I-Cubs bats awaken, avoid Oklahoma City sweep

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Iowa Cubs (10-13) avoided a four-game sweep on Sunday with a 7-3 win over the Oklahoma City Dodgers (18-6) in Pacific Coast League action at Principal Park.

 

Right-hander Donn Roach (3-0) held the Dodgers offense in check most of the afternoon, surrendering three earned runs on five hits in 8.0 innings. He struck out two in what was the longest outing by an I-Cubs starting pitcher this season. The righty's sinker was working as 17 of Roach's 24 outs recorded came on groundouts.

 

Dodgers starter Zach Lee (3-2) came into the game with a 1.80 ERA through his first four starts this season but was roughed up on Sunday, surrendering six runs, four earned, on seven I-Cubs hits in 4.0 innings.

 

The Cubs scored early and often, getting on the board in the first inning thanks to a Mike Baxter RBI-single with two outs.

 

Iowa added two more in the third inning off of Lee. Arismendy Alcantara led off the frame with a home run to right field, his third long ball in seven games. The Cubs tacked on one more in the frame on second baseman Javy Baez's RBI-groundout which drove in center fielder Matt Szczur.

 

A Dodgers fielding error, followed by an Alcantara RBI infield-single and a Szczur sacrifice fly led to a three-run fourth inning for Iowa. Baez then hit his first home run with Iowa this season, a solo shot in the fifth to give the Cubs a 7-0 advantage.

 

Oklahoma City did all its damage in the eighth inning, notching three runs off Roach on three straight extra-base hits. With two outs, Elliot Johnson smacked a double to center and scored a few moments later on a Brian Ward's double to left. Pinch-hitter Darnell Sweeney capped the frame with a two-run home run to right before Roach induced a Scott Schebler groundout.

 

Right-hander Blake Cooper pitched a perfect ninth to finish it out for Iowa.

 

Alcantara, Baez and catcher Rafael Lopez all went 3-for-5 on the afternoon, accounting for four RBI and three runs scored for Iowa. Despite starting 3-for-18 with Iowa, Alcantara has gone 10-for-25 in his last six games, hitting safely in each of those contests.

 

Sweeney paced the Dodgers with two RBI in a pinch-hit role as Ward and Johnson both scored and recorded doubles.

Next up, the Cubs travel to Nashville to begin a four-game series on Monday with the Sounds, new Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. First pitch set for 7:05 p.m. CT at First Tennessee Park. Left-hander Eric Jokisch (0-0, 5.25) is scheduled to start for Iowa opposite Sounds right-hander Arnold Leon (0-0, 7.56). The game can be heard live on AM 940, 104.5 FM, and live-streamed at Iowacubs.com. The On-Deck Circle Pre-game Show will begin at 6:40 p.m. C.T.