METAIRIE, LA - The Iowa Cubs (27-48) made the most of their six hits to scrape a 4-3 victory over the New Orleans Baby Cakes (36-40) in the series opener, Monday at Shrine on Airline.
METAIRIE, LA - The Iowa Cubs (27-48) made the most of their six hits to scrape a 4-3 victory over the New Orleans Baby Cakes (36-40) in the series opener, Monday at Shrine on Airline.
Three I-Cubs Triple-A debuts from pitchers Craig Brooks and James Norwood, and third baseman Jason Vosler highlighted the game. Brooks pitched 1.2 scoreless innings and also helped his cause with an RBI single. Norwood took the seventh for the I-Cubs and spun a scoreless frame, while Vosler was 0-for-4.
A three-run bomb from Ryan Court in the first catapulted Iowa into the lead out of the gate, preceded by singles from Mark Zagunis and Victor Caratini to set up the big inning. This snapped a streak of 16.0-scoreless frames for the I-Cub offense as they were shutout in back-to-back games by Colorado Springs.
The long ball would get New Orleans right back in the game as Scott Van Slyke punched one out in the second and Garrett Cooper did the same in the third. Cooper's homer was followed by a Tomás Telis triple in the inning and Van Slyke, once again, added to the damage with an RBI single to knot the game 3-3.
Taylor Davis got on in the fourth with one out via a hit by pitch and the I-Cubs put a pair on the bases with a Bijan Rademacher single. With two down in the frame, Brooks slapped in the ultimate game-winning run with his first professional hit.
Five pitchers threw for the I-Cubs, taking the place of scheduled starter Duane Underwood Jr. who was recalled to Chicago to make his major league debut tonight against the Dodgers. Alberto Baldonado (3-1) came away with the win and Dakota Mekkes captured his first Triple-A save.
Caratini punched two of Iowa's six hits. The catcher has three multi-hit games through his last five contests.
Iowa and New Orleans square off again tomorrow at 7:00 for the second game of the set. Listen on AM 940 or www.iowacubs.com
