SKY SOX SHUT OUT FOR FIRST TIME IN 2018 BY REDBIRDS

POSTGAME NOTES
Saturday, May 26, 2018 @ Memphis Redbirds
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (27-20) | Memphis Redbirds (30-20)
SKY SOX SHUT OUT FOR FIRST TIME IN 2018 BY REDBIRDS
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Sky Sox were blanked for the first time this season 4-0 as Memphis starter Dakota Hudson (6-1) and reliever Edward Mujica combined for a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts. Sky Sox starter Paolo Espino (1-2), despite taking the loss, made a strong start after five, four-hit, one-run innings with no walks and two strikeouts. Opposite to last night, two home runs by Rangel Ravelo and Patrick Wisdom within Memphis' six hits made the difference in the game. Although the Sky Sox added another loss to the overall record, the dropped game's blow was lessened with Nashville's 1-0 win over Oklahoma City to hold Colorado Springs' two-and-a-half game deficit in the American North.
The first five and a half innings of the third game in Memphis went scoreless. Colorado Springs bats recorded its first hit of the night in the first - a leadoff single by Keon Broxton. In the third, starter Espino led off the frame with a single followed by Broxton's second single of the night to put the pressure on. After Orlando Arcia went down swinging for the first out, Ji-Man Choi drew a walk to load the bases, but the Sky Sox were unable to produce as Christian Bethancourt and Brett Phillips recorded the remaining outs.
After three perfect innings delivered by Espino, Memphis joined the party after Oscar Mercado singled to leadoff the inning and Patrick Wisdom added a second hit with another single, but no runs would be produced.
In the bottom of the sixth, Espino exited the game after allowing a leadoff single to Mercado. Reliever Jon Perrin stepped in for his place on the mound, where his first batter faced, Rangel Ravelo, broke the tie with a two-run home run to left-center field, giving Memphis the 2-0 advantage. Wisdom restarted the frame with a walk and stole second to get into scoring position. He would score and make it a 3-0 Memphis lead on third-baseman Andrés Blanco's overthrow error to first base, which was batted by Alex Mejia.
Memphis would plate a final run in the bottom of the eighth on Wisdom's solo home run to make it a final 4-0 game as the Sky Sox would bat through the minimum in the final four innings of the contest.
The Sky Sox head into the third of five games against the Memphis Redbirds tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 5:35 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 Expectation: In the third game of the five-game set against the Memphis Redbirds, the Sky Sox are sending right-hander Corbin Burnes to the mound to face southpaw Austin Gomber for the Redbirds.
Blanked: 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, coming 48 games in. Memphis starter Dakota Hudson, who notched the win at Security Service Field in his last start against the Sky Sox, was brilliant Saturday night at AutoZone Park, tossing eight shutout, four-hit innings with nine strikeouts. In comparison, in 2017, the first time the Sky Sox were shutout was on May 19 when Albuquerque beat Colorado Springs 5-0.
Espino's Groove: Starter Paolo Espino is keeping rhythm after making his third appearance of the season for the Sky Sox on Saturday night. In each of his outings so far, he has allowed just one earned run. He is currently riding a 1-2 record with a 2.89 ERA over two starts (3 ER in 9.1 IP).
Opposite Day: Opposite to last night, after Dylan Moore made the difference in game one Friday night with his pair of home runs out of Colorado Springs' six total hits, the Redbirds sought revenge, making the difference in game two with home runs by Rangel Ravelo and Patrick Wisdom within Memphis' six hits.
Short One: 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.
Halted at Four: The Sky Sox were held to four hits for the third time this season by Memphis pitching on Saturday night at AutoZone Park. 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.
Perrin's First: The home run by Rangel Ravelo in the bottom of the sixth Saturday night marked Perrin's first home run allowed in 2018 in his 10th appearance for the Sky Sox. This season so far, the right-hander is 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA and has compiled 12 strikeouts over 16 innings pitched.
Taking On Memphis: In six games played against the Redbirds so far this season, the Sky Sox are 2-4 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 night's contest. In Dakota Hudson's last start at Security Service Field, while dueling once again against Colorado Springs starter Paolo Espino, he picked up the win after six, six-hit, one-run innings. Espino, who took the loss in the last outing against Memphis, took a tough loss after allowing just four hits through five innings. On Saturday night, Hudson put together an impressive eight-inning, shutout four-hit performance with nine strikeouts.
No Effect: Although the Sky Sox added another loss to the overall record, the dropped game's blow was lessened with Nashville's 1-0 win over Oklahoma City to hold Colorado Springs' two-and-a-half game deficit in the American North.
On-Base Hacker: On Thursday night, Kyle Wren continued his on-base rhythm with another 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.
This Week's Preview: The Sky Sox are in midst of a nine-game stretch on the road. Colorado Springs started the trip going 1-3 in a four-game set against the Nashville Sounds and 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.
NEXT GAME: Sunday, May 27 @ Memphis Redbirds - 5:35 p.m. MDT @ AutoZone Park
RHP Corbin Burnes (1-2, 4.82) vs. LHP Austin Gomber (3-3, 4.04) | Broadcast on XTRA Sports 1300
Next Sky Sox Home Game: May 30 vs. Iowa Cubs @ Security Service Field
COS TOP PERFORMERS

• Paolo Espino (5.0 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 2 K)
• Keon Broxton (2-for-4)
• Orlando Arcia (1-for-3)

   MEM TOP PERFORMERS

• Dakota Hudson (8.0 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 9 K)
• Rangel Ravelo (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R)
• Patrick Wisdom (2-for-3, 2 R, HR, RBI)