Sky Sox to begin 11-game homestand Saturday vs. Tucson
VS. TUCSON PADRES
Saturday at 6:05 p.m. (1988 throwback caps for the first 1,000 fans)
Sunday at 1:05 p.m. (Guns & Hoses charity softball game; 50-cent hot dogs)
Monday at 7:05 p.m. (children 12 and under eat free)
Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. ($2 parking, $2 tickets, $2 Coors and Coors Light)
Parent club: San Diego Padres
PCL titles: None (member since 2011)
Notable alumni: None
To know: Were the now-defunct Portland Beavers, who helped open the PCL in 1903
Manager: Terry Kennedy (third season)
Their record: Tucson is awful on the road, last in the PCL’s Pacific Southern division
Best hitter: Daniel Robertson, having best year since 2008 in hopes of big-league debut
Best pitcher: Kip Wells, has provided stability on a pitching staff that has been woeful
Top prospect: Casey Kelly, a starter on the disabled list with inflammation in his elbow
Keep an eye on: Jedd Gyorko, projected to become San Diego’s left fielder of the future
You may recall: Josh Spence, pitched in 51 games for San Diego, including 11 this year
VS. SACRAMENTO RIVER CATS
Thursday at 7:05 p.m. (‘80s night; $3 microbrews)
Friday at 7:05 p.m. (postgame fireworks)
June 9 at 6:05 p.m. (Todd Helton bobbleheads for the first 2,000 fans)
June 10 at 1:05 p.m. (throwback Jim Thome replica jerseys for the first 1,000 children 12 and under; 50-cent hot dogs)
Parent club: Oakland Athletics
PCL titles: 1985, 1989, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008 (member since 1978)
Notable alumni: Andre Ethier, Carlos Gonzalez, Huston Street, Kurt Suzuki, Barry Zito
To know: Among the attendance leaders in the minors, regularly draw 10,000-plus fans
Manager: Darren Bush (second season)
Their record: The River Cats are vying with Fresno for control of the Pacific Southern
Best hitter: Michael Taylor, on a tear to prove he deserves another call-up from the A’s
Best pitcher: Graham Godfrey, stellar with Sacramento despite struggles with the A’s
Top prospect: Brad Peacock, owns the velocity to become an A’s starter down the road
Keep an eye on: Grant Green, scored a $2.75 million signing bonus from the A’s in 2009
You may recall: Eric Sogard, has played 52 games with the A’s, including 21 this year
VS. RENO ACES
June 11 at 7:05 p.m. (children 12 and under eat free)
June 12 at 7:05 p.m. ($2 parking, $2 tickets, $2 Coors and Coors Light)
June 13 at 12:35 p.m. (kids’ day)
Parent club: Arizona Diamondbacks
PCL titles: None (member since 2009)
Notable alumni: Ryan Roberts, Josh Whitesell
To know: Reno has been selected to host the Triple-A All-Star Game next season
Manager: Brett Butler (fourth season)
Their record: The Aces are ahead of the Sky Sox in the PCL’s Pacific Northern division
Best hitter: Jake Elmore, pounding the ball as he holds out hope for making the D-Backs
Best pitcher: Barry Enright, a fast start has him convinced he’s more ready for the bigs
Top prospect: Trevor Bauer, has a curveball that could make him the ace of the D-Backs
Keep an eye on: Patrick Corbin, he’s a left-hander, and that could carry him a long way
You may recall: Joe Paterson, pitched in 62 games in relief with the D-Backs last season
SKY SOX UPDATE
Their record: The Sky Sox are fighting with Reno and Salt Lake in the Pacific Northern
Rotation: Tyler Chatwood on Saturday, then Drew Pomeranz and Guillermo Moscoso
Run producers: Andrew Brown and Matt McBride have been effective batting cleanup
The long ball: The Sky Sox haven’t given up many homers, and they haven’t hit many
A new face: Kennil Gomez was assigned to the Sky Sox from extended spring training
Some Rockies: Chris Nelson is gone; Jorge De La Rosa is rehabbing with the Sky Sox
Don’t miss them: Pomeranz and Rex Brothers won’t pitch with the Sky Sox forever
He’s finally back: Tim Wheeler is off the DL, out since April 13 with a right hand injury
They’re on the mend: Recent additions to the DL are Edgmer Escalona and Jared Wells
TOP GAMES TO ATTEND
1. June 9 vs. Sacramento: It’s not every day the Sky Sox hand out bobbleheads of Helton
2. Saturday vs. Tucson: Snag your Sky Sox throwback cap, then party like it’s 1988
3. June 10 vs. Sacramento: Get your kid a replica jersey of Thome, a future Hall of Famer
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.
Tucson Padres pitcher Josh Spence has appeared in 51 games for the San Diego Padres, including 11 this year. The Sky Sox open an 11-game homestand Saturday against Tucson, then they’ll host the Sacramento River Cats and Reno Aces on the back end. Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS