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Cubs Go Deep to Beat Grizzlies

August 17, 2010
Fresno, CA (August 16, 2010) - The Iowa Cubs (70-52) hit three home runs to power past the Fresno Grizzlies (67-58) in a 5-3 win at Chukchansi Park tonight. The Cubs hit 11 home runs over the four-game series and lead the Pacific Coast League with 28 home runs this month. The Cubs won three out of four in the series against the Grizzlies and improve their league-best road record to 35-23.

The Cubs struck quickly as Sam Fuld lined the second pitch of the game into the right-center field gap for a leadoff triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ty Wright. The home runs started in the second inning on a two-out solo shot by Marquez Smith. Smith leads the team with six home runs this month, with all six coming in his last nine games.

Brad Snyder took his turn in the home run derby in the top of the fifth inning with a solo shot over the manual scoreboard in right-center field. It was Snyder's second home run of the series and his 20th of the year. Robinson Chirinos launched his second home run in three games since joining Iowa from Double-A Tennessee in the sixth inning. It went over the stadium gate in left field and into the walking mall behind the stadium.

Grizzlies' starter Henry Sosa (7-6) allowed all three homers among five hits in six innings and got the loss. The Cubs added their final run off Alex Hinshaw in the seventh inning. Fuld drew a leadoff walk and scored on a double to the wall in left-center by Snyder. Snyder has now driven in 87 runs this year.

Cubs' starter Jeff Samardzija (10-2) allowed one unearned run over six innings for the win. The run came in the bottom of the second inning. Ryan Rohlinger hit a pop-up between the mound and home plate that fell behind Smith for an error. The Grizzlies got Rohlinger to third with a pair of singles before Samardzija walked Brock Bond to force in the run. Samardzija allowed two more singles the rest of the way.

Brian Schlitter and David Cales each pitched a scoreless inning in relief. The Grizzlies rallied with two runs in the bottom of the ninth against Scott Maine, but Maine struck out Bond and pinch-hitter Joe Borchard to end the game.

Micah Hoffpauir finished 0-for-4 tonight, ending his career-high hitting streak after 21 games. The streak will extend to 22 games when the game at Albuquerque that was suspended by rain on July 30th is completed on August 31st. Hoffpauir had a double in his first at-bat before rain stopped the game in the top of the first inning. A 22-game streak will be the longest in the PCL this year.

The Cubs continue this road trip with the first of a four-game series at Sacramento tomorrow night at 9:05 Central time. RH Jay Jackson (9-7, 4.27) will start for the Cubs against RH Brett Tomko (0-0, 94.50) for the River Cats. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940 with the Safeco On-Deck Circle Pre-Game Show starting at 8:40.