Iowa Cubs Complete Sweep of Portland Beavers with 5-2 Win

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - DES MOINES, Iowa – Micah Hoffpauir homered for a second consecutive game and drove in all five Iowa runs, and the Cubs completed a four-game sweep of the Portland Beavers with a 5-2 victory Tuesday afternoon at Principal Park.

Hoffpauir, who drove in four runs in Iowa's 10-6 win Monday night, hit a three-run homer in the first inning and added a two-run double in the eighth to lead the Cubs (20-18) to their seventh straight win while sending Portland (17-20) to a fifth consecutive defeat.

Mike Burns (2-3) struck out five and allowed one run and two hits in three relief innings to get the win. Kevin Hart fanned six in the start, but did not qualify for the win after working four innings for the Cubs, who combined to strike out 15 Portland batters.

Jose Ascanio struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth to get his ninth save.

ADVERTISEMENT The Beavers are off Wednesday before beginning an eight-game homestand at PGE Park Thursday night against the Las Vegas 51s. First pitch is 7:05 p.m.

Chase Headley and Peter Ciofrone hit solo home runs for the Beavers, who suffered their second sweep of the season. Portland has dropped eight of its last nine games at Principal Park, dating back to the 2003 season.

Headley's fourth homer of the year put Portland up by a run in the top of the first, but Hoffpauir's three-run shot off Josh Banks gave Iowa the lead in its half of the first.

In his second start for Portland, Banks (1-1) worked six innings and yielded three runs and four hits while striking out three.

Ciofrone's second home run in the last two games cut Portland's deficit to a run in the top of the sixth. But with Eric Patterson and Sam Fuld on base in the eighth, Hoffpauir's two-out double against Portland stopper Jared Wells gave Iowa and Ascanio a three-run cushion to work with heading into the final frame.

NOTES: The Beavers hit 15 home runs on the road trip, getting homers from 12 different players … Thursday's game will be televised live on FSN … the Beavers were 2-6 on the road trip after going 7-1 on their recent homestand.

If you like the daily news of the Raw Feed, SUBSCRIBE TODAY to the nation's only alternative professional sports magazine, SZ, with original features and great action photography in baseball, hockey, basketball, and football. Just $11.99 per year for an e-zine like you’ve never seen!