Beeler deals quality start, I-Cubs even up series with Sounds

DES MOINES, Iowa - Iowa was outhit 7-4 but right-hander Dallas Beeler continued Iowa's strong starting pitching on the homestand and dealt 6.2 innings of one-run ball as the I-Cubs (65-52) defeated the Nashville Sounds (53-65) 3-1 in Pacific Coast League action Wednesday night at Principal Park.

 

Beeler (5-5) scattered six hits and two walks while striking out three on his way to the win. It was the eighth consecutive game Beeler had allowed two or fewer earned runs, and his third quality start in a row.

 

Iowa got things started in the bottom of the fourth inning. Matt Szczur extended his season-high hitting-streak to 13 games with a leadoff double down the right field line, then scored on Javy Baez's RBI triple. Christian Villanueva lifted a fly ball to left to score Baez on a sacrifice fly one batter later.

 

Nashville pocketed its lone run off Beeler in the fifth when Bryan Anderson drove in Andy Parrino on an RBI single. With the Sounds still threatening, having runners at the corners and nobody out, Beeler got Craig Gentry to strike out before inducing a double play off the bat of Joey Wendle to end the inning.

 

Iowa added an insurance run in the seventh as Arismendy Alcantara clubbed a solo home run over the right field wall, his 12th of the season and first since July 10.

 

Left-hander Ryan Buchter, righty Blake Cooper and lefty Joe Ortiz combined to blank Nashville over 1.1 innings before Brian Schlitter came on for a scoreless ninth inning to record his 18th save. Iowa's bullpen has only allowed one run in their last 11.1 innings, stretching over five games.

 

Sounds starter Zach Neal (7-7) allowed all three Iowa runs on four hits and a walk with five strikeouts to suffer the loss.

 

Baez was the only I-Cub to reach base twice, going 1-for-2 with a triple, walk, RBI and a run scored. Andreoli went 1-for-4 to round out Iowa's four hits on the night.

 

Morel paced Nashville with three hits, including a double. Andy Parrino went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Jason Pridie reached base once on a walk and had two outfield assists for the Sounds.

 

With the win, Iowa kept pace with first-place Oklahoma City and are 5.0 games back in the American Northern Division with 27 games left to play.

 

The I-Cubs and Sounds will play game three of a four-game series Thursday night at Principal Park. First pitch is set for 7:08 p.m. CT. Lefty Eric Jokisch (3-3, 4.40) will be activated from the disabled list and will start for the I-Cubs against Sounds right-hander Cody Martin (1-3, 5.66). 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.