RedHawks Drop Series Finale To Iowa

Manny Ramirez drove in the go-ahead run for the Iowa Cubs in the eighth inning of a 5-4 win against the Oklahoma City RedHawks Sunday in front of a crowd of 4,773 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

Iowa built a 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh inning powered by three home runs before the RedHawks tied the score in the bottom of the frame.

In the eighth inning, Ramirez hit a grounder to center field to bring home Chris Valaika for a 5-4 Iowa advantage.

Iowa (48-41) won the finale of the three-game series between the top two teams in the American Northern Division, but the RedHawks won the series, 2-1.

The loss by the RedHawks (47-44) snapped a three-game home winning streak. The loss also ended a stretch of seven straight wins by Oklahoma City against the I-Cubs dating to last season.

Robbie Grossman tallied a season-high four hits for the RedHawks, as he extended his hitting streak to 17 games. The streak is the longest active streak in the league and the longest by a RedHawk since Brad Snyder hit safely in 18 consecutive games in June 2012. He also scored twice and had a RBI.

The RedHawks scored first Sunday.

A RBI single by Preston Tucker brought home Grossman for a 1-0 RedHawks lead in the first inning.

A two-run homer by Iowa's Kris Bryant in the top of the second inning sailed over the LED board in left field to put Iowa ahead, 2-1.

Javy Baez homered onto the grass berm in right field past the visitor's bullpen in the top of the sixth inning to give Iowa a 3-1 advantage.

Grossman led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a grounder to right field. Ronny Torreyes followed with a double, advancing Grossman to third. Grossman then scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Marc Krauss to cut the Iowa lead to 3-2.

The RedHawks loaded the bases later in the sixth, but Max Stassi struck out for the final out of the inning.

A homer by Ryan Kalish onto the grass berm in right field pushed Iowa ahead, 4-2, in the seventh. The first four runs scored by Iowa all came on home runs.

Grossman hit a RBI single to bring home Carlos Perez and cut the Iowa lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh.

The I-Cubs intentionally walked Krauss to load the bases for Austin Wates with one out. Wates hit into a fielder's choice and Joe Sclafani scored to tie the game, 4-4, in the bottom of the seventh.

Iowa outhit the RedHawks, 12-10.

Iowa Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks exited the game after two innings. He allowed one run on three hits before being replaced by Yoanner Negrin in the third.

Armando Rivero (3-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win, allowing two hits and walking one. Zac Rosscup recorded his second save of the season.

RedHawks starting pitcher Rudy Owens tossed 6.1 innings, allowing four runs and eight hits. He struck out five in the no decision. Reliever Alex White (1-2) was charged with the loss.

The RedHawks continue their homestand and open a four-game series against New Orleans at 7:05 p.m. Monday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.