The Sky Sox had to fight again in the late frames, but were again successful and won in 5-4 fashion over the Round Rock Express Sunday night at Security Service Field. Hiram Burgos returned to form and turned in a gem, limiting the Express to a run on 6 hits, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. He turned things over to the bullpen with a 4-1 lead thanks to a three-run third and a run in the fourth from his offense. Michael Kirkman was first out of the ‘pen and gave up a three-run homer to Drew Robinson in the eighth, which tied the game 4-4. Eric Young, Jr. brought home Garin Cecchini with a sac fly in the next half inning which proved to be the game’s decisive run. Orlando Arcia got the scoring going with a 2-run double in the third inning, while Josmil Pinto and Kyle Wren chipped in with RBI singles.

FULL RECAP HERE – You can find the Quick Hits portion of the blog below today’s matchup. 

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

SUMMARY:
ADD: RHP Drew Gagnon activated from the disabled list

C Parker Berberet transferred from Double-A Biloxi

DEL: RHP Jorge Lopez transferred to Double-A Biloxi

OF Keon Broxton recalled to Milwaukee

This afternoon, the Sky Sox and Express ready for the finale of four at Security Service Field, a place where they have won 30 of 49 matchups. Colorado Springs looks to string four wins together for the first time since June 27-July 2, when they won five in a row beginning with two against the Express and finishing with three at home against the Zephyrs. They enter play four games under .500 at 47-51 and still in second place, however 10 games in back of the Oklahoma City Dodgers. In hopes of continuing its winning ways, Colorado Springs will send freshly activated righty Drew Gagnon to the mound against former Sky Sox Austin Bibens-Dirkx of the Express. Gagnon is 1-1 with a 7.27 ERA in 24 games (no starts) with the Sox, while Bibens-Dirkx is 0-1 with a 3.40 ERA in 7 starts with Round Rock. In 2016 the Sky Sox are 7-4 against the Express, they hold an all-time record of 37-42 against them and are 17-20 between them at Security Service Field.

Today’s Game Notes / Listen Live at 12:00 MDT / Lineups

Colorado Springs Sky Sox (47-51) vs. Round Rock Express (49-53) – 12:35 p.m. – Security Service Field – Colorado Springs, Colorado

Pitching Matchup: RHP Drew Gagnon (1-1, 7.15) vs. RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (0-1, 3.40)

Sky Sox Pitcher: Righty Drew Gagnon is slated to get the start for the Sky Sox after being activated from the disabled list earlier today. Gagnon has yet to make a start with Colorado Springs this season and is 1-1 with a 7.15 ERA in 24 bullpen outings. Across 34 innings pitched, the righty has allowed 28 runs, 27 earned on 43 hits, 15 walks, and 30 strikeouts. Opponents in the PCL are hitting .316 against the California native. Gagnon last pitched and took the loss against New Orleans at home on July 3. He has also made 5 appearances with Biloxi, including one start and went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA down in Double-A. His lone win came on June 14 against the Cubs at home. Gagnon was selected by the Brewers in the 3rd round of the 2011 draft out of Long Beach State University. In six pro seasons he is 29-38 with two saves and a 4.70 ERA in 142 games, 106 of which have been starts.

Last Time Out: 7/3/16 vs. Zephyrs – Gagnon came out of the pen in relief of Josh Hader and took the loss against the Zephyrs. He allowed 3 runs on 4 hits, 3 walks, and 1 strikeout over three innings of work against the team from the Big Easy. The righty tossed 48 pitches, 27 for strikes in a game the Sky Sox lost 12-8.

Last 10 Games for Gagnon:

Express Pitcher: Righty Austin Bibens-Dirkx takes the hill for Round Rock in the final game of four in his former home park. The former Colorado Springs pitcher was signed by the Rangers on June 17 and has made seven starts since his signing. The righty is 0-1 with a 3.40 ERA allowing 15 runs on 32 hits, 11 walks, and 31 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings. Today will mark his fourth start away from Dell Diamond, where he is 0-1 with a 5.02 ERA. The Sky Sox got seven relief outings from the righty back in 2012. He went 1-1 with a 13.89 ERA in 11 2/3 innings of work. Bibens-Dirkx had not pitched professionally since last season with Toronto’s Double-A affiliate the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Originally selected by the Mariners in the 16th round of the 2006 draft, the righty finds himself with his six organization, having pitched for Seattle, Toronto, Chicago (NL), and Washington prior to his signing with the Rangers. In 302 MiLB appearances (131 starts) Bibens-Dirkx is 58-49 with a 4.01 ERA in 971.1 career innings.

Last Time Out: 7/20/16 vs. Fresno – Bibens-Dirkx took the mound at Dell Diamond against the Fresno Grizzliez and pitched well enough to get the win, and would have, if it were not for a faulty bullpen performance. The righty allowed 3 runs on 7 hits, 4 walks, and 3 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. He threw 95 pitches, 50 for strikes in a game the Express would lose 8-5.

Game Log for Bibens-Dirkx –

Dan Karcher (@SkySoxKarch) continues his 27th season behind the mic for Sky Sox games, he and I will have the call of tonight’s game from Security Service Field at 12:35 p.m. Sky Sox Warmup will get fired up and running at 12:00 MDT on XTRA Sports 1300.

Quick Hits from the Sky Sox 5-4 Win on Sunday – 

Hitting Notes – 

The Sky Sox outscored and outhit the Express by one in each column Sunday, scoring 5 runs on 12 hits. Colorado Springs had all of the hitters in the starting nine tally a base knock, and three had two-hit games.

Orlando Arcia got the Sky Sox on the board with a two-run double in the third inning, the first of his two hits on the evening. His double was the 18th of his season and the two RBI brought him up to 47 on the year.

Kyle Wren reached base another three times with two hits and a walk. He brought home the fourth run of the game with a single in the fourth inning. His average? Upped to .361…His OBP, you ask? A mere .456 through 43 games with the Sky Sox (HOLY COW).

Manny Pina was scheduled to have the day off, but when Keon Broxton was a late scratch the catcher filled the DH role and nonchalantly picked up a pair of singles.

Eric Young, Jr. went 1-for-3 with a double, stolen base, run scored and RBI. His sac fly in the 8th was the difference for the Sox. His stolen base of third brought him to 102 career steals with the Sky Sox and puts him two behind Trinadad Hubbard’s 104 on the all-time list.

Garin Cecchini doubled and scored on the eighth inning sacrifice fly as the game’s decisive run.

Brandon Macias singled and scored, Josmil Pinto tallied a base hit, Nate Orf reached on a single, and Michael Reed was on twice with a knock and a walk.

Pitching Notes – 

Hiram Burgos made his first home start in four trips to the mound and did not disappoint. He pitched six scoreless to begin his outing and finished with one down in the seventh. He gave up one run, scattered 6 hits, walked 3 and struck out 4. He PICKED OFF THREE BASERUNNERS….WHAT? The three bring him up to a total of 10 in his last 13 starts. He threw 88 pitches and 51 went for strikes. His home numbers look like this…4-1 with a 3.97 ERA in 9 starts.

Michael Kirkman came on to get the final two outs of the seventh, but struggled out of the gate in the eighth, allowing two straight singles followed by the Robinson three-run homer.

Damien Magnifico was called upon to get the final six outs, and he did in scoreless fashion earning his fifth win of the season. He gave up 2 hits and struck out three.

Play of the Game – 

Orlando Arcia got the scoring going with a two-run double in the third, check it out below –

http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=967486983&topic_id=&sid=milb&tcid=vpp_copy_967486983&v=3

Pregame Interview with Dan Karcher and Craig Counsell Part 3 –

 

 

Thanks for reading – See you on the radio,

Dan

@Dan_Acheson