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PCL1 Iowa Cubs

Iowa Strolls Past Oklahoma City 9-3 in Series Opener to Cut Deficit to 3.0 Games

August 31, 2015 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Iowa Cubs News Release


OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Aug. 31, 2015) - Iowa (78-58) drew a season-high 12 walks and banged out an additional nine hits as I-Cubs rolled past the Oklahoma City Dodgers (81-55) 9-3 in Pacific Coast League action Monday evening at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City.

The Iowa win cut Oklahoma City's American Northern Division lead to 3.0 games with eight regular season games left to play. The two teams have four more contests to play in their current five-game series.

The victory also wrapped up the winningest August in franchise history. Iowa went 22-8 in the month, besting the previous high of 21-8 set in 2001.

Iowa jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The I-Cubs loaded the bases with two outs before Arismendy Alcantara drew an RBI walk followed by a two-RBI single from Mike Baxter.

The Dodgers tied the game in the bottom of the first when Kyle Jensen took Iowa starter Felipe Paulino deep for a three-run homer with two outs.

However, Paulino (5-8) would settle down after his rocky first. The big righty held the Dodgers scoreless for four more innings. All told, Paulino tossed 5.0 innings and allowed just the three early runs on a total of four hits and four walks with three strikeouts.

Dodgers starter Julio Urias allowed three runs on two hits and four walks before being pulled after the first inning. Right-hander Juan Jamie entered in the second and tossed two scoreless frames.

Iowa roughed up Dodgers righties Chris Andersen (0-2) and Carlos Frias in the middle innings to the tune of five runs on five hits and six walks. Taylor Davis had the eventual game-winning hit with a two-RBI single with two outs in top of the fourth.

The I-Cubs tacked on an insurance run in the ninth when Luke Carlin doubled home Baxter off OKC lefty Daniel Coulombe.

Lefty Zac Rosscup and rehabbing righty Rafael Soriano combined with new I-Cub right-hander P.J. Francescon to toss 4.0 scoreless frames in relief to keep Oklahoma City quiet.

Davis led Iowa with three hits and three RBI. Baxter had a hit and drove in two.

Jensen paced Oklahoma City with a hit, a run and three RBI. Former I-Cub Darwin Barney went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

The I-Cubs and Dodgers will play games two and three of their five-game series tomorrow afternoon as part of a doubleheader. First pitch of game one Tuesday evening is set for 4:35 p.m. CT. Right-hander Carlos Pimentel (12-5, 2.92) will take his PCL-leading ERA and win total to the hill for Iowa in the opener against Dodgers righty Joe Wieland (10-5, 4.59). The game can be heard live on AM 940, 104.5 FM, and live-streamed at Iowacubs.com. The On-Deck Circle Pre-game Show will begin 6:40 p.m. CT.

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