PCL1 Round Rock Express

Express Shut out by I-Cubs

Published on May 16, 2014 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


Des Moines, IA - Iowa Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks gave up just three singles and tied his career-high with 11 strikeouts over eight shutout innings to lift the I-Cubs (21-16) past the Round Rock Express (19-20) 2-0 on Thursday night at Principal Park. It was the Cubs' fifth shutout of the campaign, tying them with Round Rock for the league lead.

Hendricks was in complete control from the outset. After allowing a one-out single in first, he retired the next 16 hitters he faced before LF Daniel Robertson reached on a swinging bunt in the sixth inning. Hendricks ranks second in the PCL having struck out 54 hitters in 50.0 innings on the season, and he's walked just 11. He joined RH Carlos Pimentel and LH Tsuyoshi Wada as the only other Cubs to record 10 punchouts in a start this season. Hendricks hasn't given up a run in 14 innings against the Express this year.

Blake Parker finished the shutout by tossing a perfect ninth for his seventh save of the season and franchise-best 48th of his Iowa career. Parker hasn't given up an earned run, while striking out 13, in 9.1 innings. His last six appearances have resulted in a save.

The Cubs scored a run in the second inning off Express LH Joe Saunders in his first rehab start with the E-Train. 3B Christian Villanueva hit his team-leading 12th double of the year, and two batters later, 1B Jonathan Mota drove him in with a two-out single. It was Mota's fifth RBI on the year and just his second in the last 10 games. The Cubs are now 12-2 when they score the first run of the game.

Iowa got to Saunders again an inning later. 2B Arismendy Alcantara doubled to left field, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a LF Josh Vitters two-out single to left. Alcantara tripled in his first at-bat and has a team-leading 19 extra-base hits on the season.

Saunders, who is on a major-league rehab assignment, scattered seven hits over five innings. He gave up two earned runs, three walks and struck out seven, while throwing 52 of his 97 pitches for strikes in his first start with Round Rock. Saunders made two starts for double-A Frisco and has a 5.11 ERA (8ER/14.1IP) in his three rehab appearances.

CF Matt Szczur had two singles for the Cubs. It was his sixth multi-hit game of the season and first since April 25.

Listen to the game live on 104.9 The Horn or online at www.hornfm.com . For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook and Twitter.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 16, 2014


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