The third series between the Dodgers and the Sox was much like the first two, but goodness gracious Tuesday’s 4-3 Sox win may have been the best game of the season set. It was again another heavyweight fight with both teams pulling out all the stops in order to get the win. Thanks to the victory the Sox sit four games in front of Oklahoma City in the division and have the first tiebreaker in their possession winning 9 of the first 12 games.

The tilt began as a pitcher’s duel with a pair of right-handers in the Sox Taylor Jungmann and the Dodgers Justin Masterson. Jungmann turned in a scoreless first, but Colorado Springs struck for a run in the bottom half of the inning. Ryan Cordell singled with two down and guess who doubled him in. That’s right, Garrett Cooper, 1-0 Sox.

After that everything was chalk and the pitchers were grooving into the middle innings Jungmann went the first five in scoreless fashion before being lifted for the bullpen. Masterson pitched into the sixth inning, but couldn’t escape it unscathed.

Nate Orf sparked a two-run rally by being hit by a pitch, then Cordell tripled him home and scored on a Garrett Cooper sac fly. Brett Phillips capped off Masterson’s night by picking up a single to center, and Madison Younginer replaced him to get the final two outs of the inning.

The Sky Sox needed two pitchers to get through the seventh as Tristan Archer gave up three straight singles to begin the inning before picking up two strikeouts, Wei-Chung Wang got Alex Verdugo to pop out to end the threat and the Dodgers left the bases loaded for the second time.

Things became a little more precarious in the eighth inning as the Dodgers scored two runs against Wang and Goforth, but the home team picked up a run on an Orf triple and Cooper sac fly to up the advantage to 4-2.

Rob Scahill entered for the top of the ninth and gave up a leadoff single to Max Muncy. Pinch hitter Bobby Wilson struck out, Verdugo singled Muncy to second, then it was Scott Van Slyke that hit a grounder to third, which Gabriel Noriega fielded and took to the bag himself for the second out of the inning, however his throw to first was wild and caromed into right field which allowed a run to score and the tying run to move to third. Scahill bounced back to dismiss O’Koyea Dickson swingin’ to end the game. 4-3 good guys.

I know we have said it a lot, but dang these games have been heavyweight fights.

Game Story Here

Hitting Notes – 

The Sky Sox were outhit 11-5, but scored the decisive four runs on those five hits, three of which were extra-base knocks, two triples and a double. One Sox player had a multiple hit game and batters two through five had the knocks.

Ryan Cordell went 2-for-4 with a triple, RBI and two runs scored.

Garrett Cooper went 1-for-2 with a double, two sac flies, and three RBI.

Nate Orf went 1-for-2 with a triple and two runs scored.

Brett Phillips singled for the other Sky Sox hit.

Pitching Notes – 

Taylor Jungmann threw five scoreless and locked in his fourth straight win. He allowed three hits, walked three batters and struck out four on 70 pitches, 38 of which went for strikes. What a turnaround we’ve seen from him! It’s been awesome.

Tristan Archer was the first of four relievers used by Rick Sweet. After an easy sixth, he was greeted by three straight singles in the seventh and had to leave after recording two outs in that inning. He fanned three in his five out stint.

Wei-Chung Wang got out of a bases-loaded two out situation in the seventh, but the one out was all he would record. He allowed three baserunners in the eighth before being lifted. Two of those runners scored on his line.

David Goforth relieved Wang and retired all three of the hitters he faced.

Rob Scahill earned his fourth save of the season with the Sky Sox and allowed an unearned run on two hits and struck out two.

Play of the Game – 

There were a lot of crucial moments and plays in Tuesday’s game, but since there’s video we’ll go with Ryan Cordell’s RBI triple in the sixth –

Pregame Interview with Dan Karcher and Matt Herges Pt. 2 – 

The Sox hit the road yesterday and find themselves in the stormy Gulf Region of the country, ready to open up a four-game series against the New Orleans Baby Cakes. Let’s get to the preview of game one!

Colorado Springs Sky Sox (41-28) vs. New Orleans Baby Cakes (26-45) – 6:00 p.m.  

Game Notes / Listen Live at 5:30 p.m.

Pitching Probables: RHP Angel Ventura (2-0, 2.08) at LHP Adam Conley (1-2, 4.97)

Sky Sox Starter: Angel Ventura will make his third Triple-A start tonight in the Big Easy in the series opener against the Cakes.  He made his debut against the El Paso Diablos (Chihuahuas) on May 17 and then pitched against Memphis on June 16. He’s earned the win in both outings with the Sox so far.  He’s given up three runs on 11 hits in 13 innings. The righty has walked three and fanned eight, while holding opponents to a .244 batting average against. The righty began the season in Biloxi and was 3-5 with a 3.48 ERA in eleven games, nine of which were starts. The 24-year old was signed by the Brewers in 2011 and has steadily progressed each year. In 112 MiLB appearances he is 30-29 with a 3.89 ERA.

Last Time Out – June 16 – Win at Memphis – 

Ventura led the Sky Sox to victory with seven strong innings against the redbirds. He allowed a run on four hits, walked a pair and fanned four on a very manageable 96 pitches, 62 of which were strikes.