PCL1 Iowa Cubs

High Five: Cubs Hang on to Extend Streak

Published on July 3, 2014 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Iowa Cubs News Release


Des Moines, IA - The Iowa Cubs (47-38) broke a tie by scoring two runs in the seventh inning and hung on to beat the Omaha Storm Chasers (44-42) 4-3 on Wednesday night at Principal Park to extend their winning streak to five games. The Cubs have won all four games in this series and have taken 16 of the last 18 games between the teams at home. Iowa is 13-3 in the last 16 contests and is a season-high nine games over .500.

Josh Vitters led off the decisive rally with a ringing double down the left field line off Storm Chasers reliever Chris Dwyer. Ryan Kalish moved Vitters to third with a productive ground out to second base. After Dwyer struck out Eli Whiteside, Arismendy Alcantara ripped his PCL-leading 11th triple -- and league-leading 43rd extra-base hit -- into the left field corner to give the Cubs the lead. Matt Szczur wasted no time getting the Cubs an insurance run as his double high off the left-center field wall scored Alcantara. Szczur is now hitting .333 (11-for-33) with a double, seven runs scored and four RBI over his last 10 games.

RH Marcus Hatley entered in the eighth inning protecting a two-run lead, but served up a tape-measure home run to Matt Fields. It was second home run he allowed all year, and the first run he has surrendered in his last eight appearances. Hatley retired the next three hitters in order to preserve a lead. RH Blake Parker shut the door in the ninth for the 18th time in 19 opportunities this season. He leads the PCL in saves, and his 59 in his Iowa career are a franchise record. Parker has only allowed four earned runs in 25 innings this season (1.44 ERA).

LH Chris Rusin recorded his second consecutive win and sixth of the season for the Cubs. The southpaw induced 12 groundballs, including getting two double plays, in his seven innings of work. He allowed one earned run on eight hits, three walks and three strikeouts in throwing his 10th quality start in 16 outings. Rusin continued his career success against Omaha. He sports a 1.96 ERA (10ER/46IP) in seven career starts against the Storm Chasers. Wednesday night was just the fourth time the Cubs have scored more than three runs in any of Rusin's starts this season.

Kris Bryant helped produce the Cubs' first two runs. He smoked a single into left field in the second inning, stole second base on a strikeout -- his ninth career steal -- and scored the game's first run when Kalish blooped a single into right field. Trailing 2-1 in the sixth inning, Javy Baez ripped a double off the right field wall, and Bryant would plate him with a double of his. Bryant continues to thrive at triple-A. The slugger has hit safely in five of his last seven games with multiple hits in all five. He is batting .429 (12-for-28) with four doubles, a home run, eight RBI and seven runs scored in that span. Baez, the other Cubs top prospect, has hit .361 (13-for-36) with five doubles, five RBI, and 10 walks in the last 11 games.

Omaha took advantage of an Alcantara error to tie the game at one in the third inning. Brian Bocock drew a one-out walk, and Johnny Giavotella followed with a single before Alcantara booted a routine ground ball to second base that potentially could have gotten the Cubs out of the inning. The next batter, Paulo Orlando, grounded out to third base to score Bobcock. The Storm Chasers grabbed a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning on back-to-back double by Fields and Orlando.

The Cubs had three stolen bases on the night. Besides Bryant's, Baez stole his 15th and Kalish swiped his seventh. Iowa's 85 stolen bases on the year -- and 41 since the start of June -- trail only Omaha for the PCL lead.

The Cubs and Storm Chasers wrap up their five-game series Thursday night at 7:05 from Principal Park as RH Dallas Beeler (5-3, 4.03) squares off with RH Aaron Brooks (7-2, 3.67). The annual holiday fireworks spectacular takes place after the game, and there will be a citizenship ceremony before the game where 30 people from 20 countries will become U.S. citizens. The action will be b roadcast live on AM 940 and streamed live at iowacubs.com with the On-Deck Circle Pre-Game Show starting at 6:35 p.m.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 3, 2014


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