Game Notes for Wednesday, May 30
CALL IT A COMEBACK: The Cubs rallied for two runs in the seventh inning and two more in the eighth to beat the Storm Chasers 5-4 last night at Werner Park. C Brian Esposito had a two-run double in the seventh inning. The Cubs scored the tying run on a fielder's choice and the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. All four runs were charged to former I-Cub Doug Davis (0-1), who got the loss in relief for the Storm Chasers. It was the Cubs' ninth comeback win of the season, but just their second in 25 games when trailing after seven innings.
HIGH FIVE: The Cubs are riding a sesaon-high five-game winning streak. The Cubs have the longest active winning streak in the PCL. This is the Cubs' longest winning streak since a six-game ride frome August 6-12 last season. The Cubs also had a seven-game winning streak last season from June 22-28.
BIG DAY FOR BELIVEAU: LH Jeff Beliveau was activated from the disabled list yesterday. He had missed a week with a left shoulder strain. He picked up right where he left off before the injury with a scoreless inning in relief. He has not allowed a run in 6.1 innings over his last six appearances. He pitched the bottom of the seventh inning last night and earned his first Triple-A victory when the Cubs took the lead in the top of the eighth.
VITTING FRENZY: 3B Josh Vitters continued his power surge at the plate with a solo home run in the fifth inning last night. The opposite field blast tied the game and ended a streak of 13 in a row retired by Omaha starter Jonathan Sanchez to end the game. Vitters has homered in concecutive games for the first time this season and has three homers in his last four games. He is currently on a five-game hitting streak has has hit safely in 12 of his last 13. During his last 13 games, he is batting .375 (18-for-48) with five doubles, four homers, eight RBI, and eight runs scored.
VS. OMAHA: The Cubs lead this series 1-0. The Cubs and Storm Chasers are scheduled to meet 16 times this season. The season series includes a stretch of nine consecutive games against each other from July 4-15. There is a three-day respite in that stretch from July 9-11 for the PCL All-Star Break. Last year, the Cubs won the season series 8-7 over the Storm Chasers with one game lost to rain on September 3 at Principal Park. The teams split the eight games played at Werner Park. Iowa leads the all-time PCL series 115-106, but Omaha holds a 59-52 edge at home.
STAY HOT: IF Luis Valbuena has hit safely in three straight and seven of his last eight. He is batting .353 (12-for-34) with five doubles, a triple, two home runs, six runs scored, and seven RBI in his last eight games...OF Brett Jackson has hit safely in four straight games and five of his last seven. During this stretch, he is batting .321 (9-for-28) with two triples, a home run, and five RBI...IF/OF Alfredo Amezaga has hit safely in five straight games and seven of his last eight. During this stretch, he is batting .306 (11-for-36) with two doubles, four RBI, and seven runs scored. He has scored a run in three straight games.
LINDSAY JOINS I-CUBS: The Chicago Cubs have signed RHP Shane Lindsay and assigned him to Iowa's active roster. Lindsay was a non-roster invitee to spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA in eight games with Albuquerque from April 27-May 19 before getting released. In nine innings with the Isotopes, he allowed eight hits, walked 12, and struck out eight. Lindsay was an International League All-Star with Charlotte last season and saw his first major league action with the Chicago White Sox last September. Lindsay hails from Australia and was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Colorado Rockies on August 11, 2003.
ROBERTSON RELEASED: The Chicago Cubs released LH Nate Robertson. In 14 appearances with Iowa, he was 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA. In 20 inning, he allowed 30 hits, walked four, and struck out 15. After allowing 12 runs (11 earned) in 6.2 innings for a 14.85 ERA in his first four appearances, Robertson had posted a 4.13 ERA in his last 10 games. Robertson had signed with the Cubs as a minor league free agent this past off-season.