Cray Eighth; Cubs Losing Streak Extends in Extra Innings
The Cubs grabbed an early lead with a run in the top of the first inning when RedHawks' starter Rudy Owens walked Adrian Cardenas with two outs and Josh Vitters tripled to drive him in. Jim Adduci led off the top of the second with his first homer with the Cubs this season, extending the lead to 2-0.
The RedHawks got a run back on a solo homer by Brett Wallace in the bottom of the second, but Cubs' starter Casey Coleman helped himself with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth that extended the Cubs' lead to 3-1.
The RedHawks came back to tie the game against Coleman. Angel Sanchez had an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth and Brandon Barnes scored as Fernando Martinez grounded into a double play to tie the game in the sixth. Coleman would come out two batters later and Esmailin Caridad finished the inning with a strikeout.
Owens gave way to the RedHawks bullpen after five and Mark Hamburger, Mickey Storey, and Juan Abreu held the Cubs at three through the ninth. Jay Jackson and Michael Bowden did the same for the Cubs, sending the game to extra innings.
In the top of the tenth, Abreu walked Vitters to lead off the inning. Brett Jackson moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt and then Abreu walked Welington Castillo. The RedHawks brought Sergio Perez into the game and Adduci greeted him with an RBI double to left to put the Cubs ahead 4-3. Diory Herndez added a sacrifice fly and the Cubs had a two-run lead headed into the bottom of the 10th.
Bowden went back out to the mound for the Cubs and issued a leadoff walk to Jimmy Paredes. Barnes followed with a double off the wall in right that just got over a leaping Dave Sappelt at the wall. Another walk to J.B. Shuck loaded the bases. Bowden nearly got out of the jam, getting Martinez to fly out to shallow right and then striking out Mike Hessman. Pinch-hitter Chris Wallace spoiled the night by lining a single into left field. Two men scored and when the ball got under Adduci in left for an error, Shuck raced all the way around from first with the game-winner.
The last run was unearned, but Bowden (2-2) was charged with the loss. Perez (4-2) was credited with his second win in the last three games. Adduci finished with a season-high four hits and two RBI.
The Cubs and RedHawks wrap up this series tomorrow night at 7:05. RH Chris Volstad (2-5, 5.83) will start for the Cubs. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940 with the Pre-Game Show starting at 6:45.