Sky Sox ground Baby Cakes in 1-0 shutout

METAIRIE – Brett Phillips had an RBI single in the sixth inning to drive in the only run of the game as the Colorado Springs Sky Sox defeated the New Orleans Baby Cakes on Thursday night, 1-0.

The Sky Sox lowered the magic number to three to clinch their first postseason berth since 1995.

Chris Colabello had four hits, but it was Phillips who delivered the eventual game-winner to break a scoreless tie in the sixth. With two on and one out, Phillips singled to right and Mauricio Dubon was able to race home ahead of the throw from Cal Towey to put the Sky Sox in front.

Colorado Springs leaned heavily on its bullpen after starter Brandon Woodruff worked 2 2/3 innings. The Baby Cakes’ best chance to break through came in the third when Eury Perez singled with two outs and Woodruff hit Brian Anderson with a pitch in the final batter he faced. Michael Blazek walked Cal Towey to load the bases before Grant Green struck out.

The ‘Cakes stranded 10 baserunners in the game and were blanked for the 11th time, second-most in the Pacific Coast League.

Blazek (3-4) fanned six in four innings, and three relievers followed to close out the final seven outs with Rob Scahill picking up his 10th save after working around Christian Colon’s leadoff single in the ninth.

Mike Kickham (2-3) had seven strikeouts and scattered eight hits in six innings to take the loss.

The teams continue the four-game series on Friday at 7 p.m. The first 1,000 fans will receive a Baby Cakes bobblehead, and a fireworks show will follow the game.