Candelario's Four RBI Lift Iowa Over Fresno

FRESNO, CA - The Iowa Cubs (53-69) drilled four consecutive hits to kick off the game and held the momentum as they sped to a 9-5 win over the Fresno Grizzlies (66-55), Sunday at Chukchansi Park. All nine of Iowa's starters snagged a hit, while the pitching staff whiffed 16 batters. 

John Andreoli got things going in the first with a leadoff double and Munenori Kawasaki followed with a single to plate the first run of the game. Juan Perez punched a single of his own and with two runners on, Jeimer Candelario took a 3-1 pitch to right field and legged out a bases-clearing triple. Tim Federowicz followed with a walk before Fresno was able to collect its first out of the inning with a sacrifice fly from Logan Watkins. Iowa sent all nine batters to the plate in the inning and grabbed a 4-0 lead. 

The I-Cubs kept pushing ahead with runs in the second and fifth innings to extend their lead to 6-0. 

Rucinski limited Fresno to two hits and two walks through four innings, but got into trouble in the fifth. After allowing a run on a string of singles from Andrew Aplin, Chan Jong Moon and Colin Moran, Rucinski walked two in a row with two outs to push in another run. He surrendered the ball to Pierce Johnson, who took over with bases loaded. Johnson retired Jon Singleton on strikes to close down the Grizzlies' effort.

Johnson pitched 1.2 scoreless innings before Fresno fought back in the seventh and got right back into the game with a three-run homer from Jon Kemmer. 

With a 6-5 lead, Iowa added much-needed insurance in the eighth. Kristopher Negrón led off with a single and Iowa proceeded to load the bags as Cael Brockmeyer and Andreoli walked with no outs. It took three batters, but Candelario eventually came through with a single to take advantage of the baserunners and give Iowa a three-run lead. 

Iowa added more cushioning with a run in the ninth before Armando Rivero closed things out. He earned his first save of the season after throwing 2.1 innings and allowing two hits and no runs while striking out five.

Candelario ended the game 2-for-4 with a triple, a walk, a run and four RBI. Brockmeyer added a double and a triple in his 2-for-4 night. 

Iowa and Fresno play the series finale at 9:05 p.m. CT, Monday at Chukchansi Park. Listen live on AM 940 or online at www.iowacubs.com.