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Iowa Game Notes - May 24 vs. El Paso

By
May 24, 2016

TONIGHT'S GAME: Iowa and El Paso play game two of the four-game set tonight. The Chihuahuas snapped a three game losing streak last night with a win over Iowa and with that, moved to second place in the PCL Pacific Southern Conference, just one-half game behind the first-place Salt Lake Bees. Iowa remains in a skid, losing eight straight for the first time since Aug. 26-Sept. 5, 2013 when the team dropped nine in a row. 

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Iowa took an early lead in the bottom of the first when Willson Contreras launched a ball over the wall in right-center, but the El Paso Chihuahuas used a productive fifth inning to defeat the I-Cubs, 6-1. RHP Stephen Fife made his first start since April 13 after spending over a month on the disabled list. He tossed the ball for 4.0 scoreless innings, but was forced to end his night early due to injury. Fife finished with five strikeouts, two hits and no walks. Jean Machi ended up with his first loss of the season after giving up three earned runs on three hits, including two home runs. Nick Noonan was the first Chihuahua batter to go deep, tying the game at 1-1 in the fifth. The Chihuahuas opened the game up in the top of the seventh when they put five runs across the plate. Alex Dickerson extended his hitting streak to 21 after pinch-hitting a three-run homer to right in the inning. 

FOOT IN THE DOOR: Iowa remains the only team in the PCL that has not been shutout yet this season. The I-Cubs have been on the winning side of three shutouts in 2016: April 16 vs. Round Rock, April 22 vs. New Orleans and April 22 vs. Colorado Springs. 

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Daniel Vogelbach has hit safely in 14 consecutive games at Principal Park dating back to April 14. Over this span, Vogelbach is hitting .341 (15-for-44) with 10 runs, one double, two homers and eight RBI. He is hitting .359 overall in home games this season, with a .209 clip on the road. 

STEP UP: Since joining Iowa from Double-A Tennessee on April 29, Taylor Davis has been a huge contributor to the I-Cubs' offense. He paces the Cubs' farm system with a .339 average and has reached base safely in 15 of 16 games with Iowa with five multi-hit efforts. He is valuably versatile on defense, playing first, third and catching for the I-Cubs.

TURN THE BEAT AROUND: In Iowa's first two series with El Paso in 2014 and 2015, the team dropped both series openers, but went on to win the next three games to take the series on both occasions. 

AGAINST EL PASO: El Paso and Iowa meet for four games for the first and only time of 2016. The I-Cubs boast a 6-3 all-time record against the Chihuahuas, as the team was incepted in 2014. Last season, El Paso took the series opener 14-2, but Iowa fought back to win the next three games. This is the second time the Chihuahuas have made the trip to Des Moines. Iowa took the series 3-1 at Principal Park in 2014.

THE NEW GUY: Tonight's starter Rob Zastryzny will become Iowa's 12th player to make his Triple-A debut with the I-Cubs this season when he takes the mound. Gerardo Concepcion, Willson Contreras, Miguel Mejia, Albert Almora Jr., Pierce Johnson, Tyler Ihrig, Ryan Williams, Felix Pena, Sutton Whiting, Stephen Perakslis and Daniel Vogelbach all made their Triple-A debuts earlier this year.

CAN'T TOUCH THIS: Gerardo Concepcion has been untouchable this season. The lefty joined Iowa on May 12 from Double-A Tennessee boasting a 17.2 inning scoreless streak (10 games). He has since extended this streak to 25.1 innings between the two levels and has not allowed a run in 30.1 innings dating back to last season. This is a mass turn-around for Concepcion, who ended last season with a 0-3 record and a 6.90 ERA between Tennessee and Advanced-A Myrtle Beach. 

I LIKE TO MOVE IT, MOVE IT: Today, Iowa added LHP Rob Zastryzny to the roster from Double-A Tennessee. This is Zastryzny's first trip to Iowa. He was a Cubs second round draft pick in 2013 out of the University of Missouri. RHP Stephen Fife was placed on the disabled list after being activated just yesterday. Fife spent over a month on the DL with a right side strain and in his first start back, was removed in the fifth inning due to injury. Fife's last three seasons were marred with injury as he was limited to 32 starts and 35 total appearances through 2013 and 2014, while missing all of 2015 after undergoing Tommy John surgery on Aug. 13, 2014. 

SHORT HOPS: Daniel Vogelbach has reached base in 25 of his last 27 games ... Felix Pena is first in the league among relievers for opposing batting average with a .132 mark ... The I-Cubs are second in the league with 50 stolen bases and trail only Colorado Springs with 62 ... Willson Contreras has reached base in 35 of 38 games this season ... John Andreoli has tied his career high of five homers in a season, set in 2015 while with Iowa.