DES MOINES - The Iowa Cubs (30-40) went on an offensive brigade, defeating the Omaha Storm Chasers (34-33) 16-3, Sunday at Principal Park.
DES MOINES - The Iowa Cubs (30-40) went on an offensive brigade, defeating the Omaha Storm Chasers (34-33) 16-3, Sunday at Principal Park.
The I-Cubs exploded for 16 hits with Elliot Soto leading the charge, setting a new career high with four hits and matching a career mark with three RBI. Seven of nine I-Cub starters recorded multi-hit games and eight collected one or more RBI. Iowa's 16 runs were just shy of its season high of 18, set on April 12 against New Orleans.
For the second consecutive game, Iowa put up a four-run first to grab control early. The I-Cubs put two on with one out on a single from Jacob Hannemann and a walk from Jeimer Candelario. Bijan Rademacher cashed in with a two-RBI double and the I-Cubs kept rolling from there. Stephen Bruno added an RBI single in the inning and Soto duplicated the effort.
Iowa tacked on five more runs in the fourth inning, sending 10 batters to the plate. John Andreoli capped the effort with an RBI double, snapping a 0-for-17 skid. He would help Iowa again in the eighth with a three-run bomb to left field as a part of a six-run inning. Candelario also crushed a two-run long ball in the frame, his eighth homer of the year.
The only scratch on Iowa starter Casey Kelly's line came in the second on a solo shot from Dean Anna. The righty lasted six innings, whiffed six and claimed a quality start, his second of the year, taking the win to improve to 4-1 on the season. Conor Mullee wrapped up the game and whiffed three in 1.2 hitless frames.
Iowa and Omaha continue the series at 7:08 p.m. tomorrow at Principal Park for UnityPoint Kids Day. General admission tickets for kids 13 and under are free, while adult GA tickets at $5. For more information or tickets, visit www.iowacubs.com.
