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Cubs Hang on to Beat River Cats

May 13, 2012 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Iowa Cubs News Release


Sacramento, CA - The Sacramento River Cats (25-13) rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning before the Iowa Cubs (16-20) closed out a 4-3 win at Raley Field this afternoon. Blake Parker shut the door just in time to preserve the win for starter Chris Rusin, who had pitched eight shutout innings. The Cubs have won five of their last seven games and have evened this series at 1-1.

Rusin (4-2) was dominant again today, producing his fifth quality start in eight outings this year. He matched his career-high with eight innings pitched, set earlier this year on April 22 against Memphis. He scattered five hits and two walks while setting a season-high with seven strikeouts. He picked Grant Green off at first base after a first-inning single for his team-leading fourth pickoff of the season. Rusin has now struck out 18 batters in 15 shutout innings over two career starts against Sacramento. Last year, Rusin set a career-high with 11 strikeouts in seven shutout innings in a win over the River Cats on August 8 at Principal Park.

Ty Wright got the Cubs on the board with a two-run homer off River Cats' starter A.J. Griffin (0-1) in the third inning. It was his second home run of the season, with both coming on this road trip. The Cubs added an unearned run against Griffin in the fourth. Anthony Rizzo led off with a double to deep right-center and went to third when Green's throw from the wall skipped past the cutoff men. Rizzo would score on a wild pitch and finished 3-for-4 with two doubles in the game.

The Cubs added a key insurance run in the eighth inning against Fautino De Los Santos. Matt Tolbert led off with a single, wen to third on a base hit by Rizzo, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Luis Valbuena. It may have been a bigger inning if not for a diving catch by Green on Valbuena's fly ball to left-center.

Scott Maine started the bottom of the ninth inning, but ran into trouble. Brandon Moss led off with a double that Dave Sappelt lost in the sun on the warning track to start the inning. Moss went to third on a wild pitch before Michael Taylor walked. After catching Derek Norris looking at strike three, Maine gave up a single to Stephen Parker that drove in Moss with the River Cats' first run and chased Maine from the game.

Luke Hughes greeted Parker with a single that scored Taylor and moved Parker to third, cutting the Cubs' lead to 4-2. Adam Rosales followed with a fly ball to right that was deep enough to score Parker on a sacrifice fly, bringing the River Cats to within one at 4-3. Parker would get Jeff Fiorentino to fly out to center field to end the game and preserve the win.

Parker is 5-for-5 in save opportunities this season and now has 33 saves in his Iowa career. Today, he tied Laddie Renfroe (1987-88, 90-92 with Iowa) for third on Iowa's career saves list. With his next save, Parker will tie Jim Bullinger (1991-93) and Michael Wuertz (2002-04, '06, '08) for the franchise record for career saves.

The Cubs and River Cats continue this series tomorrow night at 9:05 Central Time at Raley Field. RH Rodrigo Lopez (0-0, 0.00) is scheduled to start for the Cubs against RH Travis Banwart (3-1, 5.63) 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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