Monday
25Aug
Iowa Cubs Use Ninth Inning Surge to Defeat the Oklahoma RedHawks, 5-3
Monday, August 25, 2008 at 11:32AM MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – The Oklahoma RedHawks lost to the Iowa Cubs 5-3 Sunday evening at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. The Cubs scored two runs off Jose Diaz in the ninth to break a three all deadlock and give Iowa a 3-2 series win.
Oklahoma
struck first when Casey Benjamin walked to lead off the bottom of the
first inning, advanced to third on a single by Nelson Cruz, and scored
on a sacrifice fly from Chris Shelton. Ryan Roberts extended the RedHawks lead to 3-0 with a two-run home run in the fifth inning. RedHawks
starter Luis Mendoza allowed base runners in each of the first three
innings, but settled in to retire ten straight, and managed to keep
Iowa at bay until the top of the sixth. Josh Kroeger
singled with two outs, Bobby Scales doubled, and Koyie Hill followed
with his second three-run home run in as many nights to tie the game at
three.
Diaz
took over for Oklahoma in the seventh and allowed a leadoff single to
Tony Richie before sitting the next six down in order. In the ninth, Hill walked to start the inning and moved to second on a single by Luis Figueroa. Both advanced to second and third, respectively, on a sacrifice bunt by Richie. Hill
scored on a single by Andres Torres, and Figueroa cross home on a
sacrifice fly by Felix Pie to give the Cubs a 5-3 advantage. In the bottom of the inning, Nate Gold and Max Ramirez struck out against Kevin Hart. After John Mayberry reached on a triple, Hart retired Travis Metcalf on strikes to end the game.
Iowa
had clinched the division prior to taking the field when Memphis lost
earlier, while Oklahoma had clinched the American South with a win on
Saturday evening. Both Managers were ejected during the
game, with Pat Listach getting ejected in the seventh and Bobby Jones
following in the ninth. Diaz (1-6) took the loss for the RedHawks, while Cubs reliever Jesse Estrada (3-0) notched the win. Hart picked up his second save of the series and fifth this season. Shelton and Metcalf had two hits apiece for Oklahoma, while Hill and Figueroa had two hits each for Iowa. The RedHawks and I-Cubs will meet for the American Conference Championship one day after the regular season ends. Games
one and two will be played at Principal Park in Iowa on September 3 and
4, while game three is slated for AT&T Bricktown Ballpark on
Friday, September 5 at 7:05 pm. Oklahoma would host games four and five if necessary on Saturday and Sunday.
The RedHawks embark on their final road trip of the regular season, starting Monday night in Round Rock. Tommy Hunter is scheduled to pitch for Oklahoma against the Express' Josh Miller.
The RedHawks embark on their final road trip of the regular season, starting Monday night in Round Rock. Tommy Hunter is scheduled to pitch for Oklahoma against the Express' Josh Miller.
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