PCL1 Iowa Cubs

Worth the Wait: I-Cubs Put in Extra Hours to Beat Sky Sox

Published on May 8, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Iowa Cubs News Release


Colorado Springs, CO - The Iowa Cubs (12-18) and Colorado Sky Sox (18-13) were delayed four hours and eight minutes for the start of today's game and then played three hours and 20 minutes before the Cubs pulled out an 8-6 win at Security Service Field. This series is tied at a game apiece.

After the long delay, the Sky Sox scratched scheduled starter Aaron Cook and Cory Riordan got the ball first in a bullpen game. The Cubs grabbed the early lead with four runs in the top of the second inning. Brad Nelson singled and Donnie Murphy doubled to open the frame. Darnell McDonald followed with a ground ball that went through the legs of second baseman Tommy Manzella for an error, and both runners scored. After a single by J.C. Boscan and a sacrifice bunt by Barret Loux, Dave Sappelt drove in McDonald with a sacrifice fly and Alberto Gonzalez capped the inning with a two-out single to drive in Boscan.

The Sox answered with four runs against Loux in the bottom of the third. Ben Paulsen's two-run single highlighted the inning. Ryan Wheeler and Lars Davis also knocked in runs with base hits. Loux worked through the fourth without allowing another run. He allowed seven hits, walked three, and struck out four in his first game back from the disabled list.

The Cubs went back on top with two runs in the top of the sixth inning against Mike McClendon. Gonzalez led off with an infield hit and advanced to third on a double by Brian Bogusevic. Josh Vitters drove in Gonzalez with a groundout and Nelson laced a double to the wall in right-center to drive in Bogusevic. Former Cub Manny Corpas took over for McClendon as the Sox' fourth pitcher of the game. After a walk and a flyout, Boscan singled to right, but Greg Golson threw out Nelson at the plate to end the inning.

The Cubs extended their lead to 8-4 with two runs off Corpas in the eighth. Bogusevic led off with a homer just to the left of the batters' eye in center. With one out, Nelson lined a double to left-center for his third hit of the game and scored on a two-out hit by McDonald.

Esmailin Caridad followed Loux to the mound for the Cubs and pitched two scoreless innings. Hisanori Takahashi set down the side in order in the seventh before running into trouble in the eighth. Davis, Hernan Iribarren, and Corey Dickerson all doubled to produce two runs and pull the Sox to within two at 8-6. With two outs, Blake Parker came into the game, hit former Cub D.J. LeMahieu with a pitch, and walked Charlie Blackmon to load the bases before getting Wheeler to ground out to end the threat. Parker came back and set down the Sox in order in the ninth to preserve the win.

Caridad (3-1) earned the win. He is the only Cubs' reliever to earn a win this season. The only other Cubs' pitcher to pick up a win in relief is starter Chris Rusin, who earned a victory when he followed Matt Garza's rehab start on Monday and finished the final five innings. Parker is now 4-for-4 in save opportunities. McClendon (0-2) was charged with the loss.

The Cubs and Sky Sox continue this series tomorrow with another game scheduled for a 12:05 p.m. Central time start. RH Drew Carpenter (1-3, 7.77) will start for the Cubs against former Cubs RH Chris Volstad (0-0, 4.22) for the Sky Sox. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940 and streamed at iowacubs.com with the pre-game show starting at 11:45.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 8, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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