Hainley Statia made a leaping catch at the wall in left to rob what would’ve been a two-run homer by Greg Rohan in the ninth inning and preserve Nashville’s 2-1 win over Triple-A Iowa in the season finale on Monday.
The Sounds scored both of their runs in the bottom of the first inning against Cubs’ starter Kyle Hendricks. With one out and a man on first, Eugenio Velez hit a one-hopper back to Hendricks. The Cubs got a force out at second, but the ball slipped out of the hands of Edwin Maysonet as he went to throw to first, allowing Velez to reach on a fielders’ choice. Hunter Morris followed with a home run to left.
Hendricks (3-1) worked through six innings and recorded his fifth quality start in six games with Iowa.
Sounds starter Aaron Laffey gave up four hits, and induced two double play balls to keep the Cubs scoreless through three. Tim Dillard followed in relief and gave up one hit, a solo home run by TIm Torres, in the fifth.
Rohan, who hit the game-winning homer for the Cubs in the 10th inning Sunday, hit a towering drive to left. Statia got back to the wall, timed his leap, and caught the ball over the top of the outfield wall for the second out. Luis Flores then grounded out to end the game.
The Cubs finished in third place in the Pacific Coast League’s American Northern Division, four games behind the Omaha Storm Chasers, who clinched the division title Monday with a win over Round Rock and Memphis’ loss at Oklahoma City.
