Sky Sox fall night after playoff chances ended
The Sky Sox lost three straight with Troy Tulowitzki and Jason Giambi in the lineup.
Sure, they both bounced a double off the wall at Security Service Field as the team rallied for four runs in the seventh of an 8-4 defeat. But it has been a tough year for the organization.
And the Sky Sox’s chances of a postseason appearance were over before this day even began when Reno won late Thursday.
Friday, Tulowitzki and Giambi went a combined 2-for-7 with two strikeouts in the Sox’s fourth loss in five days at home, in a season where the Rockies’ organization has faced challenges.
With injuries to Tulo, Todd Helton, Jhoulys Chacin, Jorge De La Rosa, Juan Nicasio and Michael Cuddyer — it’s just been one of those years.
In the seventh, the Triple-A Sox had their chance, down 8-0.
Omir Santos doubled in two runs. Then Tim Wheeler tripled Santos in, before Tulo doubled in the Sox’s fourth run of the inning.
Through all this with just one out. Then, Chad Tracy pinch hit for Giambi, and he walked. Brendan Harris followed that with a single to load the bases.
Still just one out.
But like the organization’s year, they found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Right fielder Hernan Iribarren flung a dart up the middle only to have 51s shortstop Jonathan Diaz pull it down and step on second for the inning-ending double play.
The hole was too deep tonight and this season for the Sox.
In the first, the Las Vegas 51s scored on a sacrifice fly after Sky Sox starting pitcher Cory Riordan had a fielding error.
Chris Woodward added a two-run triple in the sixth and cleanup hitter Ricardo Nanita bombed a three-run homer.
Vegas’ starting pitcher Cory Riordan had a 5.83 ERA coming in, but threw five innings of shutout baseball. He struck out Tulo, Giambi and four others while walking none.
In the bottom of the ninth, Wheeler singled and Charlie Culberson got aboard on an error to lead off the inning. Then Tommy Field, hitting for the departed Tulo, hit into a double play and Chad Tracy followed with a fly out as he hit for Giambi.
