Snakebit Baby Cakes drop series finale to Sky Sox

METAIRIE – Mauricio Dubon homered among three hits and drove in two runs to lead the Colorado Springs Sky Sox to a 3-2 win over the New Orleans Baby Cakes on Friday night.

The Sky Sox won their third straight game to take the series, and have beaten the Baby Cakes nine times in the last 11 meetings dating back to last season. New Orleans has lost 10 of 11 games since opening the season 4-1.

Dubon’s home run leading off the fourth inning against Adam Conley tied the game after the ‘Cakes had grabbed an early lead on Eric Campbell’s RBI double. An inning later, Dubon ripped a two-out single up the middle to score Andres Blanco from second base with the go-ahead run, giving the Sky Sox a lead they would not relinquish.

Jacob Turner relieved Conley in the sixth and walked issued three walks and a run-scoring single to Nate Orf to stretch the Colorado Springs advantage to 3-1, but struck out the side to strand the bases loaded and keep the ‘Cakes within striking distance.

New Orleans got back within a run in the bottom half of the frame when Rafael Ortega tripled with one out and trotted home on a sacrifice fly by Campbell, who returned to the lineup with two hits and two runs batted in after missing the last four games.

The Baby Cakes put the potential tying and winning runs on base with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but Jorge Lopez induced a game-ending double play from Jonathan Rodriguez to preserve his second save.

Freddy Peralta won for the fourth time in as many starts after scattering four hits and four walks across five innings. He struck out seven and owns a 1.29 ERA.

Conley (0-3) was dealt a hard-luck loss, allowing two runs and five hits in five innings.

The ‘Cakes continue their homestand on Saturday with the opener of a three-game set against the Oklahoma City Dodgers. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.