I-Cubs Snap Losing Streak with 4-3 Win

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The Iowa Cubs (43-61) snapped their six-game losing streak, beating the Indianapolis Indians (49-54) by a score of 4-3, Wednesday at Victory Field.

The I-Cubs took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, when Trayce Thompson drove in a run on an RBI groundout. As they did last night, Indianapolis fought back immediately, getting a solo home run from Hunter Owen in the second inning to knot the score at one apiece.

That is the only run Iowa’s starter Luis Lugo would allow, as he threw six innings of two-hit ball. The lefty did walk three batters, but was able to work around those walks with two strikeouts. Iowa’s offense gave him the lead in the third inning, when Thompson delivered again with an RBI double.

Iowa stayed on top 2-1 until the eighth inning, when Abiatal Avelino broke out of his slump with a big two-RBI double to take a 4-1 lead. The double became even bigger in the bottom half of the inning, when, for the second night in a row, Indianapolis scored two runs in the eighth inning.

The Indians scored on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly, but Juan Gamez stranded the bases loaded to maintain Iowa’s 4-3 lead. Gámez remained in the game and recorded the final three outs in the ninth inning to complete Iowa’s first win since last Tuesday.

POSTGAME NOTES:

• In his second game on a major league rehab assignment, Willson Contreras got the start for Iowa catching and batting second. Contreras went 0-for-3 with a walk, catching seven innings.

• From the last out of the fourth inning through the end of the seventh inning, Iowa’s pitchers retired 10 batters in a row. Eight of the ten outs were ground outs, with the other two coming by way of the strikeout.

• Luis Lugo earned his first win as an I-Cub, throwing six innings of two-hit, one-run ball. He walked three and struck out two over his six innings of work.

• With the win, Iowa snapped losing streaks of five in a row against Indianapolis and six in a row overall.

Iowa and Indianapolis will be back for game three of the series tomorrow, with first pitch set for 6:05 pm CT, Thursday at Victory Field. For more information and tickets, visit www.iowacubs.com.