Iowa Drops Series Finale 6-3

DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Cubs (11-23) dropped a close game to the Columbus Clippers (15-20) in the series finale on Sunday at Principal Park.

Cory Abbott went six innings in his return to Iowa’s rotation, allowing three runs on five hits - good for his second quality start of the season for the I-Cubs. He also struck out eight batters compared to only one walk.

Two of the runs Abbott did give up came in the top of the first. Andres Gimenez got Columbus on the board early with his fifth home run of the season, a solo shot. The Clippers loaded the bases from there with a single, a double, and a hit batter, but only managed to score one more on Trenton Brooks’ RBI fielder’s choice before the end of the inning.

It was a back-and-forth game from there. Iowa got their scoring started in the bottom of the second on a two-run home run from Trayce Thompson, which tied the game at two. That score held until the top of the fourth, when Nolan Jones hit a solo shot to put the Clippers back up 3-2. They didn’t keep the lead for long, however, as Thompson launched his second home run of the game in the Iowa fourth, knotting the game again at three.

That’s where the score would stay until the ninth, when the Clippers cashed in on three walks from Brad Wieck and a bases-clearing double from Angel Lopez Alvarez to reclaim the lead. The I-Cubs tried to mount a comeback in their half of the inning, loading the bases themselves on a pair of singles and a walk, but they couldn’t get a run across. Iowa fell by a final score of 6-3.

POSTGAME NOTES:

• Cory Abbott’s eight strikeouts today put him at 49 on the season, good for most in Triple-A baseball.

• Trayce Thompson’s home runs were his fifth and sixth of the year, good for first place on the team.

• Ben Leeper pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in relief for the I-Cubs today. He has yet to allow a hit in 4.2 total innings at Triple-A.

• Michael Hermosillo went 1-for-3 and was hit by a pitch in today’s game, extending his on-base streak to seven games. He has reached base safely in eight of the nine games he’s played with Iowa.

Iowa will return to action on Tuesday, when they play game one of their second series in St. Paul. First pitch between the two teams is set for 7:05 pm. For more information and tickets, visit www.iowacubs.com.