Long Ball Gets Iowa First Win of 2021
May 6, 2021 - International League (IL)
Iowa Cubs News Release
DES MOINES- After a night when Iowa registered just two hits and struck out 15 times, the offense exploded for eight runs in an 8-3 victory Wednesday night over the Indianapolis Indians.
Rafael Ortega got the scoring started for the I-Cubs with a solo home run in the bottom of the first. The Indians evened the score in the top of the third inning when Travis Swaggerty struck again with an RBI single, scoring Connor Kaiser for Swaggerty's third RBI of the series.
Swaggerty later came around to score on a bases loaded sacrifice fly off the bat of Will Craig. The 2-1 lead for Indianapolis didn't last long, as Ortega evened the score with his second solo shot of the game.
Just two batters later, Nick Martini smashed a solo homer of his own to give Iowa their lead right back. The offense slowed down through the middle innings and the game stayed locked at 3-2 until the eighth inning.
Dustin Fowler welcomed I-Cubs pitcher Jake Jewell into the game with a solo home run to lead off the eighth, knotting the game at three.
Iowa manufactured a run in the bottom of the inning with a pinch-hit single from Taylor Gushue that scored Martini. After an Ian Miller walk to load the bases, Abiatal Avelino provided some insurance with a grand slam.
Tommy Nance closed the game with a scoreless ninth inning, securing the first victory of the 2021 campaign for Iowa.
POSTGAME NOTES:
Rafael Ortega went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs in his first two plate appearances. In 2019, I-Cubs batters hit two home runs in a single game just five times.
Ben Holmes tossed five innings, allowing two earned runs on just three hits while walking four and striking out two.
The last Iowa Cubs grand slam came almost exactly a year ago, when Dixon Machado hit a grand slam on May 16, 2019 against New Orleans.
First pitch in game three of the series is set for 7:08 tomorrow night. Don't miss out on the first Mug Club promotion at Principal Park in 2021. For more information or tickets, visit www.iowacubs.com.
International League Stories from May 6, 2021
- RailRiders Take Slugfest - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Liberatore Shines in Memphis Debut - Memphis Redbirds
- Deja Vu All over Again: Wings Lose in Walk-Off Fashion for 3rd Straight Game - Rochester Red Wings
- Durham Defeats Memphis 4-3 for Third Straight Win - Durham Bulls
- Poteet Fans Ten as Jumbo Shrimp Win Third Straight - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Chatham's walk-off in 10th gives IronPigs first ever 3-0 start - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Gutierrez Deals, Bats Erupt in 9-0 Rout of Clippers - Louisville Bats
- Knights Drop Thursday's Contest to Stripers 4-0 - Charlotte Knights
- WooSox Muster Four Hits in Road Defeat against Buffalo - Worcester Red Sox
- Sounds and Mud Hens Postponed in Toledo - Nashville Sounds
- Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (1-1) at Iowa Cubs (1-1) - Indianapolis Indians
- WooSox to Offer Single Game Tickets for First Homestead this Week - Worcester Red Sox
- Memphis Redbirds Updated Roster & Game Notes: May 6, 2021 - Memphis Redbirds
- May 6 Game Notes: Iowa vs. Indianapolis - Iowa Cubs
- Red Wings to Put Single-Game Tickets on Sale May 14 - Rochester Red Wings
- Sounds Begin 2021 Home Slate with 12-Game, 13-Day Double Homestand - Nashville Sounds
- Jumbo Shrimp, City of Jacksonville Agree to 121 Financial Ballpark Lease Extension - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Safety Protocols at Victory Field Implemented for Start of 2021 Season - Indianapolis Indians
- SWB RailRiders Game Notes - May 6, 2021 - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Hager Hits Grand Slam, But Mets Fall to RailRiders, 7-5, on Wednesday Night - Syracuse Mets
- Gwinnett Stripers Announce Updates to Coolray Field for 2021 - Gwinnett Stripers
- Long Ball Gets Iowa First Win of 2021 - Iowa Cubs
- Home Runs Hand Indianapolis First Loss of 2021 - Indianapolis Indians
- Knights Beat the Stripers 9-6 to Earn First Win in 2021 - Charlotte Knights
- Wild Pitch secures win for the Pigs - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
