Tyler O’Neil and Stubby Clapp have seen a lot of each other in this series as the man they call Popeye has hit a homer in each game of the series, including a three-run blast Sunday. (Bobby Stevens)
The penultimate game of the regular season has come and gone, and with it went the use of penultimate, and that is just an ultimate shame. Penultimate, what a word. Underused, under appreciated, and now gone. Anyways, the game was a dud as far as the Sox were concerned, but for the Redbirds, the eight-run conquest resulted in win number 90 of the season. They became the first PCL team since Tucson in 2006 to reach 90 wins. Congrats to them, that is not an easy feat to accomplish!
Guess how Memphis jumped on the board. I’ll give you three guesses and the first two don’t count. The answer? A first inning home run, of course! This time it was off the bat of Nick Martini in the form of a leadoff blast against Aaron Brooks. They weren’t done either. A SIX-run third inning that contained a Tyler O’Neill three-run blast, and a Wilfredo Tovar two-run double made it 7-0 and an O’Neill single in the fourth made it 8-0. They then anted up and put five more on the board in the fifth and led 13-1. Tovar hit a solo shot, Jeremy Martine walked and the next SIX batters singled.
Now the Sox had come back from a 3-0 hole in Friday’s game and a 7-2 deficit Saturday, but it wasn’t in the cards for Sunday. They did put up seven runs across the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, but that was all. Ivan De Jesus tripled and scored on a sac fly in the fourth to start the scoring. Yadiel Rivera and Lucas Erceg doubled and singled in the fifth, both later scored on groundouts, making it 13-3. Rene Garcia delivered a two-run single and Rivera and Erceg backed him up with RBI singles to make it 13-7, but that was all she wrote for the bats.
Memphis notched another two unearned runs against Angel Ventura in the ninth to cap off its 15-run, 15-hit attack.
Quick Hits – The Sox picked up seven runs on 12 hits, but committed four errors that led to six unearned runs in Sunday’s game…The Sox had all of their hits from batters 3-through-8, they all scored runs too…Rene Garcia led the was with two hits and two RBI…Yadiel Rivera had two hits, including a double, and an RBI…Chris Colabello picked up two hits and an RBI…Nate Orf had two hits…Lucas Erceg was a late substitution and picked up two hits and an RBI…Dubon had a single and De Jesus a triple…Aaron Brooks was tagged for eight runs (four earned) on seven hits, two left the yard…He has allowed the most homers in the PCL (29)…Tristan Archer was tagged for five runs on seven hits…Nick Ramirez made his Triple-A pitching debut and recorded an out…Angel Ventura returned from the DL and gave up a hit over 10 outs…
Play of the Game –
There wasn’t much as far as the Sox were concerned, but Tyler O’Neill hit a three run homer for the ‘Birds so here’s that video…
Pregame Interview with Dan Acheson and Aaron Hoback, part 3 –
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (80-56) at Memphis Redbirds (90-50) – 12:30 p.m.
Game Notes/ Listen Live at 12:00 p.m.
Pitching Probables: RHP Wuilder Rodriguez (0-1, 2.90 30G A+/AA) vs. RHP Zac Gallen (1-1, 3.45)
Sky Sox Starter: Right-hander Wuilder Rodriguez readies for his Triple-A debut this afternoon against the Redbirds. He has made 30 appearances (1 start) on the season between High-A Carolina (27/1) and Double-A Biloxi (3 appearances). In total he is 0-1 with two saves and a 2.90 ERA. Rodriguez has allowed 22 runs on 53 hits, two bombs, hit four batters, walked 27 and fanned 72. Opponents are hitting .213 against him.
Rodriguez was signed by the Brewers out of the Dominican Republic and made his pro debut for the DSL Brewers in 2015. In three seasons, the righty is 8-7 with three saves and a 3.52 ERA.
Last Time Out – September 2 – Bullpen appearance vs. Myrtle Beach –
Rodriguez allowed a run on two hits while recording two outs on 10 pitches (6 strikes) Saturday night against the Pelicans.
Redbirds Starting Arm: Memphis will counter with another right-hander in Zac Gallen. He has pitched in nine games for Palm Beach, 13 for Springfield and three for the Redbirds. All totaled up, he’s 10-8 with a 2.90 ERA i the 25 starts. In the three with Memphis he’s 1-1 with a 3.45 ERA allowing six runs on 15 hits in 15 2/3 innings. He’s given up two homers, hit three batters and fanned 20. He’s squared off against Nashville, Oklahoma City, and New Orleans in his three PCL starts.
Gallen was drafted by the Cardinals in the third round of the 2016 draft out of the University of North Carolina. He, like Kevin Herget, hails from New Jersey. In 31 games as a pro, 28 starts, Gallen is 10-8 with a 2.84 ERA.
Last Time Out – August 30 – Loss vs. Arkansas –
Gallen allowed three runs on five hits in six innings and was dealt the loss by the Travelers. He gave up a bomb didn’t walk anyone and struck out four on 71 pitches, 52 of which went for strikes.
Dan Karcher (@SkySoxKarch) continues his 28th season behind the mic for Sky Sox games, he and I will have the call of tonight’s game from Security Service Field at 12:30 p.m. Sky Sox Warmup will get fired up at 12:00 p.m. MDT on XTRA Sports 1300.
Thanks for reading – See you on the radio,
Colorado Springs Sky Sox Official Team Blog 