Wren's Grand Slam Lifts Sky Sox Over Cubs

POSTGAME NOTES
Saturday, June 2, 2018 vs. Iowa Cubs
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (30-24) | Iowa Cubs (21-33)
WREN'S GRAND SLAM LIFTS SKY SOX OVER CUBS
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Sky Sox came away on Saturday's "Avengers Night" with a late 14-11 win over the Iowa Cubs thanks to the heroics of outfielder Kyle Wren and his two-out, eighth-inning grand slam at Security Service Field. The home run was Wren's first of the season and marked his first professional career grand slam. With the victory, the Sky Sox mark their 30th overall win in 2018.
For a second consecutive night, the Sky Sox struck with multiple runs in the first frame. After Keon Broxton reached safely on a fielder's choice grounder, which resulted in Nate Orf being thrown out at the plate, Christian Bethancourt sent a fly ball deep and over the left field wall to give the Sky Sox their first two runs. Andrés Blanco restarted the inning with his second triple of the season and plated the third run via a double steal with Dylan Moore, who walked.
Through the next two frames, the Sky Sox bats would go silent as Iowa's began to pick up. In the second, third and fourth innings, the Cubs plated a solo run to bring the game to a 3-3 tie.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Sky Sox found a rhythm again, plating a fourth and go-ahead run on Kyle Wren's RBI single to score Moore, who doubled, giving the Sky Sox the 4-3 advantage. The home team would score an insurance run in the sixth to go up 5-3 over Iowa.
In the seventh, Iowa broke into an 11-batter rally, taking their first lead on the night with six runs in the frame. The Cubs strung together seven singles and with the assistance of two Sky Sox errors, jumped out to a 9-5 lead.
In the bottom half of the seventh, chasing four, the Sky Sox sparked a comeback rally with two outs. After Broxton and Brett Phillips went down consecutively, Bethancourt started the momentum with a single to right field while Blanco and Moore followed with singles to plate one. When Shane Opitz walked to load the bases, Wren knocked a groundball to Iowa second baseman David Bote, who bobbled the play, allowing Blanco to score. Then, pinch-hitter Gabriel Noriega delivered a two-RBI single through the hole at shortstop to tie the game up at 9-9.
In the eighth, after Iowa went up by two runs on three hits, Colorado Springs rallied once again. With one out, Phillips knocked his second triple in as many nights while Bethancourt drove him in to cut the deficit to within a run. After Blanco was granted first base when hit by a pitch and Opitz walked for his third time on the night with two outs to load the bases, Wren blasted a grand slam, marking his first home run of the season and giving the Sky Sox the final 14-11 advantage.
The Sky Sox finish the homestand tomorrow with game five against the Cubs at Security Service Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Following the home series, the Sky Sox hit the road for nine days and seven games. For all information on Sky Sox, follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and visit the team's website at www.skysox.com.
  
__NOTES__
Tomorrow's Preview: In the final game of the five-game set against the Iowa Cubs at Security Service Field, the Sky Sox are sending right-hander Aaron Wilkerson to the mound to face righty Zach Hedges.
Wren's Blast: Wren's 8th inning grand slam was his first home run of the season and marked his first professional career grand slam. In his sixth professional season, the Georgia Tech alum has totaled 11 home runs.
Slam Knowledge: The grand slam homer by Kyle Wren in the 8th inning marks only the fourth time a Sky Sox batter hit a grand slam home run against an Iowa pitcher and the first time in 14 years. The last time it happened was on April 25th, 2004 at Principal Park (Game 2) when Brad Hawpe hit a 4th inning grand slam off of Jon Leicster. The Sky Sox won 6-4.
Held to Singles: Despite allowing 11 runs to Iowa, Sky Sox pitching did not allow an extra-base hit in Saturday night's back-and-forth contest. The Cubs collected 15 total singles, 10 of which came in the seventh and eighth inning rallies.
Swiping Bags: The seven stolen bases Saturday night by the Sky Sox ties the team record for stolen bases in a game. There were two other times where the Sky Sox stole seven bases in a game: May 24th, 1999 at Principal Park against the Iowa Cubs (10-inning game), and on July 4th, 2017 at Security Service Field against the Nashville Sounds. The three stolen bases tonight by Dylan Moore was one short of the individual record for stolen bases in a game. The record is four stolen bases, all done at Security Service Field, by Jeff Huson on August 30th, 1996 against Albuquerque, Luis Sardiñas on May 1st, 2015 vs. Omaha, and by Kyle Wren on July 4th, 2017 against Nashville.
A Tale of Two Cities: Tonight marks the seventh time where the Sky Sox and Iowa Cubs have played a game against each other, where both teams score 10 runs or more in the same game.  The other six: June 27th, 1998 at Security Service Field (Sky Sox 13, Iowa 12), July 3rd, 2003 at Security Service Field (Sky Sox 12, Iowa 10, August 12th, 2003 at Principal Park (Sky Sox 12, Iowa 11), May 12th, 2009 at Security Service Field (Sky Sox 16, Iowa 15 [F/10]), May 12th, 2011 (Game 2 of DH) at Security Service Field (Iowa 11, Sky Sox 10), August 3rd, 2015 at Security Service Field (Iowa 12, Sky Sox 10).
We Want Moore: Infielder Dylan Moore has been a hot bat with the Sky Sox since joining the squad on May 10. In 19 games, the Southern California native is batting .348 (23-for-66) over 19 games with seven doubles, a triple, three home runs and 13 RBI with a .403 on-base percentage. Again Iowa in this series, he has gone 8-for-13 (.615) with four doubles, a home run, and six RBI.
Op-Itz Another Walk: Shane Opitz drew a season-high in walks in a game Saturday night (3) in which two of the walks translated into big runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
Big Support: After collecting three homers Wednesday against the Iowa Cubs, marking the most dingers in one game for the Sky Sox, Colorado Springs one-upped that stat with four total on Friday night in game three, which brought in six of the home team's 10 runs. On Saturday night, the Sky Sox tallied two more, bringing their total over four games to nine home runs.  
Phillips Triple: Brett Phillips collected his team-leading fifth triple of the season in the bottom of the eighth inning Saturday evening, marking his second three-bagger in as many nights.
Houle's First: Catcher Dustin Houle, who was transferred to Colorado Springs on May 26, knocked his first career Triple-A home run and first homer of the season. Houle played in 24 games for Double-A Biloxi prior to his promotion to the Sky Sox.
Wrapping Up Another Month: With the loss Thursday night, the Sky Sox finished the month of May with a 12-16 record. Colorado Springs had as many losses in May as they had wins in April, having gone 16-8 in the first month of the season.
Stranger Pitching Things:  Adrian Houser made his 2018 debut with the Sky Sox Thursday night, but was forced to exit the game after facing just three batters when a come-backer hit him, causing an apparent injury.  Later in the game, Bubba Derby, who had come in to pitch relief for Colorado Springs, had an impressive at-bat of his own, drawing a legitimate seven-pitch walk.
Road Trip Scoring: Over the nine-game stretch on the Tennessee road trip, the Sky Sox plated nine of 67 runners in scoring position. The Colorado Springs squad has collected a total of 57 hits with four home runs and eight doubles.
This Week's Preview: The Sky Sox are in the midst of a five-game homestand that began Wednesday, May 30 against the Iowa Cubs. After the five games at home, they will hit the road again for sevens game to take on Pacific Conference teams, the Fresno Grizzlies, and Sacramento River Cats.
NEXT GAME: Sunday, June 3 vs. Iowa Cubs - 1:00 p.m. MST @ Security Service Field
RHP Aaron Wilkerson (0-1, 5.40) vs. RHP Zach Hedges (0-0, 10.03) | Broadcast on XTRA Sports 1300
50-cent hot dogs presented by Safeway, Emergency Preparedness Day/Tote Giveaway
Presented by OEM & UCHealth
COS TOP PERFORMERS

• Kyle Wren (2-for-4, HR, 5 RBI, BB)
• Christian Bethancourt (4-for-5, HR, 3 RBI)
• Dylan Moore (3-for-4, 2 2B, 3 R, RBI)

   IOWA TOP PERFORMERS

• Lane Adams (1-for-2, 3 RBI)
• Ryan Court (2-for-5, 2 RBI)
• Chesny Young (2-for-5, 2 RBI)