Beeler, Iowa quiet the Storm Chasers in shutout win

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Iowa Cubs (62-51) defeated the Omaha Storm Chasers (63-51) 4-0 in Pacific Coast League action Friday night at Principal Park behind seven shutout innings from right-hander Dallas Beeler and a four-run sixth inning.

 

The win elevates the I-Cubs to a season-high 11 games over .500, and puts them within 5.0 games from the first place Oklahoma City for the American Northern Division lead. It's the closest the I-Cubs have been to first place since being 4.5 games behind the Dodgers on April 24.

 

Both teams traded zeros through five and a half innings before Iowa chiseled out four runs behind three singles, a double, a walk and an RBI fielder's choice in the bottom of the sixth.

 

Taylor Davis started the surge with a one-out double to the base of the wall in center field. Mike Baxter then worked a walk before John Andreoli delivered an RBI single to left, plating Davis and pushing Omaha starter Miguel Almonte from the game. Adron Chambers hit the first pitch he saw for a single that deflected off of reliever Troy Patton, driving in Baxter. Javy Baez then legged out a fielder's choice, bringing in Andreoli from third. Baez promptly stole second and third base before Christian Villanueva made it 4-0 with an RBI single to center field.

 

Beeler then spun a scoreless seventh inning before being relieved by Blake Cooper who worked two perfect frames to finish out the game, including a ninth inning in which he struck out the side.

 

Beeler (4-5) set a season-high and tied a career-high with 7.0 innings on the night. The right-hander struck out three, only allowed two hits and one walk and didn't allow a baserunner until walking Paulo Orlando with two outs in the top of the fourth.  

 

Omaha starter Miguel Almonte (2-1) was perfect through 4.0 innings before allowing a leadoff single to Villanueva in the bottom of the fifth, although he was saddled with the loss. All-told the righty went 5.1 innings, allowing three runs, all earned, on three hits and one walk while striking out five.

 

Iowa held Omaha to only two hits on the night, the second-lowest hit total of an opponent this season and the lowest in a nine-inning game. Villanueva went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Andreoli also added a multi-hit night, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Baxter reached base twice, adding two walks and a run. Rubi Silva had his season-high 10-game hitting streak snapped as he went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts.

 

Christian Colon and Jose Martinez each notched a hit as the Storm Chasers only generated three baserunners all night.

 

The I-Cubs and Storm Chasers will play game four of their five-game series Saturday night at Principal Park. First pitch is set for 7:08 p.m. CT. Right-hander Felipe Paulino (2-6, 4.56) will start for Iowa opposite Omaha righty Andy Ferguson (3-2, 3.56). 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 6:40 p.m. CT.