The Colorado Springs Sky Sox started the game scoreless and found themselves in a 3-0 hole entering the sixth, but turned things around to the tune of a four-run sixth and led by a run heading to the ninth. That’s when the New Orleans Baby Cakes started baking up a comeback. They took advantage of two Sky Sox miscues, one in the ninth and another in the tenth, and took home the 5-4, walk-off win Friday night at the Shrine on Airline. The Sox lost a half-game in the standings, due to Oklahoma City’s postponement, and the magic number to clinch a playoff berth for the first time in 20 years remains at three.

William Cuevas climbed the hill for the ‘Cakes and silenced the Sox across the first five innings. He didn’t allow a hit and held the Sox to three baserunners, all via walks, and led 3-0 thanks to a Brian Anderson three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning. Angel Ventura wasn’t too bad in his own right, with the only hiccup being the Anderson blast. He went the first five and gave up the three runs on four hits, walked two, and fanned five.

The Sox started to pick up steam when Quintin Berry greeted Cuevas with a leadoff single in the sixth. Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Ivan De Jesus followed with walks to fill up the bases for Chris Colabello. Clayton Mortensen was called upon to stop the bleeding, but the Sox ripped off the bandage and scored four runs against the reliever. Colabello ripped a single to the shortstop Peter Mooney and plated Berry, 3-1. Brett Phillips and Nate Orf each drew bases loaded walks to tie the game and Mortensen gift wrapped the lead with a wild pitch, Colabello scored, 4-3 Sox. The righty, along with fellow reliever Kelvin Marte, buckled down and didn’t give up anymore runs in the frame, which would be a turning point in this game.

Wily Peralta, Wei-Chung Wang, and David Goforth combined to keep the ‘Cakes off the board up until the ninth. Goforth was called upon for the four-out save and picked up the first out in the bottom of the eighth. In the ninth, he allowed a leadoff walk to Moises Sierra, a single to Anderson, and a one-out walk to Cal Towey. Former Sky Sox Jake Elmore stepped up to the plate with the sacks packed and watched the righty uncork a wild pitch of his own, on which Sierra scored and tied the game. Goforth kept the game tied and forced extras by fanning the final two men of the inning.

Colorado Springs pressed its luck in the top of the tenth with two down. De Jesus walked and Colabello hit a gapper to right-center that was cut off nicely by Moises Sierra. De Jesus, off on contact with two down scampered around the bases, and turned for home, but was gunned down at the plate 9-4-2 to end the inning. New Orleans took to scoring against Cravy and ended the game in the bottom of the frame. Mooney smacked a leadoff single, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on an errant throw from De Jesus, 5-4, ‘Cakes walk it off.

Game Story Here

Hitting Notes – 

The Sox picked up four runs on three hits, only one of which left the infield. They did draw nine walks, they just couldn’t get the big hit they needed.

Chris Colabello has yet to be retired in this series. He went 4-for-4 in the opener and picked up another pair of hits and walked three times in Friday’s game. He added an RBI, too.

Quintin Berry had the other knock for the Sox, an infield single in the sixth which was their first hit of the game, and scored a run.

Brett Phillips drew two walks and plated a run.

Nate Orf walked and picked up an RBI.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis walked and scored a run.

Ivan De Jesus walked twice and scored a run.

Pitching Notes – 

Angel Ventura left in line for the win after throwing the first five innings. He allowed three runs on four hits, walked a pair and fanned five on 68 pitches, 47 of which went for strikes.

Wily Peralta tossed two scoreless, hitless innings. He walked one and struck out two.

Wei-Chung Wang gave up a hit in his two-thirds of an inning.

David Goforth was charged with a blown save allowing a run on a hit and three walks. He struck out two.

Tyler Cravy took the loss and allowed the run, albeit unearned, on a hit while recording two outs.

Play of the Game – 

Unfortunately there wasn’t much to celebrate for the Sox a night ago, but plenty for the ‘Cakes, including Brian Anderson’s three-run shot in the fourth.

Pregame Interview with Dan Karcher and Christian Colon – 

Colorado Springs Sky Sox (76-53) at New Orleans Baby Cakes (53-76) – 5:00 p.m. 

Game Notes / Listen Live at 4:30 p.m.

Pitching Probables: RHP Bubba Derby (4-0, 3.38) at RHP Keyvius Sampson (5-4, 5.85)

Sky Sox Starter: Right-hander Bubba Derby will make his 11th Triple-A start this evening in the third game of the four game series against the Cakes down at the Shrine on Airline. He has earned the win in four of his first ten outings with the Sox this season, including his last two times out against the Baby Cakes and Dodgers. He is the reigning PCL Pitcher of the Week. Overall with the Sox he’s allowed 22 runs (20 earned) on 43 hits in 53 1/3 innings. He’s walked 13 and fanned 42. In 18 games and two starts with Biloxi, Derby went 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA, allowing 16 runs on 40 hits in 50 innings. On the road in the PCL, the righty is 1-0 in five starts with a 3.51 ERA.

Derby was selected by the Athletics in the sixth round of the 2015 draft out of San Diego State University and was acquired by the Brewers, along with catcher Jacob Nottingham, in the trade that sent Khris Davis to Oakland. In 68 MiLB outings, 47 starts, the righty is 13-15 with a 4.06 ERA.

Last Time Out – August 18 – Win vs. Dodgers –

Derby pitched seven near-flawless innings against Oklahoma City his last trip to the hill. He allowed a run on four hits, hit a batter, walked one, and fanned seven on 93 pitches, 60 of which went for strikes. An unreal outing!

Baby Cakes Starting Arm: Fellow righty Keyvius Sampson will climb the hill for the Baby Cakes tonight in the Crescent City. He will be making 15th start of the year and his 25th overall appearance combined between Reno and New Orleans. He has accrued a 5-4 record and 5.85 ERA in his 25 PCL outings allowing 54 runs on 79 hits in 72 1/3 innings. Sampson has allowed eight homers, hit three batters, walked 56 and fanned 78, while holding opponents to a .275 batting average against. He is 1-1 with a 4.55 ERA in 12 appearances, five starts with the ‘Cakes, including 1-0 with a 0.79 ERA in 6 home appearances. He faced the Sox in long relief on August 13 and allowed a run on four hits, walked two and fanned two on 54 pitches.

Sampson was originally drafted by the Padres in the fourth round of the 2009 draft out of Forest High School in Ocala, Florida. He has logged time within the Padres, Reds, D-backs, and now Marlins organizations. He was released by Arizona on June 8 and signed as a free agent by Miami on June 27. In 188 career MiLB outings, 140 starts, Sampson is 48-42 with a 4.14 ERA and in 31 MLB outings he is 2-7 with a 5.60 ERA.

Last Time Out – August 21 – Loss at Memphis – 

Sampson pitched into the fifth, but was lifted prior to completing it. He allowed three runs on three hits across 4 1/3 innings. He was tagged for a homer, hit a batter, walked four and struck out six on 85 pitches, 49 strikes.

Lineups

Dan Karcher (@SkySoxKarch) continues his 28^th season behind the mic for Sky Sox games, he will have the call of tonight’s game from the Shrine on Airline at 5:00 p.m. Sky Sox Warmup will get fired up at 4:30 p.m. MDT on XTRA Sports 1300.

Thanks for reading – See you on the radio,

@Dan_Acheson