MEMPHIS, TN -Casey Kelly allowed one run over five innings to help the Iowa Cubs (22-26) down the Memphis Redbirds (30-20) 2-1, Saturday at AutoZone Park. Kelly took the win to improve to 2-0 on the season and Justin Grimm notched his third save.
MEMPHIS, TN -Casey Kelly allowed one run over five innings to help the Iowa Cubs (22-26) down the Memphis Redbirds (30-20) 2-1, Saturday at AutoZone Park. Kelly took the win to improve to 2-0 on the season and Justin Grimm notched his third save.
Iowa's offense was quiet, but a pair of runs was enough to win this ballgame. The I-Cubs foiled the scoreless game in the fourth as Tommy La Stella collected a leadoff walk and Mark Zagunis doubled to put two runners in scoring position for Jeimer Candelario. The third baseman rolled a grounder to second to bring in a run.
The I-Cubs capitalized on another walk in the fifth. This time Elliot Soto took the free pass. Kelly helped his own cause with a double rocketed off the right field wall to give Iowa a 2-0 edge.
Memphis cut the lead in half with a run in the fifth off an RBI single from Paul DeJong, but Iowa's pitching staff shut down the Redbirds' bats from there. The bullpen took over in the sixth and Conor Mullee, Dylan Floro and Grimm did not allow a base runner through four combined innings of flawless work.
La Stella and Zagunis led the offensive effort, each with a 2-for-3 game and one walk.
Game two of the series will be played at AutoZone Park tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. with RHP Seth Frankoff on the mound for Iowa. Listen to all the action on AM 940 or online at www.iowacubs.com.
