RedHawks Use Scoring Spurt To Cruise Past Cubs

News9.com

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Oklahoma City RedHawks began the second half of the season with a bang Thursday, beating the Iowa Cubs 8-4.

The RedHawks (40-52) started the scoring early with a sacrifice fly by Collin DeLome in the top of the second inning. That began a stretch of four consecutive innings in which Oklahoma City scored.

After OKC scored in the third, the Cubs (41-51) briefly tied things up with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. But the RedHawks' bats did not cool off. They scored three runs in the fourth and another two in the fifth to bring their lead to 7-2.

Iowa managed to put runs on the board in each of the sixth and seventh innings, but never truly threatened again.

The RedHawks' eight runs were spread throughout the lineup, with six different players recording RBIs. Anderson Hernandez led the way, reaching base all five times he stepped to the plate while driving in one run and scoring two more.

Andy Van Hekken (4-4) turned in a solid performance on the mound for OKC, giving up four runs on seven hits in seven innings of work. Nicholas Struck (0-2) had a rough outing for Iowa. He was pulled after allowing seven runs – two of them unearned – on nine hits in only 4.2 innings.

Thursday's contest began the season's second half one day after the All-Star break. The rest of the season will be one long stretch for the RedHawks, who will only have one day between now and Sept. 5, when the season ends.

Iowa and OKC will continue their series at 7:05 p.m. Friday.