Tyler Cravy will end the homestand on a fireworks Friday after beginning it with some fireworks in game two of the doubleheader against Iowa back on June 14. (Bobby Stevens/MiLB.com)

The Sky Sox and Redbirds have played four games in the last two days with the Sox taking three of the four tilts; they also lead the series 3-2 across the first five games. Through the first 13 games of the homestand the Sky Sox are 7-6 and look to clinch a winning homestand with a victory tonight against Memphis. Yesterday the Sox won game one of the twinbill in 9-8 come-from-behind fashion, thanks in part to Will Middlebrooks’ third grand slam of the season, and game two 7-5 as Michael Reed chipped in with a three-run double. Michael Kirkman picked up the win and Corey Knebel the save in game one, while Brent Suter got the win and Damien Magnifico the save in the nightcap.

Before we dive into tonight’s ballgame the Brewers and Sky Sox have announced the following transaction:

ADD: INF Yadiel Rivera optioned from Milwaukee

Tonight the Sky Sox and Redbirds end their season series with the finale of a six-game, four-day series at Security Service Field. Colorado Springs will send Tyler Cravy to the hill for the finale, while Memphis will counter with righty Mike Mayers. Cravy will throw for the first time since the opening day of the homestand where he lasted just 1 1/3 innings against the Cubs before getting ejected for hitting Dan Vogelbach with a pitch in game two of a doubleheader. Cravy was suspended for his conduct, thus the long hiatus. For Memphis, Mayers is 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA in 5 outings, one of which has come against Colorado Springs. He gave up a run on 5 hits over six innings at AutoZone Park on June 9. Against Memphis, the Sox are 7-8 this season, 73-85 all-time and 43-36 at home. This series will conclude the 2016 season series between the two teams.

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Today’s Game Notes / Listen Live at 6:30 MDT / Lineups 

Colorado Springs Sky Sox (34-37) vs. Memphis Redbirds (34-39) – 7:05 p.m. – Security Service Field – Colorado Springs, Colorado

Pitching Matchup: RHP Tyler Cravy (1-2, 6.84) vs. RHP Alex Reyes (2-1, 1.93)

Sky Sox Pitcher: RHP Tyler Cravy has hopped off the suspended list and will make his 8th appearance (7th start) with the Sky Sox tonight against Memphis. The righty is 1-2 with a 6.84 ERA across his first seven outings with Colorado Springs. In 26 1/3 innings he’s allowed 22 runs (20 earned) on 24 hits, 5 homers, 14 walks, and 29 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .238 against the California native. He last piched against Iowa on June 14th in game two of the doubleheader and departed with a bang. The righty lasted just 1 1/3 innings and allowed 9 runs on 6 hits, 3 of which were homers, he walked 2, hit a batter, and struck out a pair.  He caused a fracas of sorts when he hit Dan Vogelbach with a pitch in the second inning. Cravy was ejected and the benches cleared before play resumed. The righty is 0-2 with a 18.47 ERA in two home outings this season. He has made two stints with the Brewers in 2016 as well, over which he is 0-1 with a 6.52 ERA in 9 2/3 innings of work. Overall in his career, Cravy has a 36-31 record with 3 saves and a 3.88 ERA in the minors and a 0-9 record with a 5.85 ERA in 20 big-league games. He was drafted by Milwaukee in the 17th round of the 2009 draft out of Napa Valley College.

Last Time Out: 6/14/16 vs. Iowa (Game 2) – Cravy took the hill in his 6th start in game two of the doubleheader against the Cubs on the opening day of the homestand. He only recorded four outs before he was ejected after hitting Dan Vogelbach. The Cubs got three in the first inning off of the righty courtesy of a John Andreoli homer and Dan Vogelbach homer. Cravy went back to the mound in the second and gave up six more runs before leaving. His final line read 1 1/3 innings, 6 hits, 9 runs, 2 walks, 1 hit batter, and 2 strikeouts. He threw 37 pitches, 22 for strikes in a game the Sox lost 15-5.

Game Log with the Sky Sox:

Redbirds Pitcher: Righty Mike Mayers will make the start in the series finale tonight at Security Service Field. Mayers is 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA in 5 starts with the Redbirds in 2016 and a combined 7-3 with a 2.18 ERA in 14 starts with Memphis and Springfield. The righty started against the Sky Sox in the June 9th tilt at AutoZone Park and held the Sky Sox down to a run over six innings on 5 hits, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts. He has gone at least five innings in each of his last nine starts dating back to May 5 with Springfield and has pitched into the sixth in eight of those nine. Tonight will mark his second road start with Memphis this season. Mayers was selected by the Cardinals in the third round of the 2013 draft out of Mississippi. He has yet to make his MLB debut and is 18-22 with a 3.44 ERA over his first 62 minor-league outings spanning his first three-plus professional seasons.

Last Time Out: 6/19/2016 vs. Iowa – Mayers picked up the win his last time out with six strong innings against the streaky, but potent Cubs’ lineup. He limited the damage to one unearned run on 3 hits, 1 walk, and 5 strikeouts and lowered his ERA to 1.93. He threw 98 pitches, 72 for strikes in a game Memphis hung on to win 4-3.

Last 10 Games with Memphis and Springfield –

Dan Karcher (@SkySoxKarch) continues his 27^th season behind the mic for Sky Sox games, he and I will have the call of tonight’s game from Security Service Field at 7:05 p.m. Sky Sox Warmup will get off and running at 6:30 MDT on XTRA Sports 1300.

Thanks for reading – See you on the radio,

Dan

@Dan_Acheson