Keck's debut is a hit as Sky Sox romp

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), May 14, 2002 | by Bob Schaller

Brian Keck started his Sky Sox career on a high note as Colorado Springs beat Sacramento 10-3 on Monday night in front of 2,843.

Keck went 2-for-4 in his Triple-A debut, driving in a run and stealing a base. The Kansas native had several relatives and friends on hand. He had been in an 8-for-62 slide at Double-A Carolina before getting called up.

"I was playing first base (at Carolina), a position I hadn't played in a long time. ... Just a lot of things weren't going right, because the situation was tough," Keck said. "I feel like tonight I was able to show maybe a little of what I can really do."

Chris Holt pitched seven innings, allowing one earned run.

"I tried to pound the ball inside on their guys," Holt said, "and just get some ground balls."

"I think Holt did a great job, and when you get good pitching like that," Sky Sox catcher Ben Petrick said, "it makes everything else seem to work better."

Brian Fuentes struck out the side in the eighth inning. Matt Whiteside gave up a solo home run to Larry Sutton in the ninth, but ended the game three batters later after giving up a single and a walk.

The River Cats (18-2) used six pitchers, including catcher Cody McKay, who permitted a hit and struck out one in the eighth. Starter Allen Levrault left the game in the first inning with a sore right (pitching) elbow.

"That was an unfortunate deal for them," Petrick said. "That sort of took some wind out of their sails early."

In the first inning, Petrick walked to score Russ Gload. Ryan Owens' one-out single scored Jack Cust and Cliff Brumbaugh, putting Colorado Springs (20-17) ahead 3-0.

That was all the Sky Sox would need. But they got more. Many more. Petrick hit a 1-0 pitch over the scoreboard to start the third inning. Rod Bair's two-out triple scored Walt McKeel and Jerome Alviso. Gload's single scored Bair, pushing the margin to 7-1 after three innings.

"You get runs like that," Holt said, "and you go back out to pitch the next inning and you don't have to worry about spotting the ball."

Colorado Springs scored its final three runs in the bottom of the fourth.

- Bob Schaller may be reached at 636-0250 or gtsports@gazette.com