RedHawks Suffer Third Straight Heartbreaking Loss

Originally Published: Aug 11, 2010 11:53 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

COLORADO SPRINGS -- The Oklahoma City RedHawks held the lead for most of the night, but a late error ruined things in a 5-4 loss to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox Wednesday.

The RedHawks (61-56) led 4-2 going into the eighth inning and had not trailed all night. An RBI groundout by Brad Eldred cut the lead to one, and the Sky Sox (54-64) eventually advanced runners to second and third with two outs.

Chris Nelson then hit a ground ball to OKC second baseman Esteban German, who allowed it to skip past him and into right field. Both runners came around to score unearned runs on the play, giving Colorado Springs its first lead, which it held in the ninth.

It was the third consecutive heartbreaking finish for the RedHawks, following losses on walk-off singles each of the previous two nights.

Oklahoma City took the lead with one run in each of the first three innings and added another in the seventh for a 4-1 lead. It was all Sky Sox from there. They scored once in the bottom of the seventh, and German’s costly error capped a three-run eighth.

Edgmer Escalona (2-0) earned the win after pitching a perfect final two innings and striking out four of the six batters he faced. Clay Rapada (1-2) was credited with the loss for OKC, despite not giving up a hit or an earned run.

Wednesday marked the end of a four-game set between the two teams, and the RedHawks will have a travel day to recover before returning home to face the Las Vegas 51s at 7:05 p.m. Friday.