Four-Run Ninth Propels I-Cubs to Victory
September 2, 2022 - International League (IL)
Iowa Cubs News Release
COLUMBUS, OH - Down to their final out, the Iowa Cubs (58-69) scored four runs in the ninth inning to beat the Columbus Clippers (73-52) by a score of 9-6, Friday at Huntington Park.
The game got off to a good start for Iowa, scoring first with two runs in the third on a two-run double by John Hicks. They added to their lead with a solo home run from Matt Mervis in the fifth to go up 3-0.
Matt Swarmer was dealing again for the I-Cubs, keeping the Clippers' offense off-balance, allowing just three hits and one walk through five scoreless innings. His offense gave him two more runs in the top of the sixth to grow their lead to 5-0, but the lead wouldn't last much longer.
Swarmer couldn't retire a single batter in the sixth inning, allowing four straight hits before getting taken out of the game. He was replaced by Danis Correa who was greeted with a grand slam from George Valera to tie the game 5-5.
Each of the first six batters reached base in that five-run fifth for the Clippers as they batted around to tie the game. They broke the tie in the following inning on a solo home run from Brayan Rocchio to take a 6-5 lead.
The game stayed at 6-5 until the top of the ninth inning, when Iowa scored two runs on a double from Mervis and a single from Hicks to take a 7-6 lead. Trent Giambrone padded the lead with a two-run single of his own to bring Iowa's lead to 9-6.
Ben Leeper retired all three batters he faced to earn his team-leading seventh save of the year and even the series at two games apiece.
POSTGAME NOTES:
- For the first time all year, Matt Swarmer allowed more than three earned runs in tonight's game. The righty was cruising through five scoreless innings, but didn't retire a single batter in the sixth inning, allowing four consecutive hits.
- In his first game with Iowa since making his Major League debut, Brendon Little allowed just one hit - a solo home run - while walking one and striking out two over two innings of work.
- After being down to their last strike in the ninth inning, Iowa got back-to-back RBI singles to earn their 28th comeback victory of the year.
- All four of Iowa's top hitters recorded two hits tonight, accounting for eight of the team's 12 total hits. They drove in five of Iowa's nine runs.
Iowa and Columbus will play game five of their six game series tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch from Huntington Park set for 12:05 CT. For more information and tickets, visit www.iowacubs.com.
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