Will Middlebrooks collected another 2-hit game and hit his fourth homer of the season in the 11-2 loss to New Orleans on Tuesday. (Bobby Stevens/MiLB.com)
The Sky Sox can’t wait to play again and not have it be in New Orleans as they fell 11-2 in the series finale Tuesday morning in the Big Easy. Brent Suter was certainly not to blame as he allowed just one run over five innings of work in his start. The offense was led by Will Middlebrooks who tallied two of the three hits, including a two-run homer in the seventh that put the Sox on the map. The Zephyrs put the game away with a six-run sixth which made it 7-0, they would go on to score four more over the next two frames and ultimately won 11-2. The series is most certainly one to forget for the Sox as they scored four runs in just two innings over the four games. They tallied the four runs on 14 hits, committed two errors, left 19 men on base and went 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position over the set against the Marlins affiliate.
The Sky Sox will hopefully wash away the blues on the off day and open the four-game series against Memphis off on the right foot Thursday.
Hitting Notes
The Sky Sox offense tallied four runs on 14 hits in 32 innings during the series and scored in only two frames. A pair of runs in the top of the 9th Monday and another two in the 7th on Tuesday. They left 19 men on base during the four-game set and just 2-15 with runners in scoring position.
Will Middlebrooks picked up another multi-hit game and went 2-4 with a two-run homer. He’s bumped his average up to .233, hit safely in his last five games, and has multi-hit games in 7 of his last 11 tilts.
Josmil Pinto collected the other hit, a single, and scored on WMB’s blast.
Pitching Notes
Brent Suter turned in another solid performance, but was hit with the loss. The southpaw turned in five quick innings and allowed a run on 5 hits. He didn’t walk nor strike anyone out, while throwing 58 pitches, an incredible 41 (71-percent!!!) went for strikes.
The Sky Sox used five relievers in relief of Suter and all but one of them gave up a run.
Michael Kirkman gave up 2 runs on 1 hit in one-third of an inning…Austin Ross gave up 4 runs on 3 hits in two-thirds of an inning…Drew Gagnon gave up a run on 2 hits in one inning…Ariel Pena allowed 3 runs on 1 hit in two-thirds of an inning…Jaye Chapman recorded the final out of the game on a strikeout and did not allow a run.
Play of the Game
The Sky Sox looked destined for another shutout loss and trailed 7-0 entering the top of the seventh inning. Greg Nappo was on the mound in his fifth inning of work and walked the leadoff man, Josmil Pinto with Will Middlebrooks on deck. WMB stepped in and hammered an 0-1 pitch over the wall in left-center for a two-run blast, his fourth of the season.
Pregame Interview with Dan Karcher and Zephyrs Manager Arnie Beyeler –
Thanks for reading – See you on the radio,
Dan
Colorado Springs Sky Sox Official Team Blog 