Sky Sox lose in Tacoma; must win twice more for playoff berth

The Sky Sox had to win two of four games in Tacoma over the holiday weekend to make the playoffs after the Pacific Coast League determined what constituted a tie.

Make that two of three.

The Sky Sox got into a big hole, thanks to Tacoma's five-run third inning, and lost 9-6 Friday night.

The PCL playoff situation arose because the Sky Sox, who lead Tacoma by a game in the standings, will play two fewer games than the Rainiers this season.

Bryan LeHair doubled twice and drove in three runs Friday night for the Rainiers, while leadoff hitter Jerry Owens had four hits and scored three times.

Edwin Bellorin had three hits and three RBIs for the Sky Sox.

Sky Sox starter Greg Smith (1-2) gave up seven runs on nine hits in four innings. Tacoma outhit the Sky Sox 17-14.

If Tacoma wins two more games in the season-ending series, the teams will finish technically tied in the standings, but Colorado Springs would have a higher winning percentage.

The league's decision, which was announced Friday afternoon, was to round the winning percentage to the third decimal point. Under that scenario, the Sky Sox and Tacoma would have the same winning percentage and the division champion would go to a series of tiebreakers. The teams would be tied 8-8 head-to-head (the first tiebreaker), but the Rainiers' edge in division record would make them the Pacific North champions.

If the Sky Sox win at least two games, they will win the division outright and advance to the postseason for the first time since 1997, ending the longest drought among Triple-A teams who have been around throughout that span.