Baby Cakes fall to Cubs in extras, 2-1

METAIRIE – Francisco Arcia’s sacrifice fly in the 10th inning scored the winning run for the Iowa Cubs, who defeated the New Orleans Baby Cakes on Monday afternoon, 2-1.

A day after the Cubs and ‘Cakes combined to score 24 runs, tying the ballpark record, Adbert Alzolay and Hector Noesi squared off in a pitchers duel which saw each limit the opponent to one run.

The Cubs struck first on a Phillip Evans double in the opening frame. Iowa could have scored more, but had a pair of runners thrown out at the plate in the inning, including JT Riddle’s throw from center field to nab Johnny Field, who was attempting to score on a fly out by Robel Garcia.

Noesi settled in to retire the next 16 batters he faced, and finished with six strikeouts in seven innings. He has allowed one run in each of his three starts against Iowa this season and lowered his ERA to 2.45, third-best in the Pacific Coast League.

Alzolay held the Baby Cakes without a hit through the first four innings, until Lewis Brinson’s leadoff single in the fifth. Deven Marrero followed with a sinking liner to left which got past a diving Field for a double and enabled Brinson to come around to score the tying run.

After extending his hitting streak to eight games, Brinson also drew a pair of walks and is batting .469 over his last 12 contests.

After both bullpens held steady, the Cubs broke through against R.J. Alvarez (1-3) in the 10th. A hit batter and a wild pitch moved runners to second and third, and following an intentional walk, Arcia’s drive to the warning track in right-center brought in the go-ahead run.

James Norwood (2-0) retired the side in order in the bottom of the 10th to hand the ‘Cakes a second straight loss on the heels of a four-game winning streak.

Isan Diaz, who had set a team record by homering in five straight game, went hitless in four at-bats.

The Cubs and ‘Cakes continue the five-game set on Monday at 6:30 p.m.