Game Notes for Thursday, July 31

TONIGHT'S GAME: The Iowa Cubs and New Orleans Zephyrs play game four of a five-game series in four days at Zephyr Field. The Zephyrs are the Pacific Coast League affiliate of the Miami Marlins. This is the fourth game of the Cubs' longest road trip of the season. The team is in a stretch of 14 games over 14 days away from Principal Park. Following this series, the Cubs will play a four-game series at Omaha and a five-game set at Oklahoma City.

SWEEP DEPRIVED: The Cubs won both ends of a double-header last night, beating the Zephyrs 9-0 in game one and 2-1 in the night cap. It was the Cubs' first sweep in seven double-headers this season. The Cubs' last double-header sweep was June 21 last season at home against Nashville. The Cubs are now 5-9 in double-header games this season. At this point, the team doesn't have any more twin bills scheduled.

GO THE DISTANCE: LH Eric Jokisch held the Zephyrs to three hits in a complete game, shutout win in game one last night. Jokisch (7-8) walked one and struck out six while earning his second straight win over the Zephyrs. Jokisch is the second Cub to go the distance in a shutout at Zephyr Field this year. LH Chris Rusin had a nine-inning no-hitter on May 7. The last Cub to go the distance in a seven-inning shutout was Brooks Raley on June 9, 2012 against Nashville. Dallas Beeler had a complete game, but lost 1-0 on walk-off homer by Xavier Scruggs in game one of a double-header at Memphis on May 28.

JOKISCH JAMMIN' IN JULY: LH Eric Jokisch finished the month of July with a 2-0 record and a league-best 1.78 ERA (6ER/30.1IP) in five starts. He allowed 24 hits, walked seven, and struck out 33 for the month. For the year, Jokisch is second in the league with 130.1IP, ranks third in strikeouts (119), and fifth in WHIP (1.17).

CUBAN CONNECTION: RH Yoanner Negrin (1-3) allowed one run on six hits in five innings to earn the win in game two last night. It was his first victory since August 26 last season against Omaha. RH Armando Rivero finished game two to earn his first triple-A save. Rivero has not allowed a run in 11.1 innings over his last eight appearances. Rivero had a team-high 10 saves with double-A Tennessee before joining the Cubs on June 20.

VS. ZEPHYRS: The Cubs lead this series 2-1 and lead the season series 9-5 . The Cubs have clinched a win of the season series over the Zephyrs for the first time since 2010. Iowa won three-of-four against New Orleans to open their last home stand, July 21-24. The teams split the first series at Principal Park, April 15-8. The Cubs won two-of-three in their first trip to Zephyr Field, May 5-7. Last year, the Zephyrs won the season series 11-5 over the Cubs, including a 6-2 mark at home. The Cubs lead the all-time PCL series 117-115, but the Zephyrs have a 62-48 advantage at home.

THREE'S COMPANY: IF Javy Baez blasted a three-run homer in the fourth inning of game one yesterday for his 20th home run of the year. Baez' last three home runs have all been three-run shots. He has hit six home runs with two men on base this season and 11 of his 20 homers have come with at least one man on. For the season, Baez is tied for sixth in the league in home runs and ranks second with 76 RBI. In July, Baez is tied for the league-lead with nine home runs and 18 extra-base hits. He is second with 30 RBI and 60 total bases this month.

PITCH MEN: Last night's game one victory was the Cubs' 10th shutout of the season. That ties Nashville for the league lead. This is the most shutouts in a season for the Cubs since recording 10 in 2009. The Cubs have limited their opponents to two runs or fewer 38 times this season and are 29-9 in those games. The Cubs rank second in the league with a 3.70 ERA (401ER/975.0IP) this season and are also second with a 3.15 ERA (92ER/262.2IP) in July. Nashville (3.57) leads the league for the season and Memphis (2.86) holds the best mark in in the PCL for the month.

FUJIKAWA ON REHAB: RH Kyuji Fujikawa pitched a scoreless inning in game two last night for his fifth appearance with the I-Cubs on a Major League rehab assignment. In five innings with Iowa, he has allowed one run on five hits, issued one intentional walk, and struck out four. Fujikawa underwent Tommy John surgery last June after appearing in 12 games with Chicago. Prior to joining the I-Cubs this year, he made six rehab appearances between Rookie Mesa and single-A Kane County, and didn't allowed an earned run in 5.2 innings.