Cubs Fall to Tacoma In Hill's Return

Rich Hill took the mound for the Iowa Cubs throwing five strong innings but it wasn't enough as the Tacoma Rainiers defeated the Cubs 5-2 Tuesday night at Principal Park.

Hill, who had spent the entire season with Chicago, made his first start of the year for Iowa, scattering seven hits in five innings of work, while giving up two runs. The left-hander struck out five on the evening, taking the loss in his first appearance with Iowa since 2006.

The Rainiers did not waste any time welcoming Hill back to Des Moines as right fielder Jeremy Reed greeted the left hander with a solo home run to left field to give Tacoma a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

Tacoma built up a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Oswaldo Navarro.

Left hander Scott Eyre, on a rehabilitation assignment from Chicago, threw one inning, giving up one earned run on a pair of hits, including a solo home run by former Iowa Cub Mike Kinkade.

Iowa made it a 4-2 game in the eight inning on a single to left field by shortstop Andres Blanco that drove in Casey McGehee and Luis Figueroa. McGehee led Iowa's offense with a pair of doubles while going 3-for-4 on the evening.

Reed added an RBI double in the ninth to make the final 5-2.

Tacoma's Chris Jakubauskas got the win for the Rainiers throwing five and two thirds shutout innings.

Both teams return to action Wednesday with left hander Randy Kiesler (1-3) taking the mound for the Cubs while the Rainiers will send right hander R.A. Dickey (0-1) to the hill.