Zephyrs Cruise Past Cubs
The Cubs' starter suffered the loss, while New Orleans reliever Beau Jones improved to 1-0 on the year with the win. West Des Moines native Dan Jennings picked up the three inning save.
After loading the bases twice in the third inning, starter Jay Jackson escaped relatively unscathed, surrendering a soft liner to Luke Montz to bring in two runs. New Orleans ripped two, two-out home runs in the fourth to put them up 5-1. Zephyrs' starter J.D. Martin helped his cause with a solo shot in the inning.
Brett Jackson (2-for-3) gave Iowa a promising start, crushing the first pitch he saw over the left field wall to put the Cubs on the board early. The leadoff hitter reached base in three of his four plate appearances with a walk and a run scored. Anthony Rizzo snapped his 12 game hitting streak going 0-for-2, but did get aboard on two walks.
The Cubs offense chipped away at the Zephyr lead, scoring two in the fourth on an RBI ground out by C Juan Apodaca, followed by an RBI-single by Alfredo Amezaga (2-for-3). An Adrian Cardenas sac-fly in the fifth brought Iowa within one.
The bullpen could not hold down the Zephyr offense, surrendering seven runs over four innings of relief. New Orleans added another run in the sixth on a Chris Aguila RBI single off of reliever Nate Robertson. Matt Dominguez then padded the Zephyr lead with an RBI single against Jeff Beliveau in the seventh for his second hit of the day.
Beliveau was charged with two more runs in the eighth after walking the first two men he faced before being pulled for Frank Batista. Those inherited runners later scored on a two-run single by Chris Coghlan. Batista then allowed three runs of his own in the inning. INF Jonathan Mota, in his first game with the team this season, pitched a scoreless ninth and was the only Cubs pitcher to not give up a run on the day.
The Cubs will go for the split of the four-game series tomorrow with a 12:05 p.m. start at Principal Park. RHP Casey Coleman (2-3) will toe the rubber for Iowa against RHP Alex Sanabia (3-0) on a getaway day for the Cubs. After this home stand, Iowa will head to California for two four-game sets against Fresno and Sacramento, respectively. Fans can tune in to Iowa Cubs action with Deene Ehlis and Randy Wehofer on AM 940 with the pregame show beginning at 11:45 a.m.