Iowa Gets Back on Track with 7-3 Victory

DES MOINES- Starter's Bailey Ober (St. Paul) and Cory Abbott (Iowa) were locked in a duel through four innings, each holding the opposing offense off of the board. In the fifth, Trayce Thompson changed that, giving Iowa the lead with a two-run blast, his first deep fly as an I-Cub.

St. Paul would get the runs right back via a Jimmy Kerrigan double and a Nick Gordon single in the home-half of the fifth. Those were the only two runs Abbott surrendered in his second start for Iowa, earning his first win of the season.

The scoring continued for the I-Cubs as they tacked on one run in the sixth, and a pair of runs in the seventh with help from some defensive miscues by St. Paul. The Saints got a run back in the bottom of the seventh, as a solo shot off the bat of Damek Tomscha narrowed Iowa's lead to 5-3.

Iowa added two runs in the eighth to go up by four and put St. Paul away for good. Relievers Adam Morgan and Ryan Meisinger tossed two perfect frames to end the game giving the I-Cubs their fifth win of the season.

POSTGAME NOTES:

• In just his third game with Iowa, Trayce Thompson went 3-for-5 with two runs, a double, a home run, and two RBI. He finished a triple short of the cycle batting from the leadoff spot.
• Cory Abbott spun 5.0 innings, allowing just two runs on four hits, while walking three and striking out eight. The righty earned his first win of the season, bringing his record to an even 1-1.
• I-Cubs pitching struck out a combined 16 batters, matching their season-high from May 7 against Indianapolis. The starter, Abbott struck out eight, followed by Tommy Nance who fanned four, Adam Morgan struck out one and Ryan Meisinger struck out the side in the ninth.
• Iowa returns to Principal Park Tuesday, May 18, and will host the Omaha Storm Chasers. For more information or tickets, visit www.iowacubs.com.