Game Notes for Tuesday, July 21

TONIGHT'S GAME: The Iowa Cubs and Round Rock Express, Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, play the second game of a four-game series at Principal Park. Iowa is second 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. 

WINNING WAYS: Iowa scored four runs in the first two innings and left-hander Drake Britton spun 7.0 innings of one-run baseball as the Iowa Cubs downed the Round Rock Express 7-1. Rubi Silva slammed a three-run homer in the second inning to pull away from the E-Train early. It was the third straight game with a home run for Silva. The win was Iowa's sixth straight, a season-high. It's the first six-gamer for the I-Cubs since May 25-31, 2012. They will attempt to extend the streak to seven games tonight, something they haven't done since June 22-28, 2011. Last night's win also put Iowa a season-high nine games over .500. The last time they were at that mark was July 24, 2014. Iowa hasn't been 10 games above even since July 25, 2010.

GOING STREAKING: Four I-Cubs carry hitting streaks of at least five games into tonight's action. Junior Lake is hitting .462 (18-for-39) on his current season-high 11-game hitting streak with five home runs, 11 RBI, 11 runs, two stolen bases and four walks. It is the longest hitting streak for an I-Cub this season. He has raised his season batting average from .281 to .325 during the streak. Taylor Davis is currently on a eight-game hitting streak (12-for-29, 5RBI), his second eight-gamer of the season. Furthermore Mike Baxter (7-for-24, 2RBI) is on a six-game streak, while Christian Villanueva is on a five-gamer.

HOMER ODYSSEY: Iowa has hit 22 homers in the past 13 games. Both Matt Szczur and Christian Villanueva recorded two-homer games in that time. Iowa's 22 homers are second in the PCL in July.

RIDING THE (VILLAN)UEVA: Christian Villanueva is 9-for-19 with three homers, two doubles, 10 RBI and four runs scored on his current five-game hitting streak. Villanueva's 12 homers, 18 doubles and 50 RBI all lead the team. Villanueva also leads the I-Cubs with 22 multi-hit games and 12 multi-RBI games. He has nine games with 3+ RBI this season. 

vs. ROUND ROCK: This is the second game of a four-game series between the I-Cubs and the Express, and the 10th of 16 scheduled games between the two teams this season. Iowa will head back to Dell Diamond September 4-7 to close out the season. Iowa is 20-21 against the Express since 2013. The teams split both of their first two series of this season, and the I-Cubs won game one of this series to give them a 5-4 season series lead. The Express lead the all-time PCL series 86-83. Iowa leads the all-time PCL series against Texas Rangers Triple-A affiliates 131-115. 

HISTORIC HURLING: Iowa's team ERA this season is 3.84 through 94 games, which is equal to its season-record mark of 3.84 set back in 1974. The I-Cubs came close to matching that mark last season, recording a 3.88 team ERA. 

DOMINATING DOG DAYS: Iowa is 12-6 in July, including a 7-1 mark at Principal Park. Through 18 July games, Iowa is hitting .286 as a team and slugging .476, both season-bests in a month. Iowa is having success despite scoring 4.38 runs per game in July, its lowest monthly average. Part of the equation has been solid pitching, as Iowa's 3.76 team ERA in July is second-best in the league behind Sacramento (3.36).

HAMMER TIME: Right-hander Brian Schlitter has saved five of Iowa's last eight games. He leads Iowa and is third in the PCL with 13 saves. All of his saves have come since May 1, and he leads the league since then. He holds a 0.62 ERA (2ER/29.0IP) with 21 strikeouts. He has not allowed a run since May 23 (18 games, 20.2IP, 13 strikeouts). Schlitter is also tied for fourth in the PCL with 23 games finished. His 49 saves are second on Iowa's all-time list. 

GOTTA EARN IT: Iowa leads the PCL in unearned runs allowed this season. Iowa has allowed 417 total runs, but only 348 have been earned. That's a difference of 69 runs. Iowa has outscored opponents 419-417 this year.

SHORT HOPS: The I-Cubs are just nine of their last 22 in stolen base attempts. However, Iowa is still second in the PCL with 91 steals this season. .... Iowa is one of only three teams in the PCL without a grand slam this year. Iowa has not hit a grand slam since Mike Olt did it at Omaha on August 5, 2014.