I-Cubs Sweep Doubleheader to Split Series Against St. Paul

DES MOINES, IA – The Iowa Cubs (24-33) beat the St. Paul Saints (28-31) 1-0 in game one and 3-2 in game two, sweeping the doubleheader, Sunday at Principal Park.

In game one, Iowa threw a no-hitter, their second of the season and beat St. Paul 1-0 on a walk off sacrifice fly. Justin Steele started the game for the I-Cubs, his first start since 2019 with Double-A Tennessee.

Steele spun 3.2 hitless innings, walking two and striking out five. He was relieved in the fourth inning by Scott Effross, who struck out three Saints batters over his 1.1 innings of work.

Dillon Maples completed the no-hitter with two scoreless frames, walking two and striking out two in his fifth major league rehab assignment with Iowa.

Trent Giambrone hit a sacrifice fly off of Yennier Cano in the bottom of the seventh inning, bringing home Tyler Ladendorf. Ladendorf slid in safely for the only run of the game for either team, securing a 1-0 win for Iowa.

Game two was also a walk off victory for Iowa, scoring two runs in the seventh inning to win by a score of 3-2. Iowa got out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Michael Hermosillo drove in Abiatal Avelino who had previously doubled.

The lead was lost in the second inning, when St. Paul scored two runs on a sacrifice fly and a single, making it a 2-1 lead. Iowa’s starter Adrian Sampson would keep the Saints off the board for the next three innings, going five total innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits, three walks and striking out four.

He was out-dueled by Andrew Albers, who spun six innings of one-run ball, allowing just three hits and two walks. Albers had I-Cubs hitters off balance all day, striking out nine. The tide would turn in the seventh when St. Paul brought in Nick Vincent to get the save.

Vincent didn’t record an out, allowing two runs on three hits, including a walk off single from Avelino, scoring Vance Vizcaino and Andrew Romine to give Iowa their second walk off victory of the day.

POSTGAME NOTES:

• Iowa’s seven-inning no-hitter was their first since June 14, 1976, when Chris Knapp no-hit Evansville at Evansville.

• Justin Steele made his first start since June 21, 2019, tossing 3.2 scoreless, hitless innings in game one. The lefty walked two and struck out five, throwing 37 of his 56 pitches for strikes.

• Dakota Mekkes and Ryan Meisinger each walked a batter, but threw two scoreless innings of relief, combining to strikeout three batters and keep the I-Cubs deficit at one run in game two.

• Iowa’s pitching staff combined to allow just two runs on three hits, while striking out 17 batters over 14 innings of work.

Iowa will get tomorrow off as they start a 12-game road trip to the state of Ohio. The I-Cubs are set to face off against the Toledo Mud Hens, Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers for six games starting on Tuesday. First pitch for game one of the series is set for 6:05 pm CT at Fifth Third Field. For more information and tickets, visit www.iowacubs.com.