Cubs Drop Opener at Express
Published on June 19, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Iowa Cubs News Release
Round Rock, TX - Mike Bianucci hit two home runs to help lead the Round Rock Express (32-40) to a 6-3 win over the Iowa Cubs (30-42) at Dell Diamond tonight. The Cubs have now dropped seven straight road games and are 14-19 on the road for the season. The Express lead this series 1-0 and lead the season series 5-4.
The Cubs claimed the early lead with a run in the top of the second. Brett Jackson singled and scored on a double by Ty Wright. The Express came back to take the lead with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Bianucci drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly and Greg Miclat added an RBI single. The Cubs also committed two errors in the inning and would tie their season-high with three errors in the game. The Cubs came into the game with the fewest errors in the Pacific Coast League and led the circuit in fielding percentage.
The Cubs came back to tie the game in the top of the fourth. Wright singled, stole second, and scored on a base hit by Blake Lalli. Lalli would finish with a season-high three hits in the game, including a double.
Bianucci led off the bottom of the fourth with his first homer of the night off Cubs' starter Rodrigo Lopez. That shot gave the Express a 3-2 lead. Miclat followed with an RBI single and scored on a double by Dusty Brown. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Yangervis Solarte singled and Bianucci followed with his second blast of the night to extend the Express lead to 6-2. Bianucci has hit five home runs in eight games against the Cubs this season.
Josh Vitters led off the top of the sixth with a solo homer off Express starter Greg Reynolds. It was Vitters' 10th home run of the season.
The Cubs would have scoring opportunities later in the game, but didn't score again. The Cubs out-hit the Express 13-8, but left 12 men on base. In the top of the ninth inning, the Cubs loaded the bases with one out, but former I-Cub Neal Cotts got out of the jam to preserve the win and earn his first save of the season.
Lopez (1-2) was charged with a season-high six runs on seven hits in five innings and suffered his second consecutive loss. Esmailin Caridad was perfect in two innings of relief for the Cubs. Reynolds (6-5) allowed three runs on nine hits in six innings for the win.
The Cubs and Express continue this series tomorrow night at 7:05 at Dell Diamond. Left-hander Brooks Raley (2-2, 5.93) will start for the Cubs against RH Neil Ramirez (6-7, 8.02) for the Express. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940 with the On-Deck Circle Pre-Game Show starting at 6:45.
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