The Colorado Springs Sky Sox completed a four-game sweep of Fresno Tuesday afternoon, defeating the Grizzlies, 8-5, in front of 3,759 at Security Service Field.
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox completed a four-game sweep of Fresno Tuesday afternoon, defeating the Grizzlies, 8-5, in front of 3,759 at Security Service Field.
The sweep was the first four-game sweep of Fresno since May 27-30, 2011, at Security Service Field, and the most recent sweep against a Pacific Coast League opponent since winning four straight against Round Rock July 22-25 of last season.
Down 2-0 entering the bottom of the second, the Sky Sox rallied for three runs to take an early lead. After Nate Orf and Nick Noonan reached safely off Fresno starter Casey Coleman, former Grizzly catcher Tyler Heineman lined a two-run double down the RF line to tie the score and double his RBI total to four.
One batter later, Kyle Wren lined his second single to the right side of second base, scoring Heineman and putting the hosts up 3-2. With his 10th RBI of the season, Wren became the eighth Sox batter with double-figure RBI totals through the first 28 games of the season, and also extended his hitting streak to five games.
Colorado Springs (20-8) extended its lead with three combined runs over the fourth and fifth innings. With two outs, Ivan De Jesus drove in his 13th run of the season on an opposite-field flare to score Eric Sogard, who stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error from Fresno catcher Juan Centeno.
The Grizzlies defense gifted the Sox a pair of insurance runs one inning later. With Brett Phillips on second after a double, Kirk Nieuwenhuis grounded a dribbler that snuck through the legs of first baseman A.J. Reed. Three batters later, Coleman unleashed a wild pitch, allowing the Sox right fielder to score.
Fresno (13-20) answered with three unearned runs in the sixth inning to pull within a run, but the Sky Sox scored in their third straight inning to re-extend their lead. With the bases loaded and one out, Phillips drove in his seventh run against Fresno on a walk to score Wren. One pitch later, a passed ball allowed Sogard to score and give the Sox a three-run cushion.
Hiram Burgos (2-2, .3.55) earned his second win of the season by battling through several jams in his five innings. The right-hander allowed two unearned runs and stranded seven Grizzlies on base. Tristan Archer allowed three unearned runs and struck out two in his one innings, while Andy Oliver tossed a pair of scoreless frames. Michael Blazek (2, 2.92) entered in the ninth and closed out his second save with a perfect 1-2-3 frame, striking out a pair of batters.
The Sky Sox return for the second half of their eight-game at 11:00 a.m. MT. After a scheduled off day, LHP Brent Suter (2-1, 3.48) takes the mound for his first home start of 2017 against RHP Dan Slania (0-4, 8.75) and the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Thursday is also marks the third and final Math Day of the 2017 season
