Late Rally Not Enough For Cubs

The Cubs' six-run ninth-inning rally was not enough to hold off New Orleans as they fell 12-8 in front of 11,395 people at Principal Park Friday night.

After entering the top of the ninth down 12-2, Iowa came to bat swinging. Josh Kroeger led off the inning with a home run to start the six-run rally. Felix Pie doubled to drive in Casey McGehee and Koyie Hill and up Iowa's total, 12-6. Bobby Scales then scored off Ben Broussard's singled. Jason Dubois drove in Pie before the inning would end, for the 12-8 final.

New Orleans scored six runs in the first inning before Iowa starter Rich Hill left the game with two outs in the inning after allowing three hits and four walks. Greg Reinhard came in and pitched 3.1 innings of relief and allowed three runs on five hits.

The Zephyrs had a 6-0 lead after the first inning and added another three runs in the second, two thanks to Jesus Feliciano's triple.

Dubois, who was 2-for-4, hit his third home run in as many games in the second inning, to get the Cubs on the board.

McGehee upped Iowa's total in the fourth inning when he drove in Josh Kroeger for his team-leading 42nd RBI. Kroeger, Dubois, Luis Figueroa and Scales each had two hits.

Hill (2-4) was tagged with the loss while New Orleans' Ruddy Lugo (5-6) picked up the win, allowing two runs on four hits over seven innings.