The visiting Iowa Cubs homered three times en route to an 8-3 win over the Memphis Redbirds in the finale of a four-game series on Star Wars night at AutoZone Park.
The loss prevented Memphis from recording a four-game series sweep and gave Iowa a 9-7 win in the 16-game season series.
Cubs third baseman Mike Olt homered for the third straight game while finishing triple short of a cycle, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored.
In his first start back with the Redbirds since May, left-hander Marco Gonzales (0-2) allowed four runs on seven hits, including a pair of home runs, in the loss. The southpaw also struck out three and walked one. Fifty-two of his 75 pitches were thrown for strikes.
The Redbirds moved out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Ed Easley (1-for-4, 2B, R) doubled and came around to score on an Iowa throwing error during a rundown.
Iowa quickly tied the game on Olt’s solo shot to left in the top of the second. The Cubs later added to their score in the fourth with a two-run home run by Chris Valaika
The two teams traded runs on sacrifice flies in the sixth inning, keeping the lead at two runs. Jacob Wilson (0-for-3, RBI) brought home Greg Garcia (1-for-4, R) with a long fly ball to center field.
Iowa added a four-run rally in the eighth inning, highlighted by a Christian Villanueva two-run home run.
Memphis scored its final run in the eighth inning on wild pitch from Carl Edwards Jr.
The Redbirds continue their eight-game homestand tomorrow when they welcome the Oklahoma City Dodgers (Triple-A Dodgers) to AutoZone Park. Right-hander Zach Petrick (5-5, 4.27) will toe the rubber for Memphis against Dodgers southpaw Eric Surkamp (4-2, 4.11).
