Righty Hiram Burgos looks to help the Sox snap their brief two-game losing streak tonight in New Orleans. Colorado Springs has been shut out in the first two games of the series. (Bobby Stevens/MiLB.com)

The Sky Sox have not fared well through the first two games of the series against the New Orleans Zephyrs, dropping them both by the score of 3-0. Team historian Chris Moyer explains that it is the ninth time in franchise history that feat has been accomplished, we hope the Sky Sox offense spares him the need to hunt for how many instances in which three straight shutouts have happened. Last night’s game had the ups of Corey Knebel working a perfect first in his first rehab outing with the Sky Sox and Orlando Arcia extending his hitting streak to 10 games, but also held the downs of getting shutout and being held to 5 hits at the plate. Jorge Lopez notched a solid outing and tossed 5 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on 5 hits, 2 walks, and striking out 5. The loss put the Sox two game out of first place and back in the cellar of the PCL American Northern Division as the Iowa Cubs continue to roll and have won 9 straight. The Sox have not scored a run in 18 innings dating back to the fourth inning Friday night.

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Colorado Springs will look to not only score a run or two, but also snap its brief two-game losing skid. In hopes of accomplishing both of those tasks, the Sox will send their workhorse righty Hiram Burgos to the hill against the lefty Chris Narveson of the Zephyrs. Burgos enters play 2-3 with a 3.28 ERA as a starter while the southpaw Narveson is 1-2 with a 4.79 ERA in eight games. It will be the second time facing the opposition for both starters. With this series 2-0 in favor of New Orleans, the season series is tied 3-3. The two teams first squared off in the four game set from May 10 – May 13. The Sox won the final three of the series and went on to win five in a row during that stretch. Colorado Springs has fared well against the Zs and are 85-68 all time and 46-35 on the road.

Today’s Game Notes / Listen Live at 4:30 MDT / Lineups 

Colorado Springs Sky Sox (25-27) at New Orleans Zephyrs (25-30) – 5:00 p.m. – Zephyr Field – Metairie, Louisiana

Pitching Matchup: RHP Hiram Burgos (2-4, 4.53) at LHP Chris Narveson (1-2, 4.79)

Sky Sox Pitcher: RHP Hiram Burgos gets set to make the 11th appearance and 10th start of his season tonight at Zephyr Field. The righty pitched there on May 10th and took the loss, despite pitching exceptionally well. He allowed a run on 5 hits, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings against the Zs. The Sky Sox would lose that game 1-0, as New Orleans received an outstanding pitching performance from Dylan Axelrod. Burgos has gone at least five innings in each of his last five starts, but is 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA allowing 14 runs (11 earned) in 29 1/3 innings. The offense has not helped out the native of Puerto Rico much as he is averaging a team-low 2.8 runs of support in his first 9 starts. He will look to solve his road woes and improve upon his 0-4 record and 5.79 ERA. Burgos was selected by the Brewers in the 6th round of the 2009 draft out of Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. In 141 minor-league appearances the righty is 39-41 with a 3.77 ERA, while in six MLB starts he is 1-2 with a 6.44 ERA.

Last Time Out: 6/1/16 vs. Omaha – Burgos labored through five innings of work and allowed 5 runs on 8 hits, a home run, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts. He threw a season-high 100 pitches, 63 of which crossed the zone for strikes. The Sky Sox won that game 6-5.

2016 Game Log:

Zephyrs Pitcher: LHP Chris Narveson will make his 9th trip to the mound and 7th starts tonight in game three of the four-game series. The southpaw 1-2 with a 4.79 ERA in his first eight appearances with New Orleans and 1-0 with a 8.64 ERA in six bullpen appearances with the Marlins. He took the pill on May 11 against the Sky Sox and did not factor into the decision. He went the first four innings and allowed 5 runs on 8 hits, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts on 85 pitches, 48 of which were for strikes. Andy Wilkins and Keon Broxton took him deep in the game the Sky Sox would go on to win 9-5. Narveson has fared better at home going 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA and is 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA as a starter when you subtract his two relief appearances. The lefty was drafted by the Cardinals in the 2nd round of the 2000 draft and has pitched for the St. Louis, Boston, Milwaukee, and Miami organizations. In 240 minor-league outings he is 59-78 with a 4.03 ERA and in 118 MLB appearances he is 30-19 with a 4.71 ERA.

Last Time Out: 6/1/2016 at Memphis –  Narveson went 5 2/3 innings against the Redbirds, but suffered the loss, allowing 3 runs on 8 hits, 2 walks and 4 strikeouts. He threw a season-high 102 pitches, but only 59 went for strikes in the game that New Orleans lost 3-2.

2016 Game Log

Dan Karcher (@SkySoxKarch) continues his 27^th season behind the mic for Sky Sox games, he will have the call of tonight’s game from Zephyr Field at 5:00 p.m. I’ll get Sky Sox Warmup all fired up at 4:30 MDT on XTRA Sports 1300.

Thanks for reading – See you on the radio,

Dan

@Dan_Acheson