Indianapolis Keeps Iowa off the Board in Season Opener

DES MOINES – Indianapolis pitching held Iowa to just two hits in the season opener Tuesday night at Principal Park.

The Indians offense got the night started right away when leadoff hitter Travis Swaggerty hit a solo home run on just the third pitch of the game. Three more singles in the inning produced a second run for Indy and that was all righty Chase De Jong needed.

De Jong spun five hitless innings, surrendering just one walk over that span before running into some trouble in the sixth. Sergio Alcántara got the first hit of the game for the I-Cubs to lead off the inning and start a rally.

Ian Miller followed the single by drawing a pinch-hit walk and Rafael Ortega singled to load the bases with nobody out. De Jong got out of the jam by fanning Cameron Maybin, Nick Martini and Taylor Gushue in order to keep Iowa off the scoreboard.

Swaggerty gave the Indians some insurance in the top of the ninth when he singled to score Anthony Alford , boosting the lead to 3-0 in the top of the ninth. Jandel Gustave earned his first save of the season striking out two on his way to a perfect ninth inning, and a 3-0 Indianapolis victory.

POSTGAME NOTES:

• Travis Swaggerty was 3-4 with a run scored, a home run, two runs batted in and one walk.

• After a shaky start to the evening giving up two runs in the first inning, Joe Biagini battled, keeping the I-Cubs in the game by tossing five scoreless frames. Biagini spun six innings allowing just the two runs on six hits, while striking out two.

• Rafael Ortega and Sergio Alcantara each tallied one hit, Alcantara was the only I-Cub to reach base twice.

• Don’t miss out on game two of the series tomorrow, Wednesday, May 5 when the Iowa Cubs will become the Demonios de Des Moines for the first of four games this season. For more information or tickets, visit www.iowacubs.com.

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