Zephyrs' Cousins hits for the cycle

To be a professional athlete, a certain degree of sacrifice is required. For Scott Cousins, it was his bat that paid the ultimate price.

Cousins became the first Zephyr to hit for the cycle in eight years as New Orleans snapped a six-game losing streak with an 8-3 triumph over the Oklahoma City RedHawks on Saturday.

The cycle came in the unconventional reverse order as Cousins led off the second inning with his second homer of the season, tripled leading off the fourth and doubled in the fifth. The 25-year-old outfielder was due up fourth in the ninth, but Gregorio Petit's one-out error gave him another shot at history.

"It was a broken bat," Cousins said of his single off Elizardo Ramirez. "He got me down with two strikes and my mind-set there is just to battle and put it in play. So I guess the bat died a hero."

The last Zephyr to hit for the cycle was Barry Wesson on May 11, 2002, when New Orleans was the top Minor League affiliate of the Houston Astros. It was the first cycle for Cousins, who admitted thinking about the feat after the triple.

"I've come close," said Cousins, the Marlins' third-round pick in 2006. "I was a single away last year and I struck out. I would say after I hit the homer and the triple it entered my mind, just because I had the two toughest part of it. But my mind-set was just on getting the 'W.'"

That's because the the Zephyrs had lost their previous three games by a combined score of 36-5.

Oklahoma City's Chris Davis fell short in his bid for the cycle, needing a homer to seal the deal. Davis, who slugged 21 homers for the Texas Rangers last season, singled in the ninth and finished with four hits.

"I was looking at the scoreboard to see where to position him and I look and, sure enough, he's a homer away," Cousins said. "And I thought, 'Wow, when was the last time two players on opposing teams hit for the cycle?"

Hector Luna chipped in three hits, including a double, and a pair of RBIs for New Orleans (9-13). Brandon Petersen reached base three times and scored twice.

Former Major Leaguer Brian Lawrence (1-2) picked up the win, striking out eight while allowing two runs on four hits over seven innings.

RedHawks starter Guillermo Moscoso (1-2) surrendered five runs on 10 hits over five frames.