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Cubs Slam Grizzlies in Blowout Win

By Randy Wehofer
June 10, 2014

Fresno, CA - Christian Villanueva and Rafael Lopez each belted grand slams to lead the Iowa Cubs (33-28) to a 17-2 victory over the Fresno Grizzlies (33-32) at Chukchansi Park on Monday night. Lopez finished with a career-high seven RBI, helping the team to set a season-high for runs scored while matching a season-high with 17 hits. The Cubs also drew a season-best 11 walks while cruising to win the opening game of this four-game series.

Javy Baez got the Cubs on the board with a solo homer off Grizzlies' starter Jason Berken in the top of the first inning. The Grizzlies tied the game on a two-out RBI single by Adam Duvall in the bottom of the first. The hit extended Duvall's hitting streak to a league-best 17 games. That was the only run allowed by Cubs' starter Tsuyoshi Wada (6-3). Wada scattered eight hits, walked one, and struck out two in six innings for his eighth quality start in 12 outings this season. Berken (7-5) was charged with five runs on nine hits in five innings and suffered his fourth straight loss.

The Cubs took the lead back on an RBI double by Matt Szczur in the top of the second inning and added another run on an RBI single from Ryan Kalish in the third. In the top of the fifth, Baez just missed his second home run of the night with a fly ball off the top of the wall in center field, but he did make third for a leadoff triple. Baez scored on a groundout by Lopez. Kalish followed with a double, stole third, and scored on a base hit by Villanueva to extend the Cubs' lead to 5-1.

The Cubs broke the game open with six runs in the top of the sixth inning against the Grizzlies' bullpen. With the bases loaded and two outs, Lopez singled up the middle to drive in two off Jake Dunning. After another walk to reload the bases, Adam Reifer came in for Dunning and gave up the grand slam to Villanueva. It was the second time this season that Reifer inherited a bases loaded situation and gave up a grand slam.

The Cubs added two more runs in the seventh on an RBI single by Logan Watkins and a sacrifice fly from Baez. In the top of the ninth, the Cubs loaded the bases on two singles and a walk against Jorge Bucardo, setting up the Lopez grand slam. It was Lopez' first triple-A homer. The last time the Cubs had two grand slams in one game was August 12, 2006 at Memphis when Micah Hoffpauir and Lou Montanez cleared the bases with home runs.

Arismendy Alcantara and Baez each finished with a three hits while Baez tied a career-high with four runs scored. Villanueva finished with five RBI to tie a career-best mark. Nine different players scored at least one run for the Cubs.

The Cubs and Grizzlies continue this series on Tuesday night at 9:05 Central time. RH Kyle Hendricks (6-4, 3.90) will start for the Cubs against LH Mike Kickham (4-5, 4.10) for the Grizzlies. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940 and streamed live at iowacubs.com with the On-Deck Circle Pre-Game Show starting at 8:40 PM.