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Iowa Cubs

Omaha Tops Iowa, 6-5

August 31, 2008 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Iowa Cubs News Release


Kila Ka'aihue homered in the 10th inning as the Omaha Royals defeated the Iowa Cubs 6-5 at Principal Park Sunday afternoon in front of 10,105 people.

I-Cubs starter Mike Burns gave up just two runs on seven hits in six innings, but did not factor in the decision as Omaha starter Brad Salmon matched him with seven solid innings of his own. The right-hander surrendered just one unearned run on seven hits

In a game that included five different lead changes, Omaha took the first, beginning in the first inning when Brayan Pena reached base on a force out. Ryan Shealy followed with a single and Ka'aihue drove in Pena with a one-out RBI single for the 1-0 Royals advantage.

Iowa answered in the bottom of the first when Felix Pie grounded a single to center field. Pie scored two batters later on an RBI single by Jason Dubois to tie the game at one.

Omaha took their second lead of the afternoon in the third inning when Shealy connected on a solo home run off Iowa starter Mike Burns to lead off the inning.

The lead wouldn't last long as Iowa rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on a pair of Omaha miscues. With two outs, Luis Figueroa reached first on a fielders choice and moved to second on a throwing error by Royals shortstop Josh Labandeira. Andres Blanco tied the game at two when he laced a two-out double off Omaha reliever Devon Lowery. One batter later Nate Spears broke the tie by blooping an infield single that landed just a few feet away from home plate between Omaha catcher Matt Tupman and third baseman Chad Spann.

Omaha took their third lead of the day with a two-out rally of their own in the eighth inning when Spann coaxed a walk from Iowa reliever Jesse Estrada. Damon Hollins kept the inning alive by driving a single to right field. One batter later, Brett Bigler connected on his first professional home run, giving Omaha a 5-3 lead.

Iowa used another two-out rally in the ninth inning to tie the game, beginning with Andres Torres reaching first on a fielder's choice. Josh Kroeger kept the inning alive with a base hit to center field. Jason Dubois made it a 5-4 game when he drove in Torres with an RBI single to bring Iowa within one. Catcher Tony Richie tied it at five with a single to center field, scoring Kroeger. Omaha reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta escaped further damage by getting Luis Figueroa to fly out, stranding Dubois at second and Richie at first.

In the top of the tenth inning Ka'aihue connected on the second pitch he saw from Iowa reliever Justin Berg, for a solo home run to give the Royals a 6-5 lead.

Yabuta picked up the win (4-3) while Berg (4-6) took the loss.

The Cubs and Royals meet tomorrow at 1:05 p.m for the final game in the regular season.

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