Rene Garcia brought home three of the six Sky Sox runs in the 6-1 win over the ‘Cakes at Security Service Field. (Bobby Stevens/MiLB)
Well it took eight days, but the Sky Sox did play an uninterrupted nine-inning game on the homestand Monday afternoon at Security Service Field, and they won it, 6-1 going away. The win was just the second in six games on the homestand and the first of the series against New Orleans. It also was win number 70 of the season and shrunk the Sox magic number down to 17.
Bubba Derby and William Cuevas took the hill for the Sox and Cakes respectively and worked through a scoreless first before running into trouble in the second. Brian Anderson took the first pitch of the second and hammered it over the wall in left for a solo shot, 1-0 New Orleans. The Sox picked up back-to-back walks and a single to load the bases with no outs in the bottom half. Mauricio Dubon connected for a 2-run single and Rene Garcia brought home another on a ground out, 3-1 Sox.
That would be all the scoring the Sox would need and things quieted down until the late frames. Derby went the first five and two-third innings and allowed the one run on three hits, walked one and struck out three. Wily Peralta and David Goforth went the final three and one-third innings in shutout fashion.
The home team pitched up a run on a bases loaded walk in the seventh and two more on a Garcia singled in the eighth to cap off the offensive outburst. Just to note…Lewis Brinson left the game after grounding out to second in the sixth. He came up a little lame on his left leg.
Hitting Notes –
The Sox picked up six runs on seven hits and walked six times in the win…Nate Orf was the lone Sky Sox batter to get two hits.
Nate Orf reached base twice on a single and a double and scored both times.
Rene Garcia went 1-for-3 with a walk and three runs batted in.
Mauricio Dubon singled in a pair of runs.
Chris Colabello picked up a single, walked twice and scored a run.
Brett Phillips extended his hitting streak to 12 games, reached base with a single and a walk and scored two runs.
Ivan De Jesus walked and plated a run in the process.
Pitching Notes –
Bubba Derby improved to 3-0 with another strong outing. He worked the first five and two-thirds and allowed a run on three hits, walked one and struck out three. The run came on the Brian Anderson blast in the second. He fired off 76 pitches, 48 went for strikes.
Wily Peralta picked up the next seven out allowing one hit, walking and striking out one too.
David Goforth pitched the ninth and allowed a hit before closing it out.
Play of the Game –
Mauricio Dubon’s two run single from the second inning!
Pregame Interview with Dan Acheson and ‘Cakes SS Peter Mooney –
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (70-47) vs. Iowa Cubs (57-62) – 4:08 p.m. – Doubleheader
Game Notes / Listen Live at 3:30 p.m.
Game One – Pitching Probables: RHP Junior Guerra (1-1, 2.81) at RHP Scott Carroll (2017 debut)
Sky Sox Starter: Right-hander Junior Guerra will be called upon to start the first game of the twinbill against the Cubs tonight at Principal Park. It will be his fourth start with the Sox this season as on May 20 he fulfilled a rehab assignment with the team against Albuquerque and pitched in Salt Lake on the last road trip. He made the Opening Day start for the Brewers in 2017 and is 1-4 with a 4.96 ERA in 13 starts with the Crew, but is down in Triple-A searching for lost velocity. He enters 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA in three starts with the Sky Sox.
Guerra made five starts with the Sky Sox a year ago, four to begin the year and one rehabbing appearance in August. He compiled a record of 0-2 with a 4.05 ERA in 26 2/3 innings. In 36 MLB appearances, 33 starts, he is 10-7 with a 3.60 ERA and in 80 MiLB games, 24 starts, he is 7-17 with 11 saves and a 3.82 ERA.
Last Time Out – August 10 – No decision vs. Express –
Guerra worked the first four and two-third innings against the Express and allowed a run on five hits, walked to and didn’t strike anyone out. He threw 75 pitches, 40 of which went for strikes.
I-Cubs Starting Arm: Scott Carrol has been signed by the Cubs out of Indy ball and will make his 2017 debut in affiliated ball this afternoon in game one. The righty was 8-3 with a 2.94 ERA in 15 starts with the Kansas City T-Bones of the American Association before joining Iowa. In 2016 he pitched in three games for the White Sox and 25 games for Round Rock and Frisco (Rangers AAA/AA) and Charlotte (White Sox AAA). He has never faced the Sky Sox.
Carroll was originally selected by the Reds in the 3rd round of the 2007 draft and has pitched for the Reds, White Sox, and Rangers organizations. In 47 big league games the 32-year old is 6-11 with a 4.60 ERA and in 179 MiLB affairs, he is 38-52 with a 4.04 ERA.
Last Time Out – Hasn’t pitched in MiLB in 2017
Game Two Pitching Probables: RHP Paolo Espino (4-1, 3.72) at RHP Brad Markey (0-0, 3.00)
Sky Sox Starter: Right-Hander Paolo Espino readies for start number thirteen and appearance 15 with the Sky Sox and third of his career against the I-Cubs when he climbs the hill tonight at Principal Park. He enters play 4-1 with a 4.11 ERA in 14 PCL outings and has held opponents to a .282 batting average against. He’s allowed 32 runs (30 earned) on 74 hits, walked 10 and fanned 63 in 65.3 innings. He’s come out of the pen his last two trips to the hill for the Sox. In six MLB appearances, he’s logged 17 2/3 innings and given up 13 runs on 17 hits, five homers, three hit batters, eight walks and 13 strikeouts. He made his big-league debut on May 19 where he went four innings for the Brewers at Chicago, he didn’t record a decision. He is 1-1 with a 2.37 ERA in four road appearances this season.
Espino was signed by the Brewers as a free agent in November, marking the fourth franchise he has been with. He was originally selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 10th round of the 2010 draft and spent the first seven years of his career there before joining the Cubs’ franchise late 2013. He was released by Chicago prior to the 2014 season and signed with the Nationals as a free agent where he pitched 2014-16. Last season saw the 30-year old righty go 8-11 with a 3.30 ERA in 26 Triple-A starts with Syracuse. Espino is 76-64 with a 3.75 ERA in 298 MiLB appearances, 196 of which have been starts.
Last Time Out – August 11 – Bullpen appearance vs. Baby Cakes –
Espino recorded one out, but allowed three runs on three hits and a walk against the Cakes his last time out.
I-Cubs Starting Arm: Righty Brad Markey is set to make the second Triple-A appearance, and first start, when he climbs the hill in the nightcap at Principal Park. He enters 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA after allowing an run on three hits and struck out three in his Triple-A debut against the Omaha Storm Chasers on August 11. He went 2-1 with a 3.08 ERA in 34 appearances, 2 starts with Double-A Tennessee.
Markey was drafted by the Cubs in the 19th round of the 2014 draft out of Virginia Tech. In 97 MiLB outings he’s accrued an 18-9 record with five saves and a 2.72 ERA.
Last Time Out – August 11 – Bullpen appearance vs. Omaha –
Markey went three innings and allowed a run on three hits to the Storm Chasers at Werner Park. He threw 40 pitches, 28 went for strikes.
Game One Lineups
Game One Lineups
Dan Karcher (@SkySoxKarch) continues his 28th season behind the mic for Sky Sox games, he will have the call of tonight’s games from Principal Park 4:08 p.m. I will get Sky Sox Warmup fired up at 3:30 p.m. MDT on XTRA Sports 1300.
Thanks for reading – See you on the radio,
Colorado Springs Sky Sox Official Team Blog 