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Brantly's Walk-Off Pinch-Hit Homer Lifts Z's to 6-3 Victory

July 29, 2012 - Pacific Coast League (PCL) New Orleans Zephyrs

Rob Brantly's walk-off, pinch-hit three-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted the New Orleans Zephyrs past the Iowa Cubs 6-3 Sunday night at Zephyr Field.

Chris Aguila led off the bottom of the 10th doubling to right-center field off Iowa reliever Jay Jackson before Chase Lambin drew a walk with one out. Brantly came off the bench and blasted a three-run homer over the right field wall for his first Triple-A home run.

It was the third walk-off home run by the Zephyrs this season, and first since Luke Montz on May 8.

New Orleans took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Gil Velazquez walked and moved to third on a single by Chris Coghlan, then scored on a ground out by Mike Cervenak.

Zephyrs starting pitcher Brad Hand led off the fifth with a single to right. Kevin Mattison hit an infield single, and Hand advanced to third on a throwing error by Iowa pitcher Rodrigo Lopez. Coghlan then lifted a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Hand for a 2-0 Zephyrs lead.

The Cubs rallied in the top of the seventh against Z's reliever Evan Reed, after Hand walked leadoff batter Brett Jackson. Reed gave up a home run to Welington Castillo, tying the game, and an error by Reed allowed Matt Tolbert to reach and eventually score on a Blake Lalli single to right, vaulting Iowa into the lead, 3-2.

The Zephyrs rallied in the bottom of the ninth when Lambin led off with a single against Iowa closer Michael Bowden, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and to third on an infield single by Mattison.

After Lambin was tagged out at the plate attempting to score on a grounder by Velazquez, Bowden walked Coghlan to load the bases, and forced in the tying run by walking Cervenak. Nick Green flied out to send the game to extra innings.

Aguila went 3-for-5 with a double, while Mattison hit 2-for-5 with a run scored.

Hand pitched six strong innings, allowing one run on four hits with nine strikeouts, and chipped in a pair of singles at the plate.

Robert Ray (1-1) earned his first win, retiring the side in order in the 10th.

Jackson (2-6) took the loss for Iowa.

New Orleans will attempt to match its longest win streak of the season, going for its fifth in a row on Monday at 7 pm. Right-hander Elih Villanueva will take the mound for the Zephyrs, facing Iowa's southpaw Chris Rusin.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 29, 2012


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