Game Notes for Thursday, April 30

TONIGHT'S GAME: The Iowa Cubs and Oklahoma City Dodgers, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, play game one of a four-game series tonight at Principal Park. This is the fifth game of the season between the two clubs. Oklahoma City currently leads the PCL American Norhtern Division by 4.5 games over second place Omaha. Iowa is currently third in the division, 5.5 games behind the Dodgers. Iowa won seven of the last eight games against OKC to end the 2014 season, but the Dodgers have won three of four to begin this season.

TWICE AS NICE: Iowa swept a doubleheader its last time out on Tuesday night in Colorado Springs. It was their first twin-bill sweep of the season, and first since July 30, 2014 at New Orleans. Iowa easily took game one 7-1, then rode a three-run seventh inning to a 6-3 victory in game two. Infielder Arismendy Alcantara, outfielder John Andreoli and RH Donn Roach stole the show for Iowa. Alcantara combined to go 3-for-7 with a triple and two home runs, including the game-tying blast in the fifth inning of game two. Andreoli tripled twice, stole a base and scored three runs on the day. Roach pitched his third consecutive quality start in game one, allowing one earned run on seven hits and three walks in 6.0 innings. The doubleheader sweep earned Iowa a series split with the Sky Sox. LH James Russell earned his second win in relief in game two.

BAX ATTACK: Mike Baxter enters today's game ranked first in the PCL with a .509 on-base percentage. He also ranks fourth in the PCL with a .381 average (16-for-42). He has walked 10 times on the young season and also has three doubles. The 30-year-old has taken on an expanded role in the I-Cubs batting order since the departures of Kris Bryant and Addison Russell. Baxter has now batted third five times so far this season, and cleanup once.

DONN-ING HIS CAPE: Right-hander Donn Roach has been the hero of the I-Cubs starting rotation so far this season. Roach is sixth in the PCL with a 2.31 ERA through four starts. He is also fifth in the league with 23.1 innings pitched. Roach has averaged just under 6.0 innings per start thus far. Iowa has only registered two winning decisions from the starting rotation so far, and both belong to Roach. Furthermore, Iowa starting pitchers have only registered three quality starts, and all three came from Roach. The Las Vegas native is 2-0 in 2015.

VS. OKLAHOMA CITY: This is the first game of a four-game series between the Cubs and Dodgers, and the fifth of 16 scheduled games in the season series. OKC took three of the first four games between the two clubs April 10-13. The Cubs head to Chikasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City May 16-19, and again August 31-September 3. Last year, the Cubs won the season series 10-6, going 6-2 at Principal Park and 4-4 on the road. The Cubs lead the all-time PCL series 126-115. 

BULLPEN BANTER: The I-Cubs have spread six save chances between four pitchers so far this season. Joe Ortiz is 1-for-2, James Russell is 2-for-2, and Blake Cooper is 1-for-1. Blake Parker, Iowa's all-time saves leader, blew his only save chance earlier this season. Despite no clear-cut closer, the current Iowa bullpen has significant experience in later innings in their careers. In total, the current pen (including the DL) has 278 combined minor league saves: [Parker-91, Brian Schlitter-81, Ortiz-32, Yoanner Negrin-20, Cooper-18, Armando Rivero-13, Hunter Cervenka-11, Drake Britton-5, Andres Santiago-3, Michael Wagner-2, Russell-2]. Parker is Iowa's all-time saves leader with 66. Schlitter ranks second with 36 saves.

POWER OUTAGE: Arismendy Alcantara hit two home runs in Tuesday's doubleheader sweep, yet the I-Cubs are tied for 12th in the league with 12 home runs this season, just three ahead of Salt Lake for last in the PCL. Kris Bryant had three Triple-A homers when promoted to Chicago and still leads Iowa in that category. Chris Valaika and Alcantara have two each, while five others have hit one this season.

BIG GAME JAMES: Left-hander James Russell has not allowed a run in 7.2 innings this season. He has two saves and two wins in relief, ranks first in the PCL with 3.52 baserunners per nine innings (3 BR/7.2IP) and is fifth in the PCL with a 12.91 K/9 (11K/7.2IP). 

TRANSACTIONS: Infielder Javy Baez has been activated from the Bereavement List. Right-handed pitcher Brian Schlitter joins Iowa's active roster today after being optioned to Triple-A on Monday. Finally, right-hander Barret Loux has been placed on the 7-Day disabled list (right triceps) retroactive to April 27. Iowa's roster is now full at 25 players + 3 DL. Iowa has made 32 transactions this season, ahead of the pace the record-setting 2013 season (172 transactions).