Alcantara shows no rust, overpowers I-Cubs
Sandy Alcantara and three relievers combined on a three-hit shutout on Thursday night as the New Orleans Baby Cakes beat the Iowa Cubs, 1-0.Alcantara worked out of a first-inning jam after he walked two of the game's first three batters, settling in to retire 10 in a row until Iowa's
Sandy Alcantara and three relievers combined on a three-hit shutout on Thursday night as the New Orleans Baby Cakes beat the Iowa Cubs, 1-0.
Alcantara worked out of a first-inning jam after he walked two of the game's first three batters, settling in to retire 10 in a row until Iowa's first hit, a two-out single by Jason Vosler in the fourth. Alcantara set down the final seven I-Cubs, including a strikeout of Mark Zagunis to end his night with six punchouts.
Jose Quijada took over in the seventh and walked a pair of batters before fanning Bijan Rademacher to escape trouble. He issued a two-out walk in the eighth, but Jumbo Diaz came on to strike out Zagunis to leave the tying run on base.
Tyler Kinley allowed two singles in the ninth, putting runners at the corners with one out, but induced a pop up from Jacob Hannemann and fanned Chris Gimenez to complete his sixth save. The 'Cakes recorded their 10th shutout to move into a tie with Omaha for the league lead.
Alcantara (6-3) earned the win in his first start since a month-long stint on the Marlins' disabled list, and improved to 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA in seven starts at the Shrine on Airline.
New Orleans scored its lone run in the second inning. A grounder by Tomas Telis skipped over first baseman Chris Coghlan for a one-out double, and after Telis advanced to third on a fly out, he scampered home on a passed ball.
Telis added another double in the sixth inning, and is batting .364 over his last 19 games with a nine-game hit streak.
Cubs starter Luke Farrell (0-4) worked around four hits and three walks in five innings by holding the Baby Cakes hitless in six at-bats with runners in scoring position. New Orleans had hit .409 with men in scoring position during its four-game sweep of Albuquerque.
The 'Cakes won for only the fourth time in 13 meetings with Iowa, which saw its record fall to a PCL-worst 42-73. New Orleans has won five consecutive games for the third time this season.
The teams continue the four-game set on Friday at 7 p.m.