Iowa Seizes Fourth-Straight Win

PAPILLION, NE - The Iowa Cubs (9-21) amassed 13 hits to roll to an 8-4 victory over the Omaha Storm Chasers (11-21) in the series opener, Tuesday at Werner Park. The I-Cubs got multi-hit efforts from Stephen Bruno, Mark Zagunis, Bijan Rademacher and Wynton Bernard.

Iowa's bats were busy as Zagunis began the second with a double, moved to third on a fly out and scored the first run of the game on a single from Jacob Hannemann. Hannemann stole second to get himself into scoring position and later scored on a single from Bernard.
Efren Navarro doubled the lead with a two-run home run in the third, his third of the season, before Bernard knocked in his second run of the game in the fourth to put Iowa in front 5-0. Ryan Court launched Iowa further ahead with a two-RBI double in the fifth.
Omaha spoiled Iowa's shutout in unusual fashion in the bottom of the inning, finding a run without a hit. Michael Roth hit Paulo Orlando with a pitch and walked Bubba Starling to open the frame. Cam Gallagher moved Orlando to third with a fly ball and the runner scored on a wild pitch.
Zagunis helped Iowa add insurance with an RBI single in the eighth, before Omaha clapped back with a mini-rally late in the game. The Storm Chasers scored a pair in the eighth and one in the ninth, but Iowa held on to the edge as Zach Hedges shut the door. It was the first save of Hedges' career.  
Roth (1-2) tabbed his second quality start of the season, twirling 6.0 one-run innings. He gave up two hits, walked one and struck out five. Kyle Lohse (0-1) took the loss for Omaha.
Iowa and Omaha play an 11:05 a.m. matinee tomorrow for the second game of the set at Werner Park. Tune in on AM 940, www.iowacubs.com or MiLB.TV.