PCL1 New Orleans Baby Cakes

Zephyrs Hold off Iowa to Claim Series

Published on July 10, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
New Orleans Baby Cakes News Release


The New Orleans Zephyrs capitalized on a bizzare fielding miscue in the second inning to score four times, then held off an Iowa Cubs rally to earn a 6-5 victory on Tuesday night and claim the rubber match of the three-game series.

The Zephyrs scored first for the fifth time in six games on the homestand, getting an RBI ground out by Jordan Brown in the first inning to score Gil Velazquez, who singled with one out and moved to third on a double by Bryan Petersen.

Matt Downs drew the first of his three walks on the night to lead off the second inning. After a one-out single by Chris Gutierrez, Z's starting pitcher Jared Rogers attempted to bunt the runners along. Iowa pitch Nick Struck tried to throw out Downs at third base, but his throw sailed down the left field line, allowing both runners to score. Left fielder Ty Wright slipped and crashed into the wall in foul territory in the left field corner, and Rogers raced around the bases to score, giving New Orleans a 4-0 lead.

The Z's tacked on another run in the frame when Kevin Mattison legged out a double, stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Velazquez.

Back-to-back doubles leading off the third inning by Jae-Hoon Ha and Luis Flores got Iowa on the board. Donnie Murphy's hard-hit grounder got past Downs at third for an RBI double, and the Cubs added a third run on a ground out by Wright.

Kyle Jensen homered leading off the bottom of the third, putting the Zephyrs ahead 6-3 and providing what proved to be the decisive run.

Iowa climbed back to within a pair of runs in the sixth on a two-out RBI single by Anthony Giansanti, knocking Rogers from the game. But Zach Phillips came on to strike out Ha to end the threat.

Jonathan Albaladejo held Iowa scoreless over two innings, working out of a bases-loaded jam with one out in the eighth, before turning the game over to Minor League saves leader Chris Hatcher in the ninth.

Hatcher got two quick outs before Murphy's broken-bat single gave the I -Cubs life. Hatcher walked Wright on four straight pitches, and Brad Nelson lined a single to center to score Murphy and put the tying run in scoring position, but Junior Lake bounced into a force out to end the game and preserve Hatcher's 25th save of the year.

Rogers (4-2) was charged with four runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings and picked up the win. Struck (5-6) gave up six runs - three earned - and six hits in five hits and suffered the loss.

The Zephyrs begin their final series before the All-Star break on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. in Oklahoma City .

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 10, 2013


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