Long ball hurts Hill, 51s in loss at Colorado Springs
Chad Tracy hit a go-ahead solo home run in the fourth inning and left-hander Nick Schmidt held the 51s to an unearned run over seven innings, leading the Colorado Springs Sky Sox to a 5-3 victory in the Pacific Coast League on Sunday at Colorado Springs, Colo.
The 51s (78-64) and Sky Sox (75-68) conclude their seasons at 12:05 p.m. today, with Las Vegas left-hander Bill Murphy (7-5) starting against right-hander Rob Scahill.
Tracy's home run put the Sky Sox ahead 2-1, and they pushed the lead to
4-1 in the fifth with help from Omir Santos' solo homer.
Schmidt (7-3) got his seventh win in his last nine starts, allowing four hits, striking out five and walking two. Mike Ekstrom allowed a two-run double to 51s pinch hitter Kevin Howard in the ninth.
Colorado Springs' Charlie Culberson had an RBI double while going 4-for-4, all against 51s starter Shawn Hill (9-2), who pitched seven innings and allowed five runs (four earned) and 10 hits.
Las Vegas finished with seven hits, three by Yan Gomes.
Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was 0-for-2 with a walk for the Sky Sox while on a rehab assignment from the Colorado Rockies. He had groin surgery in June.
