The Sky Sox have been steamrolled by the Express in the first two games of the series and have dropped 7 of their last 9 games. Round Rock has plated 22 runs on 31 hits in the series, while the Sox offense has notched 13 runs on 27 hits through the first 18 innings against the Express. The problem this series and this season has been early runs allowed by the Sky Sox starting pitchers. Ariel Pena gave up five runs in his 1-plus inning outing on Monday and last night Taylor Jungmann was tagged for five runs in the first two innings. On the year, the Sky Sox are being outscored 34 to 19 in the first two innings.

Today, the Sky Sox turn to Jorge Lopez in hopes of stopping the losing streak, and early-inning domination by the opponent. Lopez is set to square off against righty Nick Tepesch in the third of four against Round Rock today at 11 a.m.

Today’s and Tomorrow’s games will both be Math Days presented by UCCS, with each contest starting at 11:05 a.m. Here are all the great promotions lined up for the next six days at Security Service Field!

Today’s Game Notes / Listen Live at 10:30 MDT / Lineups

Colorado Springs Sky Sox (9-14) vs. Round Rock Express (14-10) – 11:05 p.m. – Security Service Field – Colorado Springs, Colorado

Pitching Matchup: RHP Jorge Lopez (0-1, 8.79) vs. RHP Nick Tepesch (1-2, 3.68 )

Sky Sox Pitcher: RHP Jorge Lopez gets the quick-turnaround start for the Sky Sox today and is set to make his third appearance at Security Service Field. The righty has lacked command over his first four starts to the tune of a 0-1 record and 8.79 ERA. In 14 1/3 innings he’s allowed 14 runs on 23 hits, 13 walks and 16 strikeouts. The native of Puerto Rico has yet to make it out of the 5th and has tossed over 80 pitches in each outing. His longest outing came at home against Memphis on April 15 where he lasted 4 2/3 innings and gave up 3 runs on 5 hits. Despite going 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts with the Brewers last season, this is the first spin around Triple-A for Lopez.

Last Time Out: 4/28/16 at Iowa – Lopez worked 3.0 innings and allowed 4 runs on 6 hits, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. He tossed 81 pitches, 47 of which were strikes. He gave up two runs in the first, settled in and faced only four batters in the 2nd before another two runs were plated against him on 8 hitters in his third and final frame.

2016 Game Log:

Express Pitcher: RHP Nick Tepesch has made five starts with the Express in 2016 and is 1-2 with a 3.68 ERA. In 29 1/3 innings he’s allowed 12 runs on 33 hits, 6 walks, and 13 strikeouts. The righty has gone 7-innings in each of his last two starts however, took home a no-decision in one and a loss in the other. The Kansas City native picked up the lone win of his season in his first start on April 9. He went 5-scoreless innings against the Cubs. Tepesch, like last night’s starter Martinez, has plenty of big-league experience as he is 9-17 with a 4.56 ERA in 42 career appearances in MLB. He made his debut in April 2013 and last pitched for the Rangers in 2014. He missed all of 2015 due to injury problems in his right elbow.

Last Time Out: 4/29/16 vs. Nashville – Tepesch tossed 7-innings for the second consecutive start, but took the loss against the Sounds allowing 3 runs on 6 hits, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts. He gave up a home run to 3rd baseman Renato Nunez. The righty tossed 95 pitches, 65 of which were strikes.

2016 Game Log:

Dan Karcher (@SkySoxKarch) continues his 27^th season behind the mic for Sky Sox games, he and I will both have the call of the first pitch from Security Service Field at 11:05 p.m. Sky Sox Warmup fires up at 10:30 MDT on XTRA Sports 1300.

Quick Hits from last night’s 11-3 loss to the Express

Hitting Notes

The Sky Sox’s red-hot offense (currently no. 7 in the PCL w/.272 avg) picked up another 11 hits in the 11-3 loss last night.

Andy Wilkins collected a two-hit night with a single and a solo home run and raised his average to .211. The dinger was his second of the season. Unfortunately he appeared to come up lame on his home run trot in the 6th and had to be pinch hit for in the 8th. The 2-hit performance was the sixth multi-hit game for Wilkins this season.

Manny Pina tallied another two hits in four trips to the plate Tuesday and bumped his average even higher to a gaudy .390 (2nd in PCL). The catcher is hitting .500 over his last 10 games (19-for-38) with a homer and 11 runs batted in. He’s reached base safely in 14 of the 16 games he’s played. Overall he’s at .390/.419/.610 with 9 XBHs and 13 RBI.

Michael Reed bounced back with a 2-for-4 performance after being the lone Sky Sox player without a hit in Monday’s wild 11-10 games. He filled the 8-hole for Colorado Springs as he tries to regain his normal consistency at the dish. His average is at .282.

Keon Broxton provided a glimmer of hope in the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run, which began the offensive attack for the Sky Sox. He hit an opposite field bomb down the line in right which cut the early deficit to 4-1 in the first inning.

Will Middlebrooks picked up a double and hit in his third straight game. Three of the four hits in his last three tilts have gone for extra bases (2 2B and a homer).

Pitching Notes

Taylor Jungmann struggled in his return to the Sky Sox and gave up 7 runs on 9 hits, 4 walks, 2 hit batters, and 4 strikeouts in 4 innings on the bump. The Express picked up five runs across innings 1 and 2 and added another pair in the 4th against the righty.

Brooks Hall turned in his longest outing of the season recording 10 outs and really saving an already taxed bullpen. Hall gave up a homer run to former Sky Sox Doug Bernier, the first man he faced, but settled in and scattered five other hits across his outing.

Jim Miller was the third and final pitcher used by the Sox, he gave up 3 runs on a pair of hits, 1 walk, and one strikeout.

Play of the Game:

Andy Wilkins greeted Michael Roth with a mammoth home run on the first pitch of the sixth inning. The left-handed hitter crushed the no-doubter to right field against the southpaw and cut the deficit to 8-3, but that’s as close as the Sky Sox would get in the tilt.

Pregame Interview with Dan Karcher and Sky Sox 3B Will Middlebrooks:

Thanks for reading! See you on the radio,

Dan

@Dan_Acheson