Oh boy…Three games down in this marathon six-game series for the Sox and Iowa and two, yes, TWO have ended in 2-0 losses for the Sox. This team hasn’t seen a stretch like that in a while. They outhit the Cubbies 7-6, but couldn’t get the big his and were silenced by  Seth Frankoff and Felix Pena in the matinee. GOOD NEWS, however, despite the Sox loss, their magic number to clinch a playoff berth shrunk by two games thanks to the Omaha Storm Chasers beating the Dodgers in both ends of a doubleheader. The magic number now sits at 13 moving forward into play today.

Taylor Jungmann climbed the hill for Colorado Springs and was once again very, very good, but fell short in the loss column for the second time this season with the Sox. The righty threw up five zeros before allowing a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Jemile Weeks worked a walk, Mike Freeman singled and then Taylor Davis hit into a force out, but Mauricio Dubon thought time was called after the out was recorded, it wasn’t, and Weeks scored to make it 1-0. Bijan Rademacher doubled in the second run and that was all she wrote for the offense.

The Sky Sox picked up six hits against Seth Frankoff, the Iowa Starter, but couldn’t manufacture any runs against him. He went seven scoreless and Felix Pena followed suit with two more scoreless innings of work. Stephen Vogt and Rene Garcia had two hits apiece, all seven hits were singles for Colorado Springs.

Game Story Here

Play of the Game – 

Since there wasn’t an outstanding play from yesterday’s tilt, we will give the play of the game to Taylor Jungmann for his outstanding outing.

Pregame Interview with Dan Karcher and Sam Bernabe pt. 3 – 

Colorado Springs Sky Sox (71-49) vs. Iowa Cubs (59-63) – 4:08 p.m. – Doubleheader

Game Notes / Listen Live at 3:30 p.m.

Game One Pitching Probables: RHP Angel Ventura (6-3, 4.41) at RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (5-1, 1.95)

Sky Sox Starter: Angel Ventura will make his twelfth Triple-A start this evening, and ninth road appearance for the Sky Sox in the fourth of six and game one of the doubleheader against the Cubs at Principal Park. He made his debut against the El Paso Diablos (Chihuahuas) on May 17 for the Sox and earned the win in West Texas. He enters play 6-3 with a 4.41 ERA, giving up 31 runs on 66 hits in 63.1 innings. The righty has walked 21 and fanned 43, while holding opponents to a .273 batting average against. In eight road starts he is 5-3 with a 3.54 ERA allowing 19 runs in 48 1/3 innings. He has yet to face the I-Cubs in his career.

Ventura began the season in Biloxi and was 3-5 with a 3.48 ERA in eleven games, nine of which were starts. He was named a Southern League All-Star for his work with the Shuckers. The 24-year old was signed by the Brewers in 2011 and has steadily progressed each year. In 127 MiLB appearances, 65 starts, he is 35-31 with a 4.00 ERA.

Last Time Out – August 12 – No decision vs. Baby Cakes –

Ventura went the first five and allowed five runs on six hits, walked four and fanned five on 88 pitches, 53 of which went for strikes.

I-Cubs Starting Arm: Fellow righty Jen-Ho Tseng readies for his seventh career Triple-A start with the I-Cubs. He has been outstanding since his call up and is 5-1 with a 1.95 ERA in 37 innings. He’s allowed 12 runs (8 earned) on 33 hits, 4 homers, 9 walks, and 32 strikes outs. Opponents are hitting .237 against the righty from Taiwan. Before his call to Iowa he went 7-3 with a 2.99 ERA in 15 starts for the Tennessee Smokies.

Tseng was signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent in July, 2013. In 84 minor league outings, 82 starts, he compiled a 31-20 record with a 3.23 ERA.

Last Time Out – August 10 – Win vs. Sacramento – 

Tseng pitched seven strong innings against the RiverCats to the tune of a run on eight hits, he walked one and struck out five on an very efficient 84 pitches, 58 of which went for strikes.

Game Two Pitching Probables: TBA at RHP William Perez (5-8, 5.27)

Sky Sox Starter: The Sky Sox have not announced who will start game two. 

Last Time Out – 

I-Cubs Starting Arm: Right-hander Williams Perez will climb the hill for the 20th time this season and fourth against the Sky Sox. He has compiled an 5-8 record with a 5.27 ERA through his first 19 starts and picked up the loss his last time out. He’s allowed 63 runs (56 earned) on 102 hits in 95 2/3 innings. Perez has yielded seven homers, hit five batters, walked 42 and fanned 85. Opponents are hitting .276 against him. He went six innings against the Sox on May 1, but didn’t factor into the decision. He allowed two runs on eight hits, walked a pair and fanned five. He faced them in the Springs on May 9 and took the loss allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits, three walks, and five strikeouts. The third time out against the Sox came on July 16 in the Springs where he allowed a run on two hits in six innings.

Perez was signed by the Braves as a non-drafted free agent in 2009 and pitched within the Braves organization from 2009 to 2016 and was signed by the Cubs as a free agent this past offseason. In 137 career MiLB games, 117 starts he is 37-35 with a save and a 3.59 ERA. In 34 MLB games with the Braves he holds a 9-9 record and 5.18 ERA.

Last Time Out – August 12 – Loss at Omaha – 

Perez took the loss against the Chasers, allowing five runs on five hits in four innings of work. He was tagged for a homer, hit a batter, walked two and fanned five on 74 pitches, 45 of which went for strikes.

Game One Lineups

Game Two Lineups

Dan Karcher (@SkySoxKarch) continues his 28^th 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,

@Dan_Acheson