Cubs' Walks Key River Cats Walk-Off Win
May 13, 2012 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Iowa Cubs News Release
Sacramento, CA - Four Iowa pitchers combined to walk eight batters and the Sacramento River Cats (25-12) took advantage of the free passes to beat the Cubs (15-20) 4-3 on a walk-off single by Grant Green at Raley Field tonight. The loss snaps the Cubs' six-game winning streak against the River Cats dating back to 2010.
The River Cats took advantage of walks from Cubs' spot starter Frankie De La Cruz to claim the early lead. De La Cruz walked Jermaine Mitchell to start the bottom of the first. Green followed with a double to the right field corner. Mitchell scored, but the Cubs cut down Green trying for a triple for the first out of the inning. De La Cruz issued two more walks around a double to Chris Carter to load the bases. After a popout, Derek Norris drove in two with a single to left before De La Cruz got out of the inning. De La Cruz would work through four innings without allowing another run. He has allowed seven runs in 12 innings as a starter. All seven runs have scored in the first innings of those games.
River Cats' starter Graham Godfrey carried an 18-inning scoreless streak into tonight's game, but the Cubs broke that up in the third inning. Blake Lalli singled and Ty Wright walked to open the frame. Matt Tolbert moved the runners up to second and third with a sacrifice bunt and Alfredo Amezaga drove them in with a base hit to center field. Amezaga tied the game with a solo home run off Godfrey in the fifth. It was his first home run of the season.
Frank Batista and Manny Corpas gave the Cubs solid outings out of the bullpen. Batista walked one and struck out one in two scoreless innings. Corpas allowed one hit and struck out five in his two innings. He struck out the side in order in the eighth.
Godfrey worked through six innings before giving way to the River Cats bullpen. Erick Threets allowed one hit over an inning and a third and Evan Scribner held the Cubs to one single while striking out three to keep the game tied into the bottom of the ninth.
Esmailin Caridad walked Norris to start the inning. It was the first time in 12 appearances that Caridad failed to retire the first man he faced coming out of the bullpen. Caridad also walked Stephen Parker before striking out Adam Rosales. Another walk to Jermaine Mitchell loaded the bases and forced the Cubs to pull the infield and outfield in. Green hit a line drive past Caridad's glove into center field for a hit that scored Norris with the game-winning run.
Scribner (1-0) was credited with the win and Caridad (0-2) suffered the loss. The Cubs are 3-2 on this road trip with both losses coming on walk-off hits in the ninth inning. Over half (18-of-35) of the Cubs' games this season have been decided by one run. The Cubs are 7-11 in those games.
The Cubs and River Cats continue this series tomorrow afternoon at 3:05 Central Time at Raley Field. LH Chris Rusin (3-2, 3.40) is scheduled to start for the Cubs against RH A.J. Griffin (0-0, 0.00) for the River Cats. The game will be broadcast live on AM 940 with the On-Deck Circle Pre-Game Show starting at 2:45.
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