RedHawks Rally For Independence Day Win

Jonathan Villar hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the eighth inning to cap a four-run rally by the Oklahoma City RedHawks in a 4-3 win against the Iowa Cubs Friday in front of a season-high crowd of 11,856 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

The RedHawks (46-43) topped PCL American Northern Division leader Iowa (47-40) after entering the eighth inning trailing, 3-0.

Oklahoma City tallied four runs on four hits in the eighth after being held scoreless and to two hits through the first seven innings.

The I-Cubs built a 3-0 lead through four innings as Iowa starting pitcher Eric Jokisch faced the minimum through seven frames. He struck out seven, but had to settle for a no decision after the RedHawks rally.

Top Chicago Cubs prospect Javy Baez belted the first pitch he saw in the first inning for his 12th home run of the season. The two-out solo shot sailed over the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark lettering above the LED board in left field for a 1-0 Iowa lead.

Iowa added a run in the second inning on a RBI single by Rafael Lopez for a 2-0 lead.

Kris Bryant, the Cubs' No. 2 prospect according to Baseball America, gave Iowa a 3-0 edge in the fourth inning. He connected on a solo homer into the visiting bullpen in right field for his seventh homer of the season.

Oklahoma City's rally began in the eighth inning after an Iowa pitching change brought Arodys Vizcaino to the mound.

The first three RedHawks batters of the inning reached base. Austin Wates singled before Preston Tucker drew a walk. Matt Duffy then singled to load the bases. With one out, a RBI single by Joe Sclafani put the RedHawks on the board for the first time.

Ronald Torreyes followed and drove in another run to cut the Iowa lead to 3-2.

With the bases loaded again later in the inning, Villar stepped up to the plate and connected on a two-run single to put the RedHawks in front, 4-3.

The RedHawks pitching staff allowed just two hits after the fourth inning.

RedHawks starting pitcher Asher Wojciechowski made his fifth start of the season for the RedHawks. He allowed three runs on four hits over five innings, walking two and striking out three.

Patrick Urckfitz, Jason Stoffel and Kevin Chapman combined to shut out the Iowa Cubs the rest of the way. Stoffel (2-2) earned the win and Chapman secured his third save of the season.

Iowa pitcher Marcus Hatley (2-2) was charged with a blown save and the loss.

The RedHawks won a fourth straight Independence Day game and for the sixth time in seven Fourth of July contests.

They improved to 21-20 in Bricktown this season, moving above .500 at home for the first time since April 24.

The RedHawks continue their three-game series with Iowa at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.