Cubs Come up Short in Loss to Tacoma
Published on May 23, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Iowa Cubs News Release
DES MOINES --The Cubs fell to the Rainiers 8-3 in the second straight day game at Principal Park Wednesday. In his triple-A debut for Iowa (19-26), Brooks Raley tossed five frames of five-run ball, surrendering only three earned runs while fanning four, walking three, and hitting one batter. 1B Anthony Rizzo (2-for-4) knocked his league-leading sixteenth home run of the season.
The Rainiers (19-27) scored runs in five of the first six innings. Tacoma got out to an early 4-0 lead, scoring a run in each of the first two innings and added two in the third. The Rainiers played small ball to score, aside from a Scott Savastano solo shot in the second. After a 1-2-3 fourth inning, Tacoma's bats struck for a five run in the fifth on an RBI single by Luis Jimenez.
The Cubs bats were quiet after yesterday's offensive outburst with only two hits over the first four innings. Iowa lead off the fifth with back-to-back singles by RF Dave Sappelt and 3B Josh Vitters, followed by a walk to Matt Tolbert to load the bases with no outs. Alfredo Amezaga drove in the I-Cubs first run with an RBI-ground out, but Iowa's offense failed to cash in further, stranding two in scoring position.
Ryan Rowland-Smith hurled two innings, fanning three and walking one in his second appearance since returning from the disabled list. The Australia native surrendered two runs on a two-out RBI double by Luis Rodriguez in the sixth to extend Tacoma's lead to six runs. Iowa continued to chip away at the Tacoma lead in the bottom of the inning, scoring two on a opposite field shot by Rizzo and an RBI double by Vitters, respectively.
Frankie De La Cruz held the Rainiers hitless in one inning of relief, walking one. In one inning of relief, Mike MacDougal fanned one and surrendered a monstrous home run out of the ballpark to Seattle's rehabbing Miguel Olivo. Iowa could not complete the comeback though, wasting a Vitters' lead-off single. Raley suffered his first loss as an I-Cub, while Tacoma starter Andrew Carraway picked up the win.
In his first start behind the plate during his rehab stint with Iowa, Steve Clevenger caught four innings and was 0-for-2 with fly outs to left and centerfield. Josh Vitters extended his hitting streak to seven games with his fifth-inning base knock and had a season-high three hits. Luis Valbuena continued his hot hitting, ripping a triple in the second inning.
The Cubs will complete their eight-game home stand tomorrow, looking for the series split against the Rainiers with a 12:05 p.m. start at Principal Park. LHP Chris Rusin will toe the rubber for Iowa in search of his team-leading fifth victory. Iowa heads on the road Friday for twelve games in thirteen days. Fans can tune in to Iowa Cubs action with Deene Ehlis and Randy Wehofer on AM 940 with the pregame show beginning at 11:45 a.m.
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 23, 2012
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- Sky Sox & RedHawks Postponed Due to Rain - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Wednesday's Game Postponed - Oklahoma City Comets
- RedHawks Game Notes: May 23, 2012 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Cubs Come up Short in Loss to Tacoma - Iowa Cubs
- Rainiers Clip Cubs, 8-3 - Tacoma Rainiers
- Round Rock Express - Game Notes vs. Sacramento River Cats - Round Rock Express
- MoreTV to Broadcast Six River Cats Games this Season - Sacramento River Cats
- Sounds Open Four-Game Homestand on Friday - Nashville Sounds
- Pitcher Raley Promoted to Iowa - Iowa Cubs
- Home Continues to be Kind for Tucson - Tucson Padres
- 'Topes Double up on Grizzlies with 8-7 Win - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Sounds Fall 10-3 in Las Vegas - Nashville Sounds
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