Cubs Follow Unlikely Path to Victory
June 25, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Iowa Cubs News Release
Memphis, TN - After having 19 consecutive batters retired, the Iowa Cubs (39-40) sent 11 men to the plate and scored six runs in the top of the eighth inning to beat the Memphis Redbirds (38-41) 6-1 at Auto Zone Park tonight. The Cubs move back into first place in the American Northern Division, one game ahead of the Redbirds. Memphis leads this series 2-1.
Redbirds' starter Nick Additon gave up a two-out single to Donnie Murphy in the top of the first inning, but set down the next 19 batters he faced to keep the Cubs scoreless through seven innings. Cubs' starter Brooks Raley matched Additon with seven scoreless innings of his own. Raley allowed four singles, one walk, and struck out four while matching his longest outing of the year.
In the top of the eighth inning, Additon's streak ended when he walked Dave Sappelt and Junior Lake to open the inning. Following the walks, the Redbirds brought in Victor Marte from the bullpen to face Darnell McDonald who bunted towards third base. Marte fielded the bunt, looked at third for a force out, had no play, and threw too late to first as McDonald beat the play for a single. Luis Flores followed with an eight-pitch at-bat that ended in a walk to force in the game's first run.
Following the walk, the Redbirds made another change and brought in left-hander Mark Rzepczynski to face pinch-hitter Tim Torres. Torres drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to the warning track in left-center while McDonald advanced to third. Logan Watkins followed with a chopper to first. Brock Peterson looked home and looked to second, but didn't throw to either base. By the time he flipped to Rzepczynski covering first, Watkins beat the play for an infield single and an RBI to extend the Cubs' lead to 3-0.
After a fielder's choice left runners on first and third with two outs, Murphy lined his second hit of the game into left-center for an RBI and Brad Nelson walked to reload the bases for Sappelt. In his second at-bat of the inning, Sappelt grounded a single into left that drove in the final two runs of the inning.
Michael Bowden followed Raley with a scoreless eighth, but Jamie Romak led off the bottom of the ninth with a solo homer off Brian Schlitter to spoil the Cubs' shutout bid. It was only the third run the Cubs' bullpen has allowed in 22.1 innings over the last 11 games. Raley (6-5) earned the win while Additon (5-3) suffered the loss.
The Cubs and Redbirds wrap up this series tomorrow night at 7:05 at Auto Zone Park. RH Yoanner Negrin (2-2, 3.79) will start for the Cubs against LH Tyler Lyons (2-1, 4.47) for the Redbirds. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940, and streamed at iowacubs.com, with the pre-game show starting at 6:45.
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