Cubs Shutout As Skid Reaches Five

Des Moines, IA - Five Memphis Redbird pitchers combined to throw a seven-hit shutout in beating the Iowa Cubs (57-53) 2-0 in the second game of the double-header on Sunday afternoon. The Redbirds (56-52) won all five games in the set and won the season series 12-4. The Cubs have been swept in four of their seven double-headers this season, including three to Memphis.

The Redbirds jumped out front in the first inning when Randal Grichuk tagged RH Carlos Pimentel for a solo homer on the ninth pitch of the game. They would add an unearned run on to their lead in the fourth inning. It looked like Pimentel would escape a bases-loaded, one-out situation, but Logan Watkins couldn't handle a chopper to shortstop from Tommy Phamm with two-outs to force in a run. Pimentel struck out Grichuk to end the threat, and his outing was over after throwing 80 pitches. He got charged with one earned run on three hits, walked one, and struck out five, but took his seventh loss of the season. Pimentel has a 5.27 ERA (34ER/58.1IP) 12 starts compared to a 3.24 ERA (6ER/16.2IP) in nine relief appearances.

LH Nick Greenwood, who was making his fourth start in 24 appearances on the season for the Redbirds, worked three scoreless innings. He scattered three hits and one walk, while striking one out, but didn't pitch enough innings to qualify for the win.

LH Dean Kiekhefer came on in relief and faced four hitters in a scoreless inning before Rafael Lopez and Josh Vitters led off the fifth with back-to-back singles. Matt Szczur bunted the runners to second and third for Ryan Kalish. Kalish would pop out in foul territory, and Redbirds manager Ron Warner brought in RH Angel Castro to face Javy Baez. Castro struck Baez out on three pitches to end the Cubs biggest threat of the game. He stayed in for the sixth, and worked a 1-2-3 inning on just 12 pitches.

LH Pedro Feliciano came on for the seventh inning and gave up a wind-aided double to Wakins on the first pitch. He was removed after that play for RH Jorge Rondon. Rondon got pinch-hitter Jorge Soler to line into a double play. He followed by striking out Kris Bryant on three pitches to preserve his fifth save of the year, and third of the series. Memphis swept a five-game series for the first time in franchise history.

RHs Marcus Hatley, Kyuji Fujikawa, and Armando Rivero combined to allow just three base runners in three scorless innings of relief. Fujikawa's appearance was the fourth of his major league rehab with Iowa. He has allowed one run on five hits in four innings with one intentional walk and three strikeouts. Rivero hasn't given up a run in his last 10.1 innings over his last seven appearances.

The Cubs have an off day Monday before beginning their longest road trip of the season. They will play 14 games in 14 days over three cities starting Tuesday night in New Orleans at 7:05. RH Dae-Eun Rhee (1-0, 3.46) with take the ball for the Cubs in the series opener. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940 and streamed live at iowacubs.com with the On-Deck Circle Pre-Game Show starting at 6:45 p.m. The Cubs return to Principal Park on Tuesday, August 12 for an eight-game home stand against Las Vegas and Salt Lake.