Iowa Blasts Oklahoma City at the Brick

The Cubs jumped out to a double-digit lead early and never looked back.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:52 am

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Aug 1, 2010 12:20 AM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY -- After a four-game series sweep of the Round Rock Express, the Oklahoma City RedHawks lost the series opener to the Iowa Cubs 15-7 Saturday.

Ten runs in the first three innings allowed the Cubs (60-47) to have a comfortable lead for the majority of the game.

After Sam Fuld stole both second and third base, Jason Dubois singled to left field to bring him home for Iowa’s first run of the game in the top of the first. In the next at-bat with two on base, Bryan LaHair homered to left to take a 4-0 lead. Ty Wright doubled in the top of the second to score Darwin Barney from first to take a five-run lead.

LaHair hit a home run in the second at-bat of the third inning to extend the lead to 6-0. Four at-bats later, Fuld hit a two-run double to right field to extend the lead to eight runs. In the next at-bat, Barney hit an infield RBI single to bring Fuld home. After a pitching change brought in Warner Madrigal, Micah Hoffpauir singled to left field to bring Barney home to give Iowa a 10-0 lead.

Six of Oklahoma City’s (57-49) seven runs came in the bottom of the third, three coming on a single swing of the bat.

After a passed ball moved Hernan Iribarren to third, Guilder Rodriguez grounded out to second base to bring him home and score the RedHawks’ first run. Craig Gentry hit a line-drive single to right field in the next at-bat to score Gregorio Petit home from third. Two at-bats later, Matthew Brown singled to center to bring Gentry home and close the gap to 10-3. With two runners on base and two outs on the board, Brandon Boggs homered to right field to close the gap to four runs.

Iowa scored five unanswered runs, including a three-run home run by LaHair in the top of the ninth, to start the four-game series off with a win.

Jeff Samardzija (8-1) got win number eight on the year after allowing six earned runs on five hits in his five innings of service. Michael Ballard only lasted 2.2 innings for Oklahoma City after allowing six earned runs on nine hits.

The RedHawks will try to grab a win at home at 4:05 p.m. Sunday.