MEMPHIS - GAME RECAP

The Colorado Springs Sky Sox were in town to face the Redbirds and Scott Elarton got the start for the Sox. Elarton had spent several years in the majors, but was out of action in 2002, and trying to get back there this year. Memphis countered with Jason Ryan, who was among the league leaders in E.R.A. after 3 starts.

Colorado Springs got off to a quick start when Clint Barmes doubled to lead off the game. After reaching third on a ground ball, Barmes scored when Greg Vaughn (yes, that Greg Vaughn who once belted 50 dingers) reached on an infield single. The Redbirds threatened in the second as they loaded the bases with one out, but Elarton escaped by striking out Ryan and Bo Hart. After 3 innings, it was still 1-0 Sox.

In the fourth, Vaughn came up and smacked a 2-0 pitch deep to right for a solo shot. After Rene Reyes doubled, Mark Sweeney hit the first pitch he saw to nearly the same spot and suddenly it was 4-0 Sox. They added 2 more in the 5th on a double by Luke Allen and it looked like a blowout.

Elarton on first after an infield single

But the Redbirds fought back, scoring 2 in the 5th on a Jon Nunnally monster shot to end Elarton's shutout. In the 7th, Elarton gave up doubles to Jason Bowers and Todd Dunwoody to make it 6-3, and after walking Jed Hansen, he was taken out of the game. Reliever Bobby Bevel promptly walked Chris Widger and then gave up a 3-run double to John Gall that tied the game at 6 and cost Elarton the win he deserved.

The Sox, however, did not break. In the 8th, they scored a run when pinch-hitter Kit Pellow doubled home Reyes, who had singled. In the 9th, poor managing by Redbirds' skipper cost them some runs. With one out and Luis Lopez on 3rd, Spencer brought in Matt Duff to face Vaughn. After throwing a strike, Duff tried to get one by Vaughn, who sent it to deep center field for his second homer of the night and a 9-6 lead.

Pellow swings

But the Redbirds refused to die. Nunnally led off with another homer to close the gap to 2. After Dunwoody popped out, Brad Clontz came in and walked Hansen and Widger. Kurt Abbott pinch-hit and singled in a run to make it 9-8. The Redbirds had runners on 1st and 3rd with only one out as So Taguchi came to the plate. He battled to a 2-2 count, but then grounded to third. The throw came home, and Luis Rodriguez tried to return to third, but he was tagged out. This brought Mike Peeples to the plate and he crushed the 1-0 offering from Clontz to deep left-center. It was going, going, going, and OH NO, caught at the fence to end the game. 9-8 Colorado Springs wins. Memphis came just a couple of feet from a fantastic comeback, but unfortunately, that is what baseball is all about. An excellent game that just proves that you should never leave early!