DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Cubs (35-43) won game one of the doubleheader 2-1 and used a five-run sixth inning to take game two 6-4 over the Indianapolis Indians (37-42), Wednesday at Principal Park.
Justin Steele was Iowa’s starter for game one of the doubleheader, and he single handedly
DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Cubs (35-43) won game one of the doubleheader 2-1 and used a five-run sixth inning to take game two 6-4 over the Indianapolis Indians (37-42), Wednesday at Principal Park.
Justin Steele was Iowa’s starter for game one of the doubleheader, and he single handedly gave Iowa enough for a win. The lefty gave Iowa five innings of one-run ball, striking out a season-high eight batters while allowing four hits and walking two.
On the other side of the ball, knuckleballer Steven Wright kept the I-Cubs offense off-balance through three innings, before Steele gave himself run support. Steele drove in Trent Giambrone and Caleb Knight with a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth, giving Iowa a 2-1 lead.
Ryan Meisinger took over for Steele in the sixth, and allowed just one batter to reach on a fielding error. Meisinger struck out three batters on his way to his third save of the year.
Just like game one, game two saw each starter throw up goose-eggs through the first three frames. Iowa struck in the fourth, when Taylor Gushue and Abiatal Avelino hit back-to-back doubles to take a 1-0 lead.
Their lead didn’t last long, as Indy scored four runs on five hits against starter Cory Abbott. Abbott struck out nine over his 4.2 innings of work, allowing seven hits and two walks.
The Indians held a 4-1 lead until the bottom of the sixth, when Iowa put together a big inning of their own, scoring five runs. Alfonso Rivas drove in two with a two-out double to tie the game followed by a two-RBI triple from Nick Martini to give the I-Cubs a 6-4 lead.
Scott Effross relieved Ryan Lawlor in the bottom of the seventh inning with runners on first and second and just one out. It took Effross just two pitches to force T.J. Rivera to ground into a game-ending double play, securing the sweep for Iowa.
POSTGAME NOTES:
• Justin Steele threw five innings, striking out eight batters while allowing just one run to score. He also drove in both of Iowa’s runs with a two-RBI single in the bottom of the fourth.
• Ryan Meisinger earned his third save of the season in game one, throwing two hitless innings, striking out three batters along
• Abiatal Avelino went 3-for-3 with two doubles in the second game of the doubleheader, scoring and driving in one run.
The Iowa Cubs and Indianapolis Indians are set to play game four of the seven-game set tomorrow at Principal Park, with first pitch set for 7:08 pm. For more information and tickets, visit www.iowacubs.com.
