'Cakes can't complete Cubs sweep
The New Orleans Baby Cakes won the opener of Thursday's doubleheader in Des Moines with a 7-0 shutout, before dropping a rain-shortened game two to the Iowa Cubs, 5-2.Lewis Brinson led the charge in game one, delivering a two-out, two-run single in the top of the first as New Orleans
The New Orleans Baby Cakes won the opener of Thursday's doubleheader in Des Moines with a 7-0 shutout, before dropping a rain-shortened game two to the Iowa Cubs, 5-2.
Lewis Brinson led the charge in game one, delivering a two-out, two-run single in the top of the first as New Orleans never looked back. Brinson added a solo homer in the third inning which traveled an estimated 461 feet, and had one of the Baby Cakes' three stolen bases in the opening frame.
Monte Harrison, the PCL's stolen base leader, also swiped his 14th bag in the first, and belted his sixth home run in the sixth inning. Yadiel Rivera chipped in with his fifth long ball as the 'Cakes racked up 12 hits.
Hector Noesi (4-1) limited the Cubs to three hits and struck out seven in six innings to earn the win, and R.J. Alvarez fanned a pair in a scoreless seventh to complete the Baby Cakes' fifth shutout of the year to move into a tie for the league lead. Noesi lowered his ERA to 2.31, third-best in the Pacific Coast League.
The 'Cakes got off to another quick start in the nightcap, scoring twice in the first inning on back-to-back doubles by Isan Diaz and JT Riddle and an RBI single by Austin Dean.
Spot starter Mike Kickham continued the string of scoreless innings into the fourth, when a leadoff double by Johnny Field and a one-out single by Phillip Evans put runners at the corners and prompted a pitching change.
Tommy Eveld (1-4) gave up a run-scoring single to Trent Giambrone, and after a walk loaded the bases, Dixon Machado drilled a grand slam to put the Cubs in front.
Machado, who hit a walk-off home run to beat the Baby Cakes on April 11, is now 7-for-15 with three home runs and nine RBI in six games against New Orleans this season.
After the 'Cakes were retired in order in the top of the fifth, heavy rain caused the umpires to call for the tarp to be put on the field and ultimately the game was called following a 35-minute delay.
Colin Rea (4-1) was credited with a five-inning complete game victory, after yielding two runs and four hits and striking out seven.
The Baby Cakes and I-Cubs continue the six-game set on Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:08 p.m.