I-Cubs Steal Series from Baby Cakes

DES MOINES - The Iowa Cubs (35-44) defeated the New Orleans Baby Cakes (29-50) 5-2, Thursday at Principal Park. With the win, Iowa has won back-to-back home series for the first time all season.

Right-hander Casey Kelly (5-1) pitched the first quality start for Iowa since June 19, going 6.1 innings and giving up two earned runs on eight hits, with no walks and four strikeouts. The I-Cubs improved to 8-1 in Kelly's nine starts this season.
Iowa's offense got the scoring started with a two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth. Jemile Weeks doubled, followed by Kyle Schwarber being intentionally walked. Chris Dominguez then singled to set the stage for a bases-clearing double off the bat of Bijan Rademacher that gave the I-Cubs a 3-0 lead. The Baby Cakes would score two in the sixth, before the I-Cubs grabbed a couple of insurance runs in the sixth and seventh, including a solo home run off the bat of Dominguez, to make it 5-2.
The I-Cubs' bullpen pitched its fourth straight game without allowing an earned run. Relievers Jack Leathersich and newly acquired Matt Carasiti combined for 2.2 scoreless innings with no walks and four strikeouts. Carasiti notched his PCL-leading 14th save of the season in his Iowa debut after recording his first 13 saves with Triple-A Albuquerque.
Schwarber went 1-for-3 with an intentional walk, run scored and one strikeout. He's batting .333 (5-for-15) with eight strikeouts in four games with Iowa this season.
The I-Cubs kick off a series with the Round Rock Express at 7:08 tomorrow night at Principal Park for Fireworks Friday. For more information or tickets, visit www.iowacubs.com.
Audio clip: Rademacher bases-loaded double
Audio clip: Dominguez solo home run