It’s a big day for Manny Pina as he will make his return to the Sky Sox lineup tonight and he was one of three Sky Sox named to the PCL All-Star team. (Bobby Stevens/MiLB.com)

The Sky Sox are back in Colorado Springs following a great road trip to the Lone Star State, on which they went 3-1 in the four games against the Express. The series ended with two extra-inning victories for the Sox, one in 14, the latter in 10. On Tuesday it was Andy Wilkins’ RBI double in the top of the 10th inning that propelled the Sox to the 5-3 win in the finale of the four-game set and road trip. Following the off-day Wednesday, the Sky Sox welcome in the New Orleans Zephyrs for the first of four tonight at Security Service Field.

The Pacific Coast League announced the roster for the Triple-A All-Star game held in Charlotte and three players will represent the Sky Sox. Shortstop Orlando Arcia, catcher Manny Pina, and reliever Damien Magnifico all earned the trip to Charlotte with their outstanding play in the first-half of the 2016 campaign. Congratulations to them!

Before we dive into tonight’s tilt, the Brewers and Sky Sox have announced the following transactions:

SUMMARY:
ADD: C Manny Pina activated from the disabled list
DEL: RHP Ariel Pena placed on the disabled list

This evening, Colorado Springs hosts the Zephyrs in the opener of the four-game series and homestand at Security Service Field. It marks the first time that the Zs have been to SSF this season, despite the Sox playing in the Big Easy twice. The Sky Sox enter play tonight at .500 (38-38) and look to eclipse the .500 mark for the first time since April 20th, when they were 6-5 following game one of a doubleheader against the Sounds. In hopes of getting to that mark, the Sky Sox will send righty Tyler Cravy gets set to make his third straight start at home and New Orleans newcomer Asher Wojciechowski will make his first start with Marlins’ top affiliate. The Sky Sox are 4-4 against New Orleans this season 86-69 all time against the Zephyrs and 39-33 at home.

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

Colorado Springs Sky Sox (38-38) vs. New Orleans Zepyhrs (37-40) – 7:05 p.m. – Security Service Field – Colorado Springs, Colorado

Pitching Matchup: RHP Tyler Cravy (2-2, 6.40) vs. Asher Wojciechowski (2-2, 5.33)

Sky Sox Pitcher: RHP Tyler Cravy takes a trip to the hill for the 9th time this season and 8th in the starting role tonight against New Orleans. The righty is 2-2 with a 6.40 ERA across his first eight outings with Colorado Springs. In 32 1/3 innings he’s allowed 25 runs (23 earned) on 30 hits, 5 homers, 17 walks, and 33 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .248 against the California native. He last pitched against Memphis in the finale of the 14 game homestand on June 24. He earned the win and threw 6 innings against the Redbirds, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. He threw 82 pitches, 53 for strikes in a game the Sky Sox won 11-6. The righty is now 1-2 with a 11.68 ERA in three 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 37-31 record with 3 saves and a 3.89 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: 6/24/16 vs. Memphis – Cravy went out a spun a beauty in the homestand of the 14 game finale. The Sky Sox were thin on pitching and the righty gave them six strong innings, over which he gave up three earned runs, earning himself a quality start. He limited the Redbirds to the three runs on six hits, while walking three and striking out four. He threw 82 pitches, 53 for strikes in a game the Sox won 11-6, clinching a winning homestand 8-6 and winning the six-game series 4-2.

2016 Game Log with the Sky Sox:

Zephyrs Pitcher: Righty Asher Wojciechowski has been promoted from Double-A Jacksonville and will make his first start with New Orleans tonight. Wojciechowski was DFA’d by the Astros on May 17th and claimed by the Marlins on May 24th. The righty  went 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA in his first two starts within the Miami organization, both came with Double-A Jacksonville. Prior to his release from the Astros, Wojciechowski went 2-2 with a 5.33 ERA in five starts with Fresno. He allowed 21 runs (15 earned) on 29 hits, 13 walks, and 22 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings. PCL opponents are hitting .282 against him this season. In 124 minor-league games he’s 46 -32 with a save and a 4.00 ERA and 0-1 with a 7.16 ERA in five MLB games, all with the Astros. He was originally selected by Toronto in the Comp. A round of the 2010 draft out of The Citadel. He’s played for the Blue Jays, Astros, and Marlins organizations. He was traded to the Astros from the Blue Jays in the deal that sent Brandon Lyon, J.A. Happ, and David Carpenter to the Blue Jays.

Last Time Out: 6/25/2016 at Mississippi (w/Double-A Jacksonville) –Wojciechowski made his second start for the Suns and shoved against the Mississippi Braves. The righty earned the win with six-strong innings of work. He allowed 2 runs on 7 hits, didn’t walk anyone, and struck out 4. He threw 79 pitches, 60 for strikes in a game the Suns won 6-5.

2016 Game Log (w/Fresno and Jacksonville) –

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