Toledo Uses Big Inning to Sink Iowa

TOLEDO, OH – The Iowa Cubs (24-35) fell to the Toledo Mud Hens (34-26) 8-4 in the second game of the series, Wednesday at Fifth Third Field.

Iowa threatened right away with two hits and an error in the top of the first, but failed to drive in any of their early baserunners. Toledo got the scoring started instead with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first, taking a 1-0 lead off Iowa starter Cory Abbott.

The game would stay there until the third inning, when the Mud Hens added five runs to break the game open. Toledo sent ten men to the plate in total, including Yariel Gonzalez, who hit a three-run homer, and Grayson Greiner, who drove in two more with a double. The Mud Hens' offensive effort gave them a 6-0 lead heading into the top of the fourth.

Iowa made a few efforts at a comeback against Toledo starter Ricardo Pinto, scoring two runs on a pair of RBI groundouts, but they were unable to make up the deficit. Though Iowa's bullpen limited Toledo to just two more runs on four hits, Toledo's relievers were just as good. Iowa tallied one more run each in the seventh and eighth innings, but could not climb all the way back. They fell by a final score of 8-4, dropping their second straight in Toledo.

POSTGAME NOTES:

• Dillon Maples spun two scoreless frames in his sixth appearance with the Iowa Cubs on his major league rehab. Maples didn’t allow a hit, but walked one and struck out a batter.

• Cory Abbott pitched just 2.2 innings, his shortest outing of the season for Iowa. The righty allowed six earned runs on five hits, five walks and one home run while striking out three.

• Ian Miller went 3-for-4 with an RBI tonight. It was Miller's fourth three-hit game for the I-Cubs this season, good for most on the team.

• Despite out-hitting Toledo in both games so far, Iowa has dropped both of the first two games against the Mud Hens this season.

Iowa and Toledo continue the series tomorrow night, with first pitch of game three set for 6:05 pm CT at Fifth Third Field. For more information and tickets, visit www.iowacubs.com.