Jensen powers Zephyrs past Cubs

Kyle Jensen had a home run, two doubles and five RBI to lead the New Orleans Zephyrs to a rain-shortened 9-2 win over the Iowa Cubs on Monday night in Des Moines.

Jensen belted a two-run homer in the second inning to give the Zephyrs a 2-0 lead. It was his 22nd homer of the season between Double-A Jacksonville and New Orleans, tied for 11th-most among all Minor League players.

The Zephyrs doubled their advantage in the third inning on an RBI double by Kevin Kouzmanoff, and a two-out single by Nick Green.

Former Zephyr Donnie Murphy got Iowa on the board with a solo homer in the bottom of the frame, and back-to-back doubles by Brad Nelson and Edgar Gonzalez leading off the fourth sliced the Zephyrs' lead to 4-2. But Z's starter Jared Rogers escaped further damage in the inning, and New Orleans quickly extended the lead in the fifth.

Chris Valaika led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a ground out, then scored ahead of a throw home on a grounder by Kouzmanoff. After a single by Joe Mahoney, Jensen roped a two-run double down the left field line, giving the Zephyrs a 7-2 cushion.

New Orleans added runs in the sixth and seventh innings before heavy rains engulfed Principal Park, and the game was called following a delay of nearly 90 minutes.

Rogers (5-2), who also got out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning courtesy of a fly ball to right that turned into an inning-ending double play, allowed two runs and six hits in six innings to earn the win. He struck out five and walked one.

Nick Struck (5-7) gave up seven runs on 10 hits in five innings and suffered the loss.

The Zephyrs and Cubs continue the series on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.