Volstad Vaults Cubs Over RedHawks, 5-0

Oklahoma City, Okla. - The Iowa Cubs (42-65) used a dominant pitching performance to avoid a sweep against the Oklahoma City RedHawks (61-45) in a 5-0 win in front of 8,385 on Friday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

Iowa starter Chris Volstad (3-5) cooled off the red-hot Oklahoma City offense, going eight innings and giving up no runs on four hits and three walks. Volstad struck out five and kept the RedHawks--who had scored 103 runs over the last 11 games--off balance throughout the night. The win for the Cubs gave them their first win in Oklahoma City in the last 12 games.

Recent call-up Jarred Cosart looked solid through three innings. After allowing just two base runners in the first three innings, Cosart gave up a double, a walk, a single and a triple to the first four batters of the fourth inning. Rightfielder Dave Sappelt's triple scored two runs and made it 3-0 Iowa.

After striking out the next two batters, Cosart (0-2) was forced to leave with an injury to his right hand. Cosart's finished 3.2 innings, giving up three runs on four hits and a walk. Cosart struck out five on 68 pitches, 35 for strikes.

Jake Buchanan replaced Cosart and pitched effectively, giving up one unearned run in 3.1 innings. The lone run scored in the fifth after a leadoff single by shortstop Alfredo Amezaga. After a one-out walk got Amezaga to second, Amazega got to third on a wild pitch. A passed ball by catcher Chris Wallace allowed Amezaga to score and make it 4-0.

Volstad had struggled throughout the month of July, giving up six or more runs in each of his four starts, but he pitched well on Friday. Volstad retired nine straight RedHawks from the third through the sixth inning.

RedHawks' rightfielder Fernando Martinez broke up the streak with a one-out single in the bottom of the sixth, but Volstad responded with a strikeout and a ground out to end the sixth. In the seventh, Volstad retired three straight on six pitches.

Aneury Rodriguez replaced Buchanan to start the eighth and gave up a lead-off walk to Sappelt. The walk came back to haunt Rodriguez as Sappelt stole second and advanced to third on a missed catch error by shortstop Brett Wallace. Sappelt scored on catcher Brian Esposito's line drive single to center to make it 5-0.

Volstad started the bottom of the eighth well, getting pinch hitter Mike Hessman to ground out to first. But a single by Brandon Barnes and a throwing error gave the RedHawks runners on first and second with one out. Barnes was caught stealing third, but Martinez drew a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs. Brett Wallace grounded out to first to end the threat.

Alberto Cabrera relieved Volstad to start the ninth. RedHawks' rightfielder Brad Snyder hit a one-out double to center and Travis Buck followed with a pinch-hit single. With runners on the corners, Cabrera worked his way out of the jam by striking out Chris Wallace and Hessman to end the game.

With the Cubs leaving town, the RedHawks welcome the Omaha Storm Chasers for a four-game series starting on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. Saturday also marks the second Devon Energy Hometown Heroes Celebration Night. For tickets, visit the box office on Mickey Mantle Drive, call (405) 218-1000, or order online through okcredhawks.com.

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