:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/12740345/gyi0063661604.0.jpg)
Drew Pomeranz experienced likely his worst start this season, allowing five runs on eight hits and two walks across five innings. Nick Schmidt, who has been working in long relief since the Sky Sox rotation added the likes of Chris Volstad and Justin Berg, slowed the bleeding, allowing just one more run. The game was very close until the seventh inning, when the Sky Sox took a three run lead and gave Mike McClendon the opportunity to earn his first save of the year.
The hero of that seventh inning was Tim Wheeler, who hit a bases clearing triple. Wheeler and Tommy Manzella, the Sky Sox' two least active offensive components in April, each had two hits, as did Lars Davis who matched Wheeler's three runs batted in. All three batters had an extra base hit as one of their two. DJ LeMahieu scored two runs in the game.
On the other side of the coin, Tulsa was unable to recover from a disappointing outing from their starter. Chad Bettis navigated the first two frames fairly smoothly, but was unable to gain his composure after a leadoff baserunner reaching on an error by Cristhian Adames. He allowed four runs in the inning, and three more before being removed one out into the fifth inning. Bettis allowed eight hits and walked three batters in that time. Tim Sexton held the Springfield offense at bay for an inning and two thirds, before they got another opportunity to produce off of Isaiah Froneberger, who allowed five more runs on six hits and two walks over the final two innings.
The Drillers collected just four hits in the game, three of which were doubles, including a RBI knock from Angelys Nina to break up a 12-0 shutout in the ninth. Kyle Parker and Kent Matthes were the other doubles, while Adames secured a single. The Drillers were hitless until the seventh inning.
The best pitching unit of the night was Modesto's, with starter Tyler Gagnon allowing two runs over six innings on four hits and a pair of walks. Geoff Parker was credited with a blown save when the tying run scored on a Jordan Rivera fielding error in the seventh, but also picked up the win as a three run Modesto eighth set the game in their favor. Kenneth Roberts, who has quietly had a very good professional career for the Rockies, picked up his first save of the season.
Ribera and Taylor Featherston each had two hit games, but the big story of the game was, well, Trevor (I apologize for that, it just kind of happened). The struggling infielder's eighth inning single scored two more Modesto runs. While one single isn't necessarily a sign of a slump ending, it's nice to see. Story has also struck out only once in his last three starts, compared to seven times in the previous three. Modesto as a team has had trouble with the strikeout this year, but only succumbed twice yesterday.
Asheville: Postponed
Once again, the wet Southern weather ruined baseball for Asheville. They will attempted to make up the game in a double header with Augusta today.