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MLB

Alcantara Powers Cubs Past Redbirds

Long delay leads to postponement of second game of double-header
By Randy Wehofer
May 31, 2014

Memphis, TN - 2B Arismendy Alcantara swatted a pair of home runs to lead the Iowa Cubs (28-24) to a 6-4 victory over the Memphis Redbirds (27-28) at Auto Zone Park tonight. The teams waited through a four hour and 11 minute rain delay before getting started and game one of the potential double-header ended at 11:39 PM Central time. Due to the late start, league curfew, and travel considerations, game two was postponed. The Redbirds won this series 3-1 and lead the season series 7-4.

The long delay didn't disrupt Cubs' leadoff man Ryan Kalish. He hit the second pitch of the game from Redbirds' starter Zach Petrick for a home run to right field. It was his first hit since joining the I-Cubs from Chicago on Tuesday and the team's second leadoff homer of the year. Alcantara led off the top of the first with a home run on May 21 at Round Rock.

The Redbirds answered quickly with two runs in the bottom of the first on doubles from Greg Garcia, Scott Moore, and Stephen Piscotty off Cubs' starter Kyle Hendricks. The Cubs came back and tied the game at two on Alcantara's first home run with one out in the top of the third inning.

The Cubs reclaimed the lead on a sacrifice fly by Eli Whiteside in the top of the third inning. Petrick gave way to the Redbirds' bullpen in the fifth inning and the Cubs added two more runs against Eric Fornataro. With Alcantara at third, Javy Baez at second, and one out, the Redbirds pulled their infield in. Chris Valaika hit a ball slightly to the left of Redbirds' shortstop Pete Kozma. Kozma fielded the ball, spun around, and fired to the plate, but Alcantara slid around the tag of catcher Audry Perez with another Cubs' run. After a strikeout, Christian Villanueva laced a double to the left-center field gap to drive in Baez, but Valaika was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

The Rebirds came right back to pull within a run in the bottom of the fifth inning when former Cub Scott Moore connected on a two-run homer off Hendricks. It was Moore's fifth home run of the season and his second against the Cubs. It was the first home run off Hendricks in 60 innings this season.

Yoanner Negrin took over for Hendricks and protected the one-run lead with a scoreless sixth inning before Alcantara gave the Cubs an insurance run with his second home run in the top of the seventh. Tonight was Alcantara's first career multi-homer game and he is tied with Baez for the team lead with seven home runs this season.

Blake Parker nailed down the win with a scoreless seventh inning to earn his ninth save of the season. He issued his first walk of the year to start the inning, but struck out two and got Piscotty to foul out to end the game. Hendricks (6-3) earned his third straight win.

The Cubs continue this road trip with a four-game series at Greer Stadium in Nashville starting tomorrow night at 6:35 PMvc. LH Chris Rusin (3-6, 3.49) will start for the Cubs against RH Jimmy Nelson (5-1, 1.71) for the Sounds. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940, and streamed live at iowacubs.com, with the On-Deck Circle Pre-Game Show starting at 6:15 PM.