BATTLE OF THE ARMS
Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jun 17, 2010 by BRENT BRIGGEMAN
Security Service Field routinely lets a month slip by without producing a pitchers? duel. Wednesday saw two on the same day.
With just two total pitching changes, Colorado Springs and Tacoma split an unusually low-scoring doubleheader at the nation’s highest- elevation ballpark. The Sky Sox took the opener 2-1 in extra innings and the Rainiers won the nightcap with a 1-0 shutout.
“Both teams did an outstanding job with their pitching,” Sky Sox manager Stu Cole said. “Especially with the way the wind was blowing, there were times out there when it was pretty tough to play defense.”
Sky Sox starter Greg Smith gave up one run in eight innings in the opener, with rehabbing Rockies closer Huston Street getting the win after throwing a perfect ninth.
Kurt Birkins picked up where they left off in the second game, throwing his first complete game since 2002 and setting a Sky Sox season high with nine strikeouts.
“I made several mistakes they swung right through,” said Birkins, who gave up a long home run to Mike Wilson for the game’s only run. “And then there was the one that hasn’t landed yet.”
Sky Sox pitchers continue to benefit from stellar – now record- setting – defense. Colorado Springs has not committed an error since June 6 at Salt Lake, tying a franchise mark set in 1999 with 781/3 errorless innings
elevator pitch
Jul 31, 2010
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