Pimentel's Career Day Lifts Cubs Past Sounds
Des Moines, IA - Carlos Pimentel struck out a career-high 10 hitters over six innings and had his first career RBI leading the Iowa Cubs (3-4) past the Nashville Sounds (3-4) 6-1 in front of a season-high 4,747 fans Wednesday afternoon at Principal Park.
Pimentel was in control all afternoon on the mound, surrendering just a second inning solo home run to Sounds third basemen Taylor Green. It was Green's fifth career homer run in 20 games against Iowa. The 2013 Dominican Winter League Pitcher of the Year allowed three hits and walked just one, giving the Cub starting pitchers their fourth straight quality start. Pimentel has struck out 16 hitters in 11 innings on the season. The Cubs right-hander helped his own cause in the second inning, driving in Chris Coghlan (2-for-3 2B, BB) with a two-out single to right field. It was Pimentel's first career hit in just his second career at-bat.
The Cubs scored two runs in the fifth inning off 2013 PCL Pitcher of the Year, Johnny Hellweg, to take a 3-1 lead. A wild pitch scored Arismendy Alcantara from third, and a batter later, Coghlan drove a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Javier Baez, who had doubled. Baez later singled and finished the contest 2-for-4 with two runs scored. It was the shortstop's first multi-hit game of his triple-A career.
Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters, homered to finish the scoring for Iowa. Jackson's tape measure blast to right field in the sixth inning was his first of the year, and 32nd of his Iowa career. Vitters' home run the next inning over the suites in the right field was his team-leading second of the season, and 24th in an Iowa uniform.
Relievers Zac Rosscup and Marcus Hatley struck out six hitters in their three innings of relief. Rosscup has not allowed an earned run in 11.1 innings in his Iowa career. After striking out 16 hitters on Wednesday, the Cubs pitching staff now leads the PCL with 73 on the season.
The Cubs will go for the series win Thursday afternoon as right-handers Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 11.57 ERA) for the Cubs and Jimmy Nelson (1-0, 1.50 ERA) for the Sounds square off. First pitch from Principal Park is scheduled for 12:05. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940 and streamed at iowacubs.com with the pregame show starting at 11:45.