COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – The Memphis Redbirds (23-18) struggled on the mound and in the field late in the game, falling to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (25-13) 10-5, Thursday night at Security Service Field in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The Redbirds struck first in the game, scratching out a first inning run. Oscar Mercado doubled to lead off before two wild pitches were thrown, allowing him to advance and score.
The Sky Sox (Brewers) tied the game in the bottom of the frame, using back-to-back hits from Eric Sogard and Ji-Man Choi to tie it up. Colorado Springs proceeded to score a single run in both the third and fourth innings off Memphis starter Kevin Herget to take an early lead.
The ‘Birds came roaring back in the fifth inning to take a 4-3 lead. In Andrew Knizner, making his Triple-A debut, led off the fifth inning with a double. Herget and Mercado both walked to follow him, and Max Schrock drove in a run on a groundout. After Luke Voit walked, Tyler O’Neill and Yairo Munoz both reached on errors, allowing two more runs to score.
Herget’s night was done after allowing a solo home run in the sixth inning to tie the game. The righty finished with a final line of 5.1 innings pitched, allowing four runs, three earned runs, nine hits, and two walks. The Redbirds grabbed their final run of the evening in the seventh inning courtesy of a Patrick Wisdom double. The run gave them a brief 5-4 lead.
Edward Mujica took the loss on the mound for the Redbirds. Herget pitched 5.1 innings before being taken out in favor of Ryan Sherriff, who exited shortly thereafter with an apparent injury. Mujica was the next in line to pitch, and he allowed six runs, four of them earned, in 1.2 innings of work.
The Redbirds finished 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position, left 11 men on base, and committed three errors in the game.
The Redbirds and Sky Sox will continue their four-game set tomorrow at 7:40 p.m. After this series, the Redbirds will return to AutoZone Park for a nine-game homestand against Oklahoma City and Colorado Springs, beginning Monday the 21st. For more information on single-game tickets and ticket mini-memberships, visit www.memphisredbirds.com.
