three hits with one walk and nine strikeouts. From there, Burnes received four no-decisions and three losses. Though he had one win in April and three losses in May, his numbers from both months have been relatively even. In April, Burnes was 1-0 in five starts, with 28 hits, 15 earned runs, and 21 strikeouts. In May, Burnes was 0-3 in five starts with 28 hits, 14 earned runs, and 32 strikeouts.
Struggling at the Plate:  Prior to Thursday night, the fewest hits the Sky Sox had in a game this season was four, which they had done five times, with the last occurrence coming on 5/29 in Memphis versus the Redbirds.  On Thursday night, Colorado Springs only mustered three hits against Iowa.
Stranger Pitching Things:  Adrian Houser made his 2018 debut with the Sky Sox Thursday night, but was forced to exit the game after facing just three batters when a come-backer hit him, causing an apparent injury.  Later in the game, Bubba Derby, who had come in to pitch relief for Colorado Springs, had an impressive at-bat of his own, drawing a legitimate seven-pitch walk.
Marked Improvement: Through three games in this five-game series, the Sky Sox have scored 25 runs, which is more runs than they scored in their previous two road series (18 runs in nine games). In the five-game series last week against Memphis, the Sky Sox scored a combined six runs. In the four-game series last week against Nashville, the Sky Sox scored a combined twelve runs.
Brady Hits 300: Michael Brady threw one scoreless inning of relief Tuesday night in Memphis, marking his 300th Minor League game pitched.
Road Trip Scoring: Over the nine-game stretch on the Tennessee road trip, the Sky Sox plated nine of 67 runners in scoring position. The Colorado Springs squad has collected a total of 57 hits with four home runs and eight doubles.
This Week's Preview: The Sky Sox are in the midst of a five-game homestand that began Wednesday, May 30 against the Iowa Cubs. After the five games at home, they will hit the road again for sevens game to take on Pacific Conference teams, the Fresno Grizzlies and Sacramento River Cats.
NEXT GAME: Saturday, June 2 vs. Iowa Cubs - 6:00 p.m. MST @ Security Service Field
RHP Brandon Woodruff (2-0, 1.89) vs. RHP Ryan Helsley (1-0, 1.93) | Broadcast on XTRA Sports 1300
Avengers Night with Post-Game Fireworks - Special Guest PA Alan Roach
COS TOP PERFORMERS

• Andres Blanco (2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R)
• Dylan Moore (1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI)
• Brett Phillips (2-for-5, 3B, RBI)

   IOWA TOP PERFORMERS

• Austin Gomber (6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 6 SO)
• Andrew Knizner (3-for-4, 2 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI)
• Rangel Ravelo (2-for-4, 3B, HR, 2 R, RBI)