PCL1 Iowa Cubs

Cubs Claim Comeback Win in Extra Innings

Published on July 5, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Iowa Cubs News Release


Albuquerque, NM - Down to their final strike, the Iowa Cubs (45-43) got a game-tying two-run homer from pinch-hitter Tim Torres in the top of the ninth inning and scored four times in the 10th to beat the Albuquerque Isotopes (48-40) 9-5 at Isotopes Park tonight. The win snapped a streak of 13 consecutive losses for the Cubs at Isotopes Park going back to June 19, 2011.

The Isotopes built an early lead with a run in each of the first three innings and great work from starter Matt Palmer. Palmer retired 13 of the first 14 batters he faced before Junior Lake got the Cubs on the board with a home run leading off the top of the fifth. The 'Topes answered in the bottom of the fifth. Alex Castellanos smacked a two-run homer off Cubs' starter Nick Struck to extend the 'Topes' lead to 5-1. Struck finished six innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits while tying a season-high with five walks.

Palmer worked into the seventh inning before the Cubs knocked him out of the game with a two-out rally. Luis Flores connected on his second homer of the season. Pinch-hitter Anthony Giansanti and Logan Watkins followed with back-to-back doubles to get the Cubs to within two at 5-3.

Eduardo Sanchez followed Struck with two scoreless innings in relief and extended his scoreless streak to 12.1 innings over his last eight appearances. His work kept the Cubs within two runs and the Isotopes brought in Steve Ames for a save opportunity in the top of the ninth. Ty Wright led off with an infield single, but was still at first with two outs when Torres came up to pinch-hit for Sanchez. With a 1-2 count, Torres sent a drive into the Cubs' bullpen in left-center to tie the game. It was his first homer with Iowa this season.

Casey Coleman walked two, but didn't allow a run in the bottom of the ninth and forced the game into extra innings. Red Patterson came in to pitch for the 'Topes in the 10th and retired the first two batters before the Cubs put together their game-winning rally. Brad Nelson hit a ground ball to deep shortstop and Dee Gordon's throw to first pulled Brian Barden off the bag for an error. After a walk to Lake, Wright lined a single to right-center that drove in Nelson with the go-ahead run. Darnell McDonald followed with a fly ball that split the gap in right-center and rolled to the wall for a two-run triple, and then scored on a base hit by Flores. All four runs were unearned, but the Cubs had their first lead of the game.

The Cubs had Brian Schlitter warming up for a possible save try, but after a four-run rally, Coleman went back out to try to finish the game. He set the Isotopes down in order and earned the win to improve to 2-0. Patterson (4-3) suffered the loss. Ames was charged with his second blown save in 10 tries on the year.

Tonight's victory was the Cubs' first extra-innings win of the season after five straight losses. It was also the Cubs' first win when trailing after eight innings in 113 tries. The Cubs' last win when trailing after eight was a 9-7 comeback at Salt Lake on August 17, 2011. The Cubs have won four of their last five road games.

The Cubs and Isotopes continue this series tomorrow night at 8:05 Central time. RH Jake Arrieta will make his Cubs' debut after the Cubs acquired him in a trade from Baltimore on Tuesday. LH Jonathan Sanchez (1-0, 6.75) will start for the Isotopes. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940, and streamed at iowacubs.com, with the pre-game show starting at 7:45.

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