RedHawks Avoid Sweep With Four-Run Win

Oklahoma City's pitchers held the Iowa Cubs to just one run to end a three-game losing streak.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:53 am

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Aug 3, 2010 11:12 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City RedHawks used one big inning to defeat the Iowa Cubs 5-1 Tuesday and avoid a four-game series sweep.

The two teams traded runs in the fourth to keep the game tied, but the RedHawks (58-51) pulled away with four runs in the fifth. The first three batters of the inning reached to load the bases, and Matthew Brown drove two of them in with a double to give OKC its first lead of the game.

Chris Davis followed with a two-run single to stretch the lead to four with still nobody out, but Oklahoma City could not pull away any further. Brandon Boggs popped out and Ryan Garko grounded into a double play to end the threat, but the RedHawks’ pitchers took over from there.

Michael Kirkman, Willie Eyre and Clay Rapada combined to give up just three hits for the rest of the night. Kirkman (11-3) earned the win after giving up one run on only five hits in six innings of work. J.R. Mathes (8-8) gave up all five runs in five innings and was credited with the loss.

The Cubs (62-48) had won the first three games of the series and had scored a total of 29 runs in those three contests. The win avoided OKC’s second series sweep in less than two weeks.

The RedHawks will hit the road for an eight-game road trip starting at 8:05 p.m. Wednesday against the Salt Lake Bees (57-54).