Offense Rules Night as Cubs Down Cats, 14-7
August 9, 2011 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Iowa Cubs News Release
Ryan Flaherty clobbered a towering game-tying home run to right field in the fifth inning and Bryan LaHair hit a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth to lead a comeback over Sacramento as Iowa went on to beat the River Cats 14-7 Tuesday night at Principal Park. The I-Cubs have won three straight over Sacramento and can sweep the series with a win tomorrow afternoon.
Down 7-4 entering the bottom of the fifth frame, Scott Moore drew a one-out walk and scored on a double from DJ LeMahieu. After Steve Clevenger popped out, Flaherty drove a 2-1 pitch out of the park and over part of the right-field scoreboard to tie the game at 7-7.
Iowa continued the rally into the sixth inning as Brett Jackson singled to lead off and moved to second after a one-out walk to Brad Snyder. LaHair then drove a double to center field that scored both runners and gave Iowa their third lead of the game. Moore added an RBI-single to score LaHair and give the I-Cubs a three-run cushion.
Iowa tacked on four insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run double from Moore, and RBI-single from LeMahieu and an RBI credited to Montanez on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch.
The Cubs had their second lead of the night in the bottom of the third. With the game tied at 1-1 and runners on second and third, LaHair singled in Lou Montanez to put Iowa up 2-1. Snyder put the lead at 3-1 after coming home to score on a passed ball and Clevenger made the game 4-1 with an RBI-single to bring home LaHair.
Sacramento had a huge offensive burst in the top of the fifth that knocked Cubs' starter Nick Struck out of the game. Six of the eight batters Struck faced in the inning had a hit with five doubles and a lone single. Robert Coello was summoned from the bullpen after Michael Taylor tallied the fifth double in the inning that drove in the fifth run. Coello gave up a double to Andy LaRoche before sending down Josh Donaldson on strikes to end the inning. The River Cats scored six runs on seven hits, six of which were doubles, to re-take the lead at 7-4.
A pair of errors helped each team get its first run of the game. Brett Jackson advanced to third on a throwing error and later scored on an RBI-groundout in the bottom of the first and the River Cats tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the third as a fielding error by Moore allowed Dusty Coleman to score from third.
The middle of Iowa's order, LaHair, Moore and LeMahieu, did the most damage to River Cats' pitchers, combining to go 8-for-13 with four doubles, eight RBI and six runs scored. Jackson was 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and Clevenger finished the night 2-for-3 with one RBI.
Coello (5-6, 5.24) earned the win, pitching solid relief. He gave up two hits and struck out four over two and one-third innings. John Gaub and Scott Maine each contributed one inning of scoreless relief in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively.
Justin Souza (2-1, 4.28) was charged with the loss after giving up the go-ahead runs in the sixth inning. Souza pitched two-thirds of an inning and gave up three runs on four hits and one walk.
Iowa will go the series sweep Wednesday afternoon at Principal Park. The game tips at 12:05 p.m. and will see River Cats' RH Graham Godfrey (11-2, 2.55) face Cubs' RH Jay Jackson (5-12, 6.22).
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