I-Cubs Regain Series Lead with Offensive Explosion
July 29, 2023 - International League (IL)
Iowa Cubs News Release
MEMPHIS, TN - The Iowa Cubs (59-40) regained the series lead over the Memphis Redbirds (51-49) by winning an offensive shootout with a score of 13-9 on Saturday night from AutoZone Park.
The scoring started in the second inning with the I-Cubs taking an early lead. After a single from Alexander Canario and a double by Jared Young, P.J. Higgins brought in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly. Yonathan Perlaza then followed with a one-run single, and Matt Mervis made it 3-0 with an RBI single of his own.
Memphis immediately responded with three runs of its own in the third inning to tie up the ballgame. The Redbirds scored all three runs playing small ball with RBI singles from Masyn Winn, Tommy Edman, and Juan Yepez.
Iowa regained its lead in the fourth off a base knock by Nelson Velazquez, which scored Higgins, but the lead was short lived. The Redbirds claimed their first lead of the night in the bottom of the frame after Juniel Querecuto recorded an RBI groundout and Iowa reliever Carlos Guzman walked in a run with the bases loaded to make It 5-4, Memphis.
After a scoreless fifth inning, the back-and-forth action continued when the I-Cubs jumped back out in front. Higgins kept his hot night at the plate going with a solo home run over the left field fence and Mervis delivered with his second RBI single of the night.
But once again, the Redbirds strung together a comeback effort. In the bottom of the seventh after three consecutive walks allowed by Jeremiah Estrada, Tres Barrera got a hold of one for a grand slam to left field, which gave Memphis a 9-6 lead.
Iowa wasn't done yet, however. In the eighth, Perlaza cut into the deficit with a solo home run and Young came through with a clutch two-RBI single to even the game at 9-9. Reliever Chris Clarke kept Memphis off the board in the bottom of the eighth by striking out the side and the I-Cubs tacked on four more to get the lead back in the top of the ninth.
Darius Hill led off the inning with a pinch hit double in the right center field gap and for the second-straight at-bat Perlaza took one over the right field fence with a go-ahead, two-run homer. David Bote then got in on the action with a one-run double. The fourth and final run of the inning came on a wild pitch, which scored Bote, setting the score at 13-9, Iowa.
Manuel Rodriguez was called into the game and closed the door with a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts to secure the win.
POSTGAME NOTES:
- Tonight marked Yonathan Perlaza's first four-hit performance of the season and his first game with two home runs. The Venezuelan now has 15 homers on the year, which ranks third on the team.
- The I-Cubs racked up 20 hits in the game, which was just one shy of their season high. Iowa recorded 21 hits back on April 27 versus Louisville.
Iowa and Memphis will close out the series tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch from AutoZone Park scheduled for 2:05 pm CT. You can listen to all Iowa Cubs games on Hope AM940 and stream them for free on the Bally Live App. For more information and tickets, visit www.iowacubs.com.
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