Extra Innings Unkind to Cubs
August 19, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Iowa Cubs News Release
Metairie, LA - Alex Burg's RBI single in the bottom of the 16th inning gave the New Orleans Zephyrs (64-65) a 4-3 victory over the Iowa Cubs (58-71) at Zephyr Field tonight. The Zephyrs lead this series 3-0 and lead the season series 10-4 over the Cubs. The Zephyrs are 4-0 in extra-inning games against the Cubs on the year and Iowa drops to 1-8 in extra-innings overall.
The Cubs got on the board quickly in the top of the first inning when Brad Nelson belted a two-run homer off Zephyrs' starter Elih Villanueva. It was Nelson's team-leading 18th home run of the season and the 199th of his professional career. Villanueva worked through five innings without allowing another run.
Cubs' starter Kyle Hendricks cruised early, striking out five while keeping the Zephyrs scoreless through the first four innings. The Zephyrs broke through in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Chris Valaika singled and Kevin Mattison followed with a pinch-hit double. Burg drove in one run with a sacrifice fly and Nick Green tied the game with an RBI single to bring in Mattison.
The Cubs took the lead back in the top of the sixth inning against Josh Wall when Edwin Maysonet lined a two-out double and scored on a base hit by Tim Torres. The Zephyrs came right back to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth when Kyle Jensen slammed a home run into the swimming pool behind the right field wall.
That's where the score stayed until the 16th inning. The Zephyrs got a scoreless inning from Zach Phillips in the seventh, three scoreless innings from Jonathan Albaladejo, Chris Hatcher worked the eleventh, and all three combined to allow just one hit. Adam Reifer faced two batters in the top of the 12th, before giving way to James Leverton with one on and one out. The Cubs would load the bases with two outs in the inning, but Leverton got out of the jam. Leverton gave the Zephyrs four scoreless innings and allowed just two hits. The Cubs loaded the bases against Leverton and Rett Varner again in the top of the 16th, but couldn't push across a run. The Cubs were 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 15 men on base.
Hendricks posted a quality start, allowing three runs on seven hits in seven innings. He didn't walk a batter and struck out seven. The Cubs got one scoreless inning from Marcos Mateo, two from Brian Schlitter, two from Eduardo Sanchez, and three from Marcus Hatley to keep the Zephyrs at bay through the 15th inning. Jeff Antigua came in to pitch in the 16th and issued a leadoff walk to Rob Brantly. Joe Mahoney moved him to second with a bunt single, but Valaika popped up a bunt try of his own. Varner followed with a single to load the bases. Leverton and Varner, the Zephyrs' relief pitchers, combined to go 3-for-3 at the plate. With Burg at the plate, the Cubs pulled Wright in to be a fifth infielder, but Burg still found a hole. Maysonet made a diving stop on his ground ball between third base and shortstop, but his throw to the plate sailed high and Brantly crossed the plate with the game-winning run. The Zephyrs finished 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 14 men on base. Antigua (2-2) suffered the loss and Varner (1-3) earned the win.
The Cubs and Zephyrs continue this series tomorrow night at 7:00. RH Casey Coleman (4-3, 3.15) will start for the Cubs against LH Brad Hand (3-5, 3.67) for the Zephyrs. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940, and streamed live at iowacubs.com, with the On-Deck Circle Pre-Game Show starting at 6:40.
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