Berti, Holaday homers help Baby Cakes take series from Cubs

METAIRIE – Jon Berti and Bryan Holaday each hit two-run homers in the fourth inning, propelling the New Orleans Baby Cakes to an 8-5 win over the Iowa Cubs on Thursday night.

The ‘Cakes took two of three from the I-Cubs to claim their first series win of the season.

Hector Noesi (2-0) completed five innings, scattering four hits and two walks and striking out five to earn the win. Zach Borenstein hit his first home run of the season to lead off the fourth, accounting for the only run on Noesi’s line.

New Orleans scored first in the game, capitalizing on back-to-back singles by Berti and Matt Snyder with one out in the second. A passed ball moved the runners into scoring position, and Holaday lifted a sacrifice fly to score Berti.

Berti’s single extended his on-base streak to 13 games.

The Berti and Holaday combo gave the ‘Cakes a lead they would not relinquish in the bottom of the inning, both going deep off Iowa starter Matt Swarmer for a 5-1 advantage.

The four-run lead held until the seventh, when Kyle Keller surrendered a leadoff double by Wynton Bernard. A walk to Donnie Dewees brought Dixon Machado to the plate, who walked-off the ‘Cakes with a homer in last week’s series in Iowa, and did more damage with a three-run blast to bring the Cubs within a run.

But again, the Baby Cakes answered in their half of the frame with three runs of their own, keyed by Snyder’s two-run single.

Dewees homered in the ninth off Jose Quijada, who otherwise held the Cubs at bay over the final 2 1/3 innings to earn his third save.

The Baby Cakes are back in action at the Shrine on Airline tomorrow, taking on the Omaha Storm Chasers in the first of four contests. Nick Neidert (1-1, 3.60) takes the ball for New Orleans, opposing Ben Lively (1-1, 3.86). First pitch is slated for 7:00 p.m.