By Markel Eskridge
NYT Institute

METARIE, La. -- The New Orleans Zephyrs ended a three-game losing streak Sunday when first baseman Rick Short's infield single scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, beating the Colorado Springs Sky Sox 8-7.

The victory prevented Colorado from sweeping the four-game series.

Short batted 3-for-4 with three RBIs and one walk for the Zephyrs.

"It was a do or die play,” Short said. “It wasn't a pretty hit. We had been playing uninspired baseball the last three games. It feels good to get a win."

The first three batters in the Zephyrs lineup, Tyrell Godwin, Brandon Watson and Melvin Nieves, scored seven of the team's eight runs.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Zephyrs jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Godwin led off with a double and scored when Watson singled up the middle. Consecutive passed balls by Colorado catcher Pascual Matos allowed Watson to advance to third.

Nieves and Short walked, which loaded the bases for Brendan Harris, who reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Watson. Dan DeMent singled to center, advancing Harris to third base, which allowed Nieves to score. Carroll singled to left and Harris scored. Harris played only three innings Sunday because he was called up to the major leagues by the Washington Nationals, the Zephyrs’ parent team.

Colorado scored in the top of the second inning when Tim Olson hit a home run to left field, cutting the lead to 4-1. The Zephyrs scored in the bottom of the second when Nieves scored on a wild pitch.

The Zephyrs added another run when Watson scored on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the fourth inning, increasing the lead to 6-1.

Colorado Springs opened the fifth inning on a double by Elvis Pena. Then, Pena scored on a single by Matos. Eddy Garabito doubled and scored Matos. Garabito then scored on a Jorge Piedra single, cutting the Zephyrs’ lead to 6-4

Matos hit a three-run homer in the top of the sixth, which gave Colorado a 7-6 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Godwin singled to center, Watson and Nieves walked, loading the bases for Short, who came through with his single and the go-ahead RBIs.

Travis Hughes came on in relief, striking out two of the three batters he faced in the bottom of the ninth to earn his second save of the season for the Zephyrs.

"Any game you win is good,” said Zephyrs Manager Tim Foli. “We needed this game.”

The winning pitcher was Joe Horgan (2-0) and the losing pitcher was Alex Serrano (2-1).

The Zephyrs will host the Salt Lake Stingers in the first of a four-game series today at 7:05 p.m., at Zephyr Field.