Gallery+Story: I-Cubs Edge Chihuahuas 6-5; Buss Leads League With .370 Average

Five Iowa Cubs pitchers combined to strike out 20 El Paso batters Thursday in the I-Cubs’ 6-5 win over the Chihuahuas.

It tied the Pacific Coast League record for team strikeouts in a nine-inning game, matched previously by the Hawaii Islanders’ pitching staff on June 20, 1974.

It was the third consecutive tight game between the two teams, as all three contests in the series have been decided by one run.

Nick Buss went 2-for-3 with a home run, a triple and a walk, moving his league-leading batting average to .370.  It was the second night in a row that Buss hit a homer.

Bryan Rodriguez allowed three runs in 5.1 innings but did not pick up the win for the first time in his last four starts. The Chihuahuas top two hitters in the order were San Diego Padres on injury rehab.

Center fielder Travis Jankowski went 1-for-2 with three walks and a stolen base, while second baseman Yangervis Solarte went 0-for-2 with a walk.

The Chihuahuas eight-game homestand concludes on Friday.

Next Game: Friday, 7:05 pm at Southwest University Park. Iowa RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (3-0, 1.40) vs. El Paso RHP Zach Lee (2-3, 6.55). The game will air on 600 ESPN El Paso and www.epchihuahuas.com.

Box Score   |    Team Records: Iowa (47-55), El Paso (52-53)

Iowa 6 El Paso 5 – Thursday

WP: Maples (1-1)

LP: Hessler (2-2)

S: Carasiti (17)

Time: 3:21

Attn: 8,077

Gallery by Andres Acosta, El Paso Herald-Post Chief Photographer