Iowa out-slugs Sky Sox for second straight night

COLORADO SPRINGS - The Iowa Cubs (58-50) allowed three runs in the first inning, but came soaring back to tie the game in the fifth before scoring four runs in the top of the sixth on the way to a 9-7 win over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (43-63) in Pacific Coast League action Sunday night at Security Service Field.

The Sky Sox jumped on Iowa right-hander Dallas Beeler in the bottom of the first. Luis Sardinas led off the inning with single, then scored on an RBI triple from Pete Orr. Two batters later, Domingo Santana doubled with two outs to drive in Orr, then scored on a single from Nevin Ashley.

The I-Cubs got on the board in the top of the second on an RBI triple from Taylor Davis. They added another run in the third when John Andreoli scored from second on a sacrifice bunt from Adron Chambers, coupled with a throwing error by Sky Sox third baseman Matt Dominguez.

Iowa tied the game in the fifth inning when Javy Baez drove in Andreoli with an RBI single, then completed the comeback with a four-run sixth inning.

Rubi Silva led off the sixth with a single and scored on an RBI double from Mike Olt. Next, Arismendy Alcantara singled, followed by a walk to Davis to load the bases. Beeler, who was 1-for-12 at the plate coming into tonight, laced a two-RBI single to left field to make it 6-3. Two batters later, Chambers doubled to right to score Beeler to give Iowa a 7-3 advantage.

Colorado Springs grabbed two runs off Beeler in the bottom of the sixth. Matt Long clubbed a one-out doubled to score Dominguez, then scored one batter later on a throwing error by Olt at third.

Beeler (3-5) exited with two outs in the sixth after allowing five runs, four earned, on 11 hits and one walk with four strikeouts over 5.2 innings. He went 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBI.

Lefty Ryan Butcher came on to finish the sixth and got Orr to pop up. However, Buchter ran into trouble in the seventh, allowing a run on three hits.

Iowa scored two insurance runs in the top of the eighth on an RBI triple by Andreoli and a sacrifice fly from Chambers.

Right-hander Blake Cooper pitched the eighth and allowed a run when Sardinas scored on a fielder's choice. Right-hander Brian Schlitter pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 15th save for Iowa, tied for second in the PCL.

Chambers led Iowa with two hits and two RBI. Andreoli had two hits, an RBI and scored three times. Olt, Alcantara and Davis also had multi-hit nights for the I-Cubs.

Sky Sox bankged out 17 hits, tying a season-high against Iowa this season. Sardinas and Matt Clark paced Colorado Springs with three hits apiece. Overall, six Sky Sox had at least two hits.

The I-Cubs and Sky Sox will play game three of a four-game set on Monday evening, with first pitch set for 7:35 p.m. CT at Security Service Field. Right-hander Felipe Paulino (2-6, 4.57) will pitch for Iowa against Sky Sox righty Hiram Burgos (2-2, 3.66). The game can be heard live on AM 940, 104.5 FM, and live-streamed at Iowacubs.com. The On-Deck Circle Pre-game Show will begin 7:10 p.m. CT.