Blanco Leads I-Cubs to Sweep
August 27, 2009 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Iowa Cubs News Release
Andres Blanco led Iowa over the Oklahoma City RedHawks, driving in the winning run with a homer for a 2-1 win in game one and hitting a walk- off single in the bottom of the seventh for a 2-1 victory in game two Thursday night at Principal Park.
Blanco's two-run home run on a 3-0 pitch off RedHawks reliever Jailen Peguero (0-2) in the sixth inning of game one broke a scoreless tie and led Iowa to a 2-1 win over Oklahoma City.
Chris Robinson started the Cubs' brief sixth-inning rally with a leadoff walk, and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Darwin Barney. Blanco then hooked a 3-0 offering from Peguero just inside the right-field foul pole for his sixth round-tripper of the season to put Iowa up 2-0.
In the top of the seventh, Iowa closer Blake Parker worked around a pair of infield errors to preserve the Iowa victory, securing his 19th save of the season. A two-base throwing error by Blanco and a Barney miscue allowed the RedHawks to push across an unearned run, but Parker struck out Brandon Boggs looking to end the game.
Iowa starter James Russell and his counterpart, right-hander Guillermo Moscoso, locked horns in a pitchers dual for the first five innings of game one. Russell struck out seven and walked one in his five shutout frames, while Moscoso was twirling a no-hitter before Matt Camp broke it up with a one-out fourth inning single.
Iowa reliever David Patton (1-1) relieved Russell in the sixth and pitched a scoreless inning to earn the win. Patton, with Iowa on a major-league rehab assignment, pitched around a pair of walks to keep the RedHawks off the scoreboard.
In the nightcap, Blanco's two-out RBI single capped a two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh to claim the 2-1 win. Blanco was 3-for-7 on the night.
Iowa trailed 1-0 heading into the seventh inning as the RedHawks took an early lead with an unearned run in the second inning when a throwing error by Iowa starter Esmailin Caridad (5-11) on a sacrifice bunt attempt allowed Brandon Boggs to score.
Iowa had just two hits in the game before posting four in the seventh inning. With one out Steve Clevenger and Matt Craig hit back-to-back single. Clevenger scored Iowa's first run of the inning on Nate Spears' single to tie the game at one. Matt Camp then reached base on a fielder's choice, when Darwin Barney, who was on third base running for Craig, was tagged out. With two outs Blanco hit the game-winning single to score Spears.
The Cubs' John Gaub (1-1) picked up his first victory while Oklahoma City's Warner Madrigal (2-2) took the loss.
The Cubs and RedHawks meet in the third game of their five-game set at Principal Park tomorrow night. Jeff Samardzija (5-4, 3.81) gets the starting nod for Iowa and will oppose fellow right-hander Bryan Cory (6-7, 5.64). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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