RedHawks Hold Off Cubs, 11-10
Published on August 20, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Iowa Cubs News Release
The Iowa Cubs (59-69) could not overcome a seven-run seventh inning by the Oklahoma City RedHawks as they dropped the series opener 11-10 Saturday night at Principal Park. The loss snaps the Cubs' four-game winning streak.
Leading 4-3 entering the seventh inning, Carlton Smith took over on the mound for starter Nick Struck. The first two men he faced reached ahead of a Drew Locke pinch-hit single to tie the game. Luis Durango drove in the go-ahead run to make it 5-4 on a fielder's choice. RBI-singles by Jordan Schafer and Brett Wallace chased Smith from the game. Hung-Wen Chen relieved Smith and gave up a three-run homer to Jake Goebbert before the inning finally came to an end.
The Cubs responded with a big inning of their own in the home half of the eighth. Scott Moore led off the frame with a walk, and DJ LeMahieu followed with a single. Ryan Flaherty knocked in Moore with a bad-hop single to first base. Chris Robinson was then hit by a pitch to load the bases for Iowa. Pinch-hitter Matt Spencer unloaded them with a towering grand slam to right field for his first career Triple-A home run. The blast brought the Cubs to within one run of the RedHawks at 10-9.
In the ninth, Schafer collected his fifth hit of the ballgame on an infield single. After stealing second and third, he came in to score on a Goebbert two-out bloop single.
Iowa's comeback bid fell short when they could only muster one run in the bottom of the ninth on a Robinson sac fly before Spencer struck out to end the game with the tying run stranded at second base.
Both teams traded runs in the first inning. Schafer doubled and came in to score on a wild pitch for the RedHawks, and Bryan LaHair had an RBI sac fly for the Cubs. Iowa took the lead in the third on RBI-singles by LaHair and Moore and a sac fly by LeMahieu.
Struck gave the Cubs his fifth quality start of the season but did not factor in the decision. He completed six innings and left with the lead. Struck allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits and fanned four. Smith (0-1) was charged with the blown save and the loss.
Oklahoma City starter Dallas Keuchel lasted five innings and gave up four runs on nine hits. Xavier Cedeno (2-2) picked up the win after working a scoreless sixth inning for the RedHawks. Juan Abreu collected his third save of the season in the victory.
Game two of this series is tomorrow afternoon beginning at 1:05 p.m. Jay Jackson (7-12, 5.94) is scheduled to make the start for Iowa against J.A. Happ (0-2, 2.45) for the RedHawks.
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