Bryant's slam, Ramirez's blast pace I-Cubs

Any time you make Manny Ramirez a footnote in a game, you know you've had a good day at the plate.

Kris Bryant slugged a grand slam while Ramirez had three hits, including his first homer of the year, as Triple-A Iowa defeated Omaha, 7-6, in 10 innings Monday.

The Cubs' No. 2 prospect finished with two hits and scored twice for Iowa. With two outs and the club trailing in the bottom half of the eighth inning, 5-2, Bryant launched his sixth Pacific Coast League homer over Principal Park's center-field wall.

An inning earlier, Ramirez plated Bryant with his two-run homer, his first long ball since July 14, 2013 with Texas' Triple-A affiliate Round Rock. Signed to be a player/coach by the Cubs, Ramirez has played in two games so far, going 3-for-7, for Iowa.

For Ramirez, a likely Hall of Famer after slugging 555 Major League homers, the chance to give back to younger players was too great to pass up.

"I always wanted to come and help," Ramirez told MLB.com. "Theo was really honest to me. He told me, 'Hey, we don't have a chance for you in the big leagues. You're going to be playing maybe once a week. But we've got some young guys we want you to help.'"

With a team loaded in prospects such as Bryant, top Cubs prospect Javier Baez and No. 6 Arismendy Alcantara, having a future Hall of Famer provides benefits to both the clubhouse and the lineup.

"I think it's just a good resource for all of us, and we're all picking his brain here," Bryant said. "He's probably been through quite a few runs in his career when he's been 0-for-20 or 10-for-20, so it's good to learn from a guy like that and someone of his caliber."

MLB.com's No. 8 prospect has shown little sign of slowing down upon reaching the Pacific Coast League. After tearing up the Southern League with 22 homers and 58 RBIs in 68 games for Double-A Tennessee, the 22-year-old third baseman has slugged six homers and plated 15 runs in 12 games with Iowa.

Bryant's 28 long balls puts him one behind Frisco's Joey Gallo for the Minor League lead.

Josh Vitters singled home Baez with the winning run in the 10th after Baez doubled to open the frame.

Marcus Hatley (1-0) tossed a hitless inning of relief to earn the win.

Carlos Peguero homered and drove in four runs for the Storm Chasers.