Zephyrs run past Cubs 7-1

Destin Hood had three hits, including a home run, to help the New Orleans Zephyrs pull away late to defeat the Iowa Cubs 7-1 during Thursday night action. The win came after a 7-0 loss to the Cubs on Wednesday.
Trevor Cahill, making his third rehab start from the Chicago Cubs, struggled with his command in the first inning by issuing three walks, including one with the bases loaded to Cole Figueroa to force in the game’s first run for the Zephyrs.
Hood went the opposite way, leading off the third inning, his 14th home run of the season, to double the Zephyrs’ lead to 2-0. Hood finished with three hits and moved into a tie for fourth in the Pacific Coast League with his 68th RBI.
An inning later, Zephyrs’ Isaac Galloway ripped a leadoff double and advanced to third on a passed ball. Armando Rivero relieved Cahill with two outs, but Austin Nola laid down a squeeze bunt on the first pitch to bring in Galloway for a 3-0 advantage.
Mark Zagunis homered in the fifth to get Iowa on the board, but that was the only blemish against Dylan Axelrod (7-5), who scattered six hits across five innings to pick up the victory.
The Z’s put the game away with four runs in the seventh off reliever Miguel Mejia. Figueroa tripled into the right field corner to plate a pair, and scored on a single up the middle by Pedro Ciriaco. Iowa second baseman Logan Watkins then misplayed a Robert Andino pop-up to allow Ciriaco to score.
Greg Nappo struck out four in three innings of relief, and Raudel Lazo worked a scoreless ninth to close out the Zephyrs’ third win in their last four games.
Cahill (0-2) threw 71 pitches and allowed three runs — two earned — and four hits in 32/3 innings. He struck out five and walked four in the losing effort.
The Z’s and Cubs conclude the series at 7 p.m. today.