Wei-Chung Wang was great again for Colorado Springs, but took the loss as OKC clinched the division for the second year in a row with a 6-1 win Sunday night. (Paat Kelly)
It was a good ride, there is no doubt. To be playing games that matter with one week left in the season is an accomplishment in and of itself and the Sky Sox have put together one of the better years in the franchise’s recent memory. Unfortunately the thoughts of postseason ball ended with a 6-1 loss to the Oklahoma City Dodgers yesterday in Bricktown. With the win OKC clinched the division for the second straight year. The final score is deceiving and takes away from what was a tremendous pitchers duel to start between Wei-Chung Wang and Jose De Leon. Wang delivered the first six innings in scoreless fashion before Austin Barnes took him deep in the seventh and De Leon turned in another 7 2/3 scoreless, scattered four hits and struck out 13. The scoring didn’t inflate until the eighth inning when the Dodgers put up a five spot against Damien Magnifico and made it 6-0, while Garrett Cooper’s double in the ninth got the Sox on the board. Colorado Springs has scored two runs in its last three games, both of which have come in the final innings of the game.
As stated, with the loss, the Sox postseason hopes come crashing down and now the focus turns to getting back to .500 to round out the 2016 campaign.
Hitting Notes –
Colorado Springs notched a run on six hits and picked up multiple hit games from two of its hitters in the 5-run loss.
Garrett Cooper went 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI for the Sox. He is now hitting .262 and has collected 16 RBI in 30 Triple-A games.
Nate Orf picked up the other multi-hit game with a 2-for-4 performance with 2 singles in the loss.
Lewis Brinson went 1-for-4 and scored the lone Sox run in the ninth inning.
Yadiel Rivera had the other hit for Colorado Springs, a triple.
Pitching Notes –
Wei-Chung Wang returned to form and was outstanding for the Sox as he allowed one run in seven innings of work. He scattered five hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out five Dodgers. He pitched the first six frames in scoreless fashion and kept it that way until Barnes’ homer in the seventh. He fired off 90 pitches, 59 of which went for strikes.
Damien Magnifico took the brunt of the Dodgers attack in the eighth and was tagged for 5 runs on 3 hits, 1 walk and 1 strikeout over 2/3s of an inning.
Sam Freeman was called upon to get the final out of the eighth.
Play of the Game –
De Leon was the star of the tilt and he struck out 13 Sky Sox, here’s a look at the 13th –
Pregame Interview with Dan Karcher and Brewers Manager Craig Counsell Part 4 –
Thanks for reading – See you on the radio,
Dan
Colorado Springs Sky Sox Official Team Blog 