PCL1 New Orleans Baby Cakes

Three-Run Seventh Leads Z's Past Iowa

August 16, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
New Orleans Baby Cakes News Release


The New Orleans Zephyrs scored three times in the seventh inning to defeat the Iowa Cubs 5-2 in the opener of a five-game series on Friday night.

With the game tied 2-2 in the seventh, Kevin Mattison worked a 12-pitch at-bat for a one-out walk, and after Mattison stole second, Alex Burg walked to put two runners on. Jake Smolinski broke the tie with a line-drive single up the middle, and Kyle Jensen ripped a two-run double down the third base line to cap the scoring.

After Jonathan Albaladejo pitched a perfect eighth inning, Chris Hatcher gave up a pair of one-out singles in the ninth before recovering to record his Pacific Coast League-leading 30th save of the year. He is three saves shy of matching Ryan Speier's single-season league record.

The Zephyrs overcame a quick start by the I-Cubs, who got a leadoff single from Julio Borbon before Jae-Hoon Ha smashed his fifth home run of the season over the left field wall.

Z's starter Jared Rogers allowed three hits in the opening frame, but only two more over the next four innings as New Orleans battled back to tie the game. Rogers struck out four, walked one and gave up two runs on five hits in five innings.

A two-run rally, all with two outs, drew the Zephyrs even in the fourth. Rob Brantly roped a double to right, and Chris Valaika hit an RBI single. Joe Mahoney then laced a double that one-hopped the center field wall head to tie the game.

The Zephyrs hit six doubles, tying their season high previously set against the Cubs on July 22 in Des Moines.

Steve Ames (3-2) gave up one hit in two scoreless innings to pick up the win in his first outing since returning from a stint with the Miami Marlins. Alberto Cabrera (0-2) was charged with three runs in one inning of work and took the loss in relief of Yoanner Negrin, who scattered two runs and nine hits across six innings.

The teams square off in the second game of the series Saturday at 6 p.m.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 16, 2013


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