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PCL1 New Orleans Baby Cakes

Rusin Settles In, Iowa Rolls Past Z's 5-2

July 8, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
New Orleans Baby Cakes News Release


After a few early struggles, Chris Rusin showed his All-Star form on Monday night, pitching six strong innings to lead the Iowa Cubs past the New Orleans Zephyrs, 5-2 in the opener of a three-game series.

Rusin gave up a run on two hits in each of the first two innings, before the Pacific Coast League All-Star combined with two relievers to hold the Zephyrs without a hit over the final seven innings. New Orleans put only three runners on base in that time, all on walks.

Gorkys Hernandez quickly put the Zephyrs on top in the first inning, drilling Rusin's fourth pitch over the center field wall for his third home run of the season. The Z's had a chance for more, getting runners at first and second with two out before Nick Green bounced into a force out.

Matt Downs started another rally in the second with a one-out single. Z's starting pitcher Tom Koehler reached after a failed sacrifice bunt attempt and went to second on a two-out walk to Hernandez, then scored on single by Gil Velazquez that barely eluded the glove of second baseman Logan Watkins, giving New Orleans a 2-0 lead.

Koehler, making his first start with the Zephyrs after a three-month stint with the Miami Marlins, served up a leadoff home run to Luis Flores in the third, and from there, the floodgates opened for the Cubs, who sent eight batters to the plate in the inning.

Back-to-back doubles by Rusin and Watkins tied the game, and Brad Nelson doubled two batters later to put Iowa on top. Junior Lake 's broken-bat ground out scored the fourth run of the inning.

Iowa added another run in the fifth on three consecutive singles by Tim Torres, Ty Wright and Nelson, who finished with three hits. The Cubs out-hit New Orleans 13-5.

Meanwhile, Rusin (8-7) was in control on the mound, handing the lead to Yoanner Negrin, who struck out a pair in two scoreless frames. Brian Schlitter then retired the side in order in the ninth for his 10th save.

Koehler (1-1) was charged with five runs in six innings. He allowed nine hits, struck out four and walked two in suffering his first loss in six career starts against Iowa .

The Zephyrs and I-Cubs meet in the second game of the series on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

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