Rizzo's Blast Not Enough to Carry Cubs
Published on June 11, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Iowa Cubs News Release
DES MOINES, IA -Iowa could not complete the comeback victory, falling to Omaha in the series opener at Principal Park Monday night. Anthony Rizzo (3-for-4) recorded his second straight multi-home run game, his sixth of the season, blasting two shots and driving in four of the Cubs (29-36) seven runs.
Jay Jackson struggled in his ninth start of the season, surrendering seven runs on eleven hits and three walks while fanning five Storm Chasers (40-25) in 3.2 innings. Ty'Relle Harris, in his second appearance for Iowa, played the stopper role perfectly, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings. Jeff Beliveau followed with a scoreless inning of his own in the eighth, but Wil Meyers broke the tie in the ninth with a two-run shot before Rafael Dolis entered to record the final three outs.
Omaha started the scoring early, plating two runs in the first inning on two hits, a walk and a sacrifice fly. Chris Getz tacked on two more runs in the second with a two-out, two-run double with the bases loaded.
Anthony Rizzo ripped his first home run in the second, a solo shot to lead off the inning for his league leading 21st round tripper. Blake Lalli cut the Omaha lead in half with a two-out RBI-single to score Josh Vitters later in the inning.
The Cubs continued chipping away at Omaha's early lead, plating another run in the third. Dave Sappelt led off the third with a double to center and tagged up on a Brett Jackson fly ball to center. Soto was then his by a pitch, and a ball grazed his jersey. Josh Vitters knocked his second hit of the game, for the Cubs' third run, and second with two down.
Omaha got three runs back in the fourth, cashing in on a bases loaded double by Salvador Perez and a David Lough single to knock Jackson out of the game. Rizzo was the catalyst for the Cubs comeback, pulling a three-run home run, his 22nd, to deep right and bringing the Cubs within one. The Iowa first baseman then rocked a ground-rule double down the line in right after a lead-off single by Brian Esposito. The Storm Chasers intentionally walked Vitters to load the bases for Valbuena, who hit a seeing-eye single in the to right knotting the score at seven.
The Cubs threatened in the ninth after Rizzo was hit in the elbow by a pitch, and then moved to second on a Josh Vitters ground out. Storm Chasers manager was ejected arguing whether Vitters hit was caught on a line. Luis Valbuena represented the tying run, but struck out thwarting the ninth inning comeback.
Geovany Soto caught five innings and went 0-for-2, reaching base on an error and a hit by pitch and scoring a run in his first rehab start after going on the disabled list in May. Four I-Cubs had a multi-hit game.
Iowa will look to right the ship tomorrow in game two of the series with Chris Volstad toeing the rubber for a 12:05 p.m. start at Principal Park.
The Cubs open a three-game series when the Omaha Storm Chasers come into town tomorrow night for a 7:05 p.m. start. Jay Jackson will toe the rubber for Iowa looking for his third win on the season facing off against LHP Will Smith (1-3).The game will be broadcast live on AM 940 with the On Deck Circle Pre-Game Show starting at 11:45 a.m.
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