Game Notes for Tuesday, June 30

TONIGHT'S GAME: The Iowa Cubs and Round Rock Express, Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, play the first game of a four-game series tonight at Principal Park. Iowa has won four of its last six and is third in the American Northern Division, 9.0 games behind Oklahoma City. Round Rock is in first place in the American Southern Division, 5.0 games ahead of second-place Memphis.

DOWNED IN EXTRAS: New Orleans scored a game-winning unearned run on a sacrofice fly after a Kyle Schwarber throwing error in the 12th inning to beat the Iowa Cubs 2-1 on Monday. Zephyr Vinny Rottino hit a solo homer off Iowa starter Jeffry Antigua in the second inning. Iowa tied the game on Jorge Soler's RBI ground out in the fifth and the two teams stayed gridlocked for seven more innings. Zephyrs lefty Adam Conley tossed 6.0 frames of one-run ball. Antigua allowed just the solo shot in 5.0 innings. Righty Blake Cooper suffered the loss despite allowing just an unearned run in 3.0 innings in relief. Iowa fell to 3-3 in extra inning contests in the loss.

PITCHING IN: Left-hander Joe Ortiz tossed a career-high 4.0 scoreless relief innings in yesterday's loss. It was his fourth outing of at least 3.0 innings this season. Righty Blake Cooper followed with 3.0 innings and allowed one unearned run. It was Cooper's third outing of 3.0 innings or more. Ortiz and Cooper's combined 7.0 innings lowered Iowa's bullpen ERA 10 points from 3.86 to 3.76.

FILLING THE PARK: Iowa drew 41,891 fans to Principal Park in its previous four-game series with New Orleans, including a season-high 14,123 on Friday. The four-day total fell just 3,890 short of a four-game series record (45,781, July 2003 vs. MEM). It was the fifth largest four-game series in terms of attendance in Principal Park history.

SHORT HOPS: Junior Lake was a tough out in Iowa's last series at Round Rock. Lake went 5-for-12 with a double, an RBI, three walks and three runs scored. He also stole two bases. ... The I-Cubs have allowed 59 runs in the first inning this season, the most of any inning. ... Rubi Silva has six of Iowa's 14 outfield assists this season, and ranks third in the PCL. ... Brian Schlitter leads Iowa's bullpen with six saves in six chances. He is second on Iowa's all-time saves list with 42. ... Chris Valaika has grounded into eight double plays to lead the club this season. 

vs. ROUND ROCK: This is the first game of a four-game series between the I-Cubs and the Express, and the fifth of 16 scheduled games between the two teams this season. Round Rock travels back to Principal Park in Des Moines July 20-23. Iowa heads back to Dell Diamond September 4-7 to close out the season. Iowa went 9-7 against the E-Train last season, going 4-4 at Principal Park and 5-3 in Round Rock. The teams split their first series of the season last week. The Express lead the all-time PCL series 84-80. Iowa leads the all-time PCL series against Texas Rangers Triple-A affiliates 128-113. The Express have been affiliated with the Rangers since 2011. 

WHAT'S THE CATCH?: Despite only having six games under his belt, catcher Kyle Schwarber leads the I-Cubs in catcher's ERA with a 1.96 mark (10ER/46.0 inn.). Taylor Teagarden is second on the team with a 3.19 ERA (81ER/228.1 inn.). 

SPEED KINGS: The I-Cubs are second in the PCL in stolen bases this season with 85. John Andreoli is third in the league with 19 swipes. Iowa is also third in the league with 25 triples this season. Arismendy Alcantara leads the PCL with seven triples, a year after leading the league with 11. His seven three-baggers are tied for third in all of Triple-A. Alcantara's 18 career triples with Iowa are sixth in team history, just five back of the club's all-time record (23; Billy Hatcher & Chico Walker). His next triple will tie him with Brian Guinn for fifth. 

POWER PLAY: Iowa has hit 24 home runs in 27 June games, but only one in the last five contests. The team hit 21 homers in 29 May contests, and 13 homers in 20 April games. Overall, Iowa has hit 58 home runs. Kyle Schwarber has clubbed 14 long balls between Double-A Tennessee and Iowa to lead the Cubs' entire minor league organization. 

GAFFES GALORE: Iowa's 74 errors are the third-most in the PCL. Iowa is also 14th in the PCL in fielding percentage (.974). Christian Villanueva leads the PCL with 18 errors. Furthermore, the I-Cubs lead the PCL in unearned runs allowed this season. Iowa has allowed 342 total runs, but only 282 have been earned. That's a difference of 60 unearned runs. Iowa has been outscored 336-342 this season.