Errors prove costly in ‘Cakes 3-2 setback vs. Sky Sox

METAIRIE – Aaron Brooks pitched five shutout innings for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, who capitalized on two errors to score a pair of unearned runs in a 3-2 victory over the New Orleans Baby Cakes on Thursday night.

The Sky Sox took the opener of the first series following the All-Star break, and have beaten New Orleans 10 times in 13 meetings this season.

Brooks (6-3) scattered three hits and one walk and struck out four while permitting only one runner into scoring position, after Tomas Telis led off the second inning with a single. Over his last four outings, Brooks has allowed two runs in 19 2/3 innings and has beaten the ‘Cakes in back-to-back starts.

Colorado Springs got on the board first when Dillon Peters issued a one-out walk to Brett Phillips in the third and Orlando Arcia followed with an RBI double into the left field corner.

Brooks helped his cause in the fifth with a leadoff double, and scored when Cristhian Adames committed a throwing error on a potential inning-ending grounder, the first of two costly errors by the Baby Cakes.

An inning later, Dylan Moore was hit by a pitch from reliever Jose Pena, and after Moore stole second base, center fielder Magneuris Sierra dropped a fly ball by Andres Blanco for a two-base error as Moore scored to give the Sky Sox a 3-0 advantage.

New Orleans answered in the bottom of the frame, taking advantage of an error by Sky Sox second baseman Jake Hager to prolong a rally. J.B. Shuck lifted a sacrifice fly to score Isaac Galloway, who had drawn a leadoff walk, and Telis laced an RBI single up the middle to bring the ‘Cakes within a run.

The Sky Sox bullpen limited New Orleans to two hits over the final three innings, with Quentin Torres-Costa notching his second save.

Peters (2-5) was charged with two runs – one earned – on five hits in five innings to take the loss. The left-hander struck out six and lowered his ERA in five home starts to 2.05. Colorado Springs went 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position, and three ‘Cakes relievers combined for four hitless innings.

The teams continue the four-game set on Friday at 7 p.m.