Colorado native Pierce Johnson will take the hill for the Cubs tonight at Security Service Field. He defeated the Sox back on June 14th with five innings of work. (Bobby Steven/MiLB.com)

Game one of the four-game series between the Sky Sox and Cubs had a little bit of everything. Some hail, some wind, some rain, a delay, a lot of singles, a bunch of runs, and it all tallied up to an 11-7 victory for the Sky Sox. For the seventh straight game, the Sox gave up a first inning run and trailed 1-0 after the first three outs. They plated a pair of their own in the next half inning and away we went. Iowa put up and three spot to take a 4-2 lead in the third and it looked like Jake Buchanan put it into cruise control on the mound for the Cubs. That was until the rain and hail fell and halted the game in the bottom of the 5th inning with the sacks full of Sox and one out. When play resumed, Nate Orf greeted Buchanan with a single that scored two and then another on a throwing error by the right fielder and the Sky Sox took a lead they would not reliquish. They plated 9 runs over the 5th, 6th, and 7th, held on to win 11-7 and snapped a 4-game losing streak.

Before we dive into tonight’s tilt, the Brewers and Sky Sox have announced the following roster moves:

ADD: INF Brandon Macias transferred from Double-A Biloxi
DEL: INF Yadiel Rivera recalled to Milwaukee

Tonight, the Sky Sox and Iowa Cubs face off in the second of four at Security Service Field, in what is the final series prior to the All-Star Break. The Sky Sox snapped their long losing streak with a win in the opener last night and sent the Cubs to their fourth straight loss in the process. Colorado Springs looks to string together wins against the Cubs and will hope to do so by sending lefty Brent Suter to the mound in a spot start against Iowa right-hander Pierce Johnson. Suter is 3-4 with a 4.16 ERA and fills the hole in the rotation left by Josh Hader who is in San Diego for the Futures Game. Johnson, the Arvada, Colorado native is 1-3 with a 6.37 ERA. The Sky Sox are 4-4 against Iowa this season 85-102 all time against them and 49-47 at home.

Tonight’s Game Notes / Listen Live at 6:30 MDT / Lineups 

Colorado Springs Sky Sox (42-42) at Iowa Cubs (40-48) – 7:05 p.m. – Security Service Field – Colorado Springs, Colorado

Pitching Matchup: LHP Brent Suter (3-4, 4.16 ERA) vs. RHP Jake Buchanan (7-4, 4.23)

Sky Sox Pitcher: Lefty Brent Suter is ready to fill the role of starter for the 10th time in 2016 when he climbs the hill this evening at Security Service Field. Suter is 3-4 with two saves and a 4.16 ERA allowing 33 runs on 89 hits, 2 homers, 10 walks, and 39 strikeouts in 71 1/3 innings. Opponents in the PCL are hitting .324 against the southpaw from Cincinnati. The Harvard graduate is 3-2 with a 4.19 ERA in 10 home appearances and 2-4 with a 5.28 ERA as a starter. His last four outings have been great as he is 1-1-1 with a 1.50 ERA allowing 2 earned runs on 13 hits in 12 innings. His last start was against Memphis at home on June 23 where he earned the win with five innings of one run ball. Suter was selected by the Brewers in the 31st round out of Harvard University. In 105 career minor-league outings, the lefty is 32-30 with 4 saves and a 3.46 ERA covering five seasons.

Last Time Out: 7/4/16 at Oklahoma City – Suter tossed two innings of scoreless relief against the Dodgers at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. He allowed two hits and that was it on his line. He threw 26 pitches, 15 for strikes in a game the Sky Sox lost 7-2. The run he gave up came on a solo homer by Hanser Alberto.

Last 10 Games with the Sky Sox:

Cubs Pitcher: Righty Pierce Johnson was born and raised in Arvada, Colorado and is set to make his second start in his home state tonight at Security Service Field. The righty last pitched against the Sky Sox on June 14 and earned the win over the Sox with five innings of work. Tonight will be his ninth start of the season. Through the first eight the righty is 1-3 with a 6.37 ERA and has allowed 22 runs (21 earned) on 32 hits, 18 walks, and 29 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings. Johnson attended Faith Christian Academy in Arvada, CO and was drafted by the Cubs in the Comp. A round of the 2012 draft out of Missouri State. The Cubs received the pick for losing free agent Aramis Ramirez. In his four-plus seasons, the righty is 23-16 with a 2.83 ERA in 73 career outings. He has been riddled with hamstring, lat, and back injuries, and was hit on the arm by a comebacker earlier this season.

Last Time Out: 7/2/16 at Round Rock – Johnson took the start against the Express on Saturday at Dell Diamond and lasted just 3 2/3 innings allowing 1 run on 2 hits, 1 homer; he hit a batter, walked 2 and struck out 6. The righty threw 63 pitches, 37 for strikes in a game the Cubs won 4-1. 

2016 Game Log –

Dan Karcher (@SkySoxKarch) continues his 27^th season behind the mic for Sky Sox games, he and I will have the call of tonight’s game from Security Service Field at 7:05 p.m. Sky Sox Warmup will get off and running at 6:30 MDT on XTRA Sports 1300.

Thanks for reading – See you on the radio,

Dan

@Dan_Acheson