Fishermen love to talk about the one that got away. The Sky Sox felt that way Friday.

After knocking out Fresno’s starter in the first inning, Colorado Springs squandered a four-run lead and lost the battle of the bullpens as the Grizzlies rallied for a 9-7 victory before 4,668 fans at Security Service Field.

“Their bullpen did a hell of a job keeping us in check,” manager Stu Cole said. “We didn’t put ’em away and their guys made good quality pitches when they needed to.”

In 82/3 innings, Fresno’s Ronnie Ray, Felix Romero and Geno Espineli allowed four hits and one earned run.

Sky Sox starter Franklin Morales, on a rehab assignment from the Rockies, surrendered one run in 31/3 innings, but relievers Matt Wilhite and Scott Munter gave up four each in a combined three innings.

Kenny Perez led the Sky Sox attack – which also featured five stolen bases, two each by Eric Young Jr. and Chris Frey – with a two-run single in the first and two-run homer in the ninth.

The Grizzlies got big production from unexpected sources as light-hitting Juan Ciriaco had four RBIs and Eugenio Velez crushed a three-run homer to center to provide a 7-5 lead in the sixth.

Combined, the Fresno newcomers were only 6-for-54 entering the game with no homers and five RBIs. John Bowker got the Grizzlies within 5-3 with a two-run homer in the fifth.

Ciriaco, a utility player, was only in the lineup because Jake Wald was beaned in pre-game batting practice.

“When he got hurt, the manager told me, ‘You play,’ so I was ready,” Ciriaco said. “I feel good. I feel awesome.”

The Sky Sox led 3-0 in the first inning as Dan Ortmeier followed hits by Mike McCoy, Matt Miller and Perez with an RBI triple. Young and McCoy had run-scoring hits in the fourth for a 5-1 lead.

Notes

Outfielder Matt Murton, optioned to the Sky Sox when Carlos Gonzalez was promoted to the Rockies, will join the team for today’s flight to Sacramento. In 18 games with the Sky Sox, Murton is batting .411 with 19 RBIs and a 13-game hitting streak. … Adam Eaton, a starter for 10 major league seasons (70-68) is with the Sky Sox but not yet activated. After being released by the Orioles – he was 2-5 with an ERA of 8.56 – Eaton was idle for about 10 days before resuming workouts. Eaton was 4-8 last season with the World Series champion Phillies. … Young has 36 steals, tied for third on the Sky Sox single-season list, 15 behind Wayne Kirby’s record set in 1991.

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