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Cubs Win Series over Grizzlies

May 12, 2012 - Pacific Coast League (PCL) Iowa Cubs

Fresno, CA - The Iowa Cubs (15-19) got a quality start from Travis Wood and a three-homer inning in a 6-5 win over the Fresno Grizzlies (24-11) at Chukchansi Park tonight. The Cubs won three of four in the series and and have won the season series against the Grizzlies for three straight seasons.

The Cubs built an early lead against Grizzlies' starter Matt Yourkin. Josh Vitters led off the top of the second inning with a double and scored on a base hit by Juan Apodaca. Matt Tolbert led off the top of the third inning with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Luis Valbuena. The Cubs extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning when Ty Wright scored from third on a fielder's choice.

The Cubs turned on the power in the fifth inning. Anthony Rizzo led off with a line drive homer to right. It was his league-leading 11th home run of the season. With one out, Vitters lined the second homer of the inning over the wall in left. It was his second home run of the series. With two outs, Wright launched his first home run of the season and the Cubs led 6-0. Apodaca followed with a double off the base of the wall in right to chase Yourkin from the game. Three Grizzlies relievers would allow the Cubs just one more hit the rest of the way.

Wood limited the Grizzlies to three hits through four scoreless innings before the Grizzlies broke through with two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run single by Francisco Peguero. Wood allowed one more run in the sixth, but recorded his third quality start of the season. Cubs' starters have recorded a quality start in four of the last five games.

Jay Jackson pitched 1.2 scoreless innings and struck out three in his first relief appearance of the season. With two on and two outs in the eighth inning, Jeff Beliveau came in and got pinch-hitter Jackson Williams to pop out to end the inning.

The Grizzlies made a run at the lead against Blake Parker in the ninth. Parker issued a leadoff walk to pinch-hitter Juan Ciriaco. Justin Christian followed with a ground ball in the hole at shortstop that looked like trouble, but Valbuena made a nice ranging play and threw to second in time to force Ciriaco. Nick Noonan and Peguero followed with singles to bring Christian home and put the potential tying runs on base. Roger Kieschnick followed with a chopper to first. The Cubs got a force out at second base, but didn't complete the double play and Noonan scored to cut the lead to one. The Cubs would hang on and get the win as Parker struck out Charlie Culberson to end the game.

Wood (2-3) earned the win to snap a three-game losing streak. Yourkin (1-2) was charged with the loss. Parker picked up his fourth save in as many attempts this season and the 32nd of his Iowa Cubs career. The Cubs improved to 7-10 in their league-leading 17th one-run game of the season.

The Cubs continue this road trip with the first of a four-game series at Raley Field in Sacremento tomorrow night at 9:05 Central Time. RH Casey Coleman (2-3, 3.48) is scheduled to start for the Cubs against RH Graham Godfrey (3-0, 0.45) for the River Cats. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940 with the On-Deck Circle Pre-Game Show starting at 8:45.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 12, 2012


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