Cubs' Comeback Clipped by Redbirds
Published on April 20, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Iowa Cubs News Release
Memphis, TN - The Iowa Cubs (5-10) scored three runs in the eighth inning and had two men on base in the ninth when their comeback stalled and the Memphis Redbirds (9-6) hung on for an 8-5 win at Auto Zone Park tonight. Victor Marte quelled the Cubs' rally and earned his third save of the season.
The Redbirds scored first when Brock Peterson led off the bottom of the second inning with a homer off Cubs' starter Chris Rusin (1-2). Memphis extended their lead with three more runs in the fourth. Oscar Taveras and Peterson opened the inning with singles and both scored on a triple to the wall in center field by Jamie Romak. With the infield pulled in, Ryan Jackson shot a base hit into right to drive in Romak, and the Redbirds led 4-0.
The Cubs answered with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. Brian Bogusevic and Brent Lillibridge each singled to start the inning. Luis Flores followed with a base hit to left that drove in Bogusevic with the Cubs' first run. On the throw to the plate, Lillibridge advanced to third and then scored on a wild pitch to cut the Redbirds' lead to 4-2.
Memphis responded immediately in the bottom of the fifth. Kolten Wong led off with a triple and scored on a base hit by Taveras. After a flyout, Rusin walked Romak and gave way to Esmailin Caridad out of the Cubs' bullpen. After a popout, Jermaine Curtis connected on a fly ball to left that snuck over the top of the wall for a three-run homer and extended the Redbirds' lead to 8-2. Caridad would work through 2.2 innings in relief and Cory Wade finished the eighth without allowing another run.
Redbirds' starter Nick Additon (1-1) turned the game over to his bullpen after allowing two runs through five innings. Barrett Browning followed with two scoreless frames before the Cubs mounted their comeback against Sam Freeman in the eighth. Brett Jackson led off with a pinch-hit single and Ian Stewart followed with a line drive base hit to right. It was Stewart's first hit after starting 0-for-11 on his rehab assignment. Ty Wright split the right-center field gap with a double to drive in both runners. Wright moved to third on another base hit by Bogusevic and scored as Lillibridge bounced into a double play to pull the Cubs to within three at 8-5.
In the top of the ninth, Ryan Sweeney greeted Marte with a pinch-hit single to right and moved to second on a base hit by Donnie Murphy to bring the potential tying run to the plate, but Marte retired the next three batters, including a strikeout of Stewart to end the game, to preserve the Redbirds' win.
Sweeney's pinch-hit single extended his team-high hitting streak to seven games and Bogusevic has now hit in six straight.
The Cubs and Redbirds continue this series tomorrow afternoon at 1:35. RH Drew Carpenter (1-2, 8.10) will start for the Cubs against LH John Gast (2-0, 0.00) for the Redbirds. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940 and streamed at iowacubs.com with the pre-game show starting at 1:15.
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