COLORADO SPRINGS - The Colorado Springs Sky Sox won their seventh straight game and move back to .500 on the season (17-17) as the downed the Memphis Redbirds 11-7 on Sunday afternoon at Security Service Field. It is the first time the Sox have won seven consecutive games since May 20-26 of 2003. Marc Kaiser (3-1) picked up his third win in his last four starts while Mike Smith (4-3) took the loss.

Colorado Springs got things going early in the bottom of the first as they knocked out five hits and scored four runs off of Smith to get out to the early lead. Cory Sullivan got things started with a one-out single and move to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Spilborghs. Sullivan then came around to score on a single by Sean Barker. Ian Stewart doubled to move Barker to third and Edwin Bellorin doubled both of them in to register his ninth and tenth RBI at Security Service Field. Seth Smith finished off the scoring with a RBI single driving Bellorin.

The Sox pushed the lead to 6-0 in the third when Spilborghs led off with a single and hustled around the bases to score on a double by Barker. Stewart moved Barker over to third with a groundout to second which allowed Bellorin to drive in his third run of the game with a sacrifice fly to right.

Memphis picked up a run and cut the lead to 6-1 on a solo homer by Ryan Christianson in the fourth but the Sox got that run right back in the bottom of the inning on a RBI groundout by Sullivan.

The Redbirds broke out for five runs in the sixth when they batted around and cut the lead to 7-6. In the inning, Brian Esposito had a RBI single, Mike McCoy walked in a run and Edgar Gonzalez cleared the bases with a three-run double.

As in the fourth, the Sky Sox answered with runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Jayson Nix and pinch-hitter Tim Olson each walked to start the inning and after Barmes flew out to right Sullivan singled to load the bases. Spilbroghs drove in a run with a walk and Barker plated another with a groundout before Stewart drove in a pair with a double down the right field line to give the Sox an 11-6 lead.

LaTroy Hawkins began his ML rehab assignment today and tossed an inning of relief in the eighth giving up a run on a double play ball along with two hits and a walk.

Tomorrow evening's 7:05 PM game will feature RHP Bobby Keppel (1-1, 4.58) for the Sox versus LHP Randy Keisler (0-2, 5.48).