Renato Nunez Hit Controversial Slam in 6th Inning
Des Moines, IA – An inside-the-park grand slam by Renato Nunez in the top of the sixth pushed the Nashville Sounds past the Iowa Cubs 7-2 at Principal Park Thursday afternoon.
Matt Olson, Joey Wendle and Max Muncy drew walks in the sixth to set up Nunez with the bases loaded and two outs. On a 2-0 pitch from Jean Machi, Nunez hit a fly ball that ricocheted off the left field fence and was lodged under the wall. Cubs left fielder John Andreoli put his hands up to signal a dead ball, but the umpire ruled the ball was not stuck. Nunez never stopped running and was credited with an inside-the-park grand slam.
They wasted no time scoring as Jake Smolinski grounded out to score Max Muncy to give the Sounds a 1-0 lead in the first.
In the third, they pushed the lead to 3-0 thanks to a wild pitch that scored Andrew Lambo, and a run-scoring base hit from Chad Pinder. Nunez scored on Pinder’s hit but Lambo was thrown out at home trying to score from second.
Iowa plated a run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Dan Vogelbach singled home Albert Almora Jr. from second to trim the lead to 3-1.
Starter Jesse Hahn pitched 5 2/3 strong innings, allowing just one run on seven hits. The right-hander struck out five and surrendered one walk as he picked up his first win with the Sounds this season.
Ryan Brasier relieved Hahn in the sixth inning and responded by getting a one-pitch groundout to end the inning. Brasier then struck out the side in the seventh and punched out two in the eighth to keep the Cubs’ bats in check.
J.B. Wendelken came in to pitch the ninth and was met by Dan Vogelbach who homered to right on an 0-2 pitch to make the score 7-2. The right-hander worked out of a jam to close out the win and push Nashville’s record to 16-18.
Nunez’s inside-the-park grand slam in the sixth was the first inside-the-park home run for the Sounds since Chad Hermansen in 1998.
The series concludes Friday night at Principal Park. Right-hander Daniel Mengden (1-0, 0.00) starts for the Sounds while the Cubs counter with right-hander Ryan Williams (4-1, 3.86). First pitch is scheduled for 7:08pm.
The 2016 season is the Sounds’ 19th year in the Pacific Coast League and their second as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Tickets are available now by calling 615.690.4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com
