Hendricks Dominates as Cubs Stop Skid
April 21, 2014 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Iowa Cubs News Release
Des Moines, IA - Kyle Hendricks scattered two hits over six shutout innings and the Iowa Cubs (9-9) bats provided enough support as the Cubs beat the Round Rock Express (10-8) 5-1 before 3,618 fans Monday night at Principal Park.
Hendricks dominated the organization that drafted him. He struck out the side in the first and went on to punch out six hitters, while walking just two in picking up his third consecutive victory. Hendricks has allowed just four runs in 20 innings (1.80) since giving up six earned runs in his first start of the year. This was his first career appearance against any Rangers' affiliate since being traded to Chicago in the Ryan Dempster deal in July 2012.
Yoanner Negrin and Brian Schlitter finished off the Express the rest of the way. Negrin tossed a perfect seventh, striking out one, and has a 1.86 ERA in 9.2 innings on the year. Schlitter worked the final two frames, giving up one run on two hits, to register the 36th save of his Iowa career. He trails former teammate Blake Parker by five for the franchise record.
After Hendricks and Scott Baker matched zeros for the first three innings, Arismendy Alcantara broke the scoring seal, sending his first home run of the season over the right field wall in the fourth inning. Alcantara continues to excel in his first month at the triple-A level. He leads the club in hits, doubles, triples and total bases. The second baseman was second in the Southern League with 134 hits, 36 doubles and 55 extra-base hits last year with the Tennessee Smokies. The home run ended an 18-inning scoring drought for Iowa. It was just the Cubs' third homer in the last nine games.
The Cubs added to their lead an inning later thanks to Logan Watkins and Matt Szczur. Watkins drew a walk, stole second three pitches later and came around to score when Szczur hit a line drive to center field. Watkins had a single in the third to extend his team-high hitting streak to eight games.
Iowa got three runs in the eighth inning off Ben Rowen. The rally started with singles by Szczur and Alcantara. With Javy Baez batting, Alcantara took off for the second and when the throw went down to that bag, Szczur jolted for home. He was safe as the throw sailed to the backstop. It was the first Cubs steal of home since Tony Campana did so on August 16, 2012 against Tucson. The Cubs got their final two runs on a Josh Vitters RBI groundout and a Chris Coghlan single. Szczur finished his busy night with three hits, an RBI, a stolen base and a run. It was the first three-hit game of his triple-A career.
Five different Cubs stole a base on the evening -- Szczur, Watkins, Alcantara, Vitters and Coghlan. For Alcantara, it was his team-leading sixth of the season. Iowa has swiped 20 bags on the season and came into the day trailing league leaders Oklahoma City and Tacoma by two.
Former Chicago Cub Scott Baker pitched well in his first defeat of the season. He hurled a season-high-tying seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out five. It was his third quality start in four outings on the season.
Brett Nicholas recorded two of Round Rock's four hits and had their only RBI. He is hitting .361 over his last 11 games with 11 RBI.
The Cubs will wrap up an eight-game home stand by playing the finale of this four-game set with the Express Tuesday afternoon. LH Eric Jokisch (0-1, 3.57) toes the rubber for the Cubs against LH Michael Kirkman (0-1, 13.50) with the first pitch from Principal Park scheduled for 12:05. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940 and streamed live at iowacubs.com with the On-Deck Circle Pre-Game Show starting at 11:45.
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