Dallas Tarleton hasn’t played much for the Sky Sox, but he’s not complaining. Compared to where he came from, he’s living like a king. The stadiums are larger. The meals in the clubhouse are tastier. And he doesn’t have to pack his equipment bag or scrub his cleats.

“Everything is kind of done for you,” Tarleton said with a smile. “It’s a different world.”

Making the move from Single-A Modesto has been an eye-opener for Tarleton, and even though the third-string catcher is only a fill-in player, he’s relishing his time with the Sky Sox, who lost to the Oklahoma City RedHawks 9-5 on Tuesday at Security Service Field.

MAY 22 SKY SOX REPORT: OKLAHOMA CITY 9, SKY SOX 5

In a game the Sky Sox (23-22) allowed 14 hits, Tarleton didn’t bat, and Edgar Gonzalez (2-2) lasted four innings, giving up a three-run homer to Brett Wallace in the second and a homer to Jimmy Paredes in the third. Paul Clemens (5-3) got his third win in a row for Oklahoma City (26-19) by limiting the damage after the Sky Sox pulled within 5-4 in the third, then Brad Snyder hit a three-run homer off Jared Wells with two outs in the ninth.

A 20th-round pick by the Rockies in the 2009 draft, Tarleton, 24, was promoted Sunday from Modesto when the Rockies called up reliever Adam Ottavino. He’s not expected to get into the lineup with the Sky Sox deep at catcher – starter Wil Nieves is batting .294, backup Wilkin Castillo is hitting a team-worst .135, injured outfielder Matt McBride can play catcher and catcher Eliezer Alfonzo is on the reserve list with his drug ban dropped.

Tarleton spent a week with the Sky Sox this season when Nieves went on the disabled list with an injured foot, and in his lone game May 2, he was 2-for-4 with an RBI. He hit .407 with a homer and seven RBIs after going back to Modesto, and on the season, he’s hitting .346 with five doubles. It’s a big improvement from last year, when Tarleton hit a career-high .268 with Modesto, and from 2010, when he batted .251 with Single-A Asheville.

There’s no timetable for how long Tarleton will remain with the Sky Sox. Some have told him, “If you just stay ready, you don’t have to get ready,” he said. “I’m just trying to stay ready every day, taking (batting practice) and trying to work on my swing. I’m trying to stay sharp.” He added, “It’s the same approach. I see a good pitch, and I am aggressive.”

Tarleton has caught a bunch in the bullpen, so he’s “seeing a lot of pitches,” he said. “I’m seeing velocity. I’m seeing different stuff.” From his perspective, “It’s the same game” as Single-A, he said. “There’s as much velocity in Modesto as there is here.” Yet he noticed in Triple-A, “Everything is more consistent,” he said. “The pitchers in the strike zone are more consistent. They can throw to spots more consistently. Everything is fine-tuned.”

Contact Brian Gomez: 719-636-0256 or brian.gomez@gazettedev.gazette.com. Facebook: Brian Gomez. Twitter: @gazetteskysox. Google+: Brian Gomez. For the Sky Sox homepage, visit http://www.gazettedev.gazette.com/sections/roxsox. For the Sky Sox blog, visit http://skysox.freedomblogging.com.

Catcher Dallas Tarleton is a fill-in player for the Sky Sox, who lost to the Oklahoma City RedHawks 9-5 on Tuesday at Security Service Field. Tarleton was promoted Sunday for the second time this season from Single-A Modesto when the Rockies called up reliever Adam Ottavino. He’s hitting .346 with five doubles with Modesto, up from .268 last year. Photo by COURTESY OF PLAYERS EDGE