Game Notes - 8.30.17 vs. Memphis

Iowa Cubs (65-69) at Memphis Redbirds (88-48)
RHP Williams Pérez (7-8, 4.68 vs. RHP Dakota Hudson (0-1, 4.36)
Wednesday, August 30 • 6:35 p.m. CT • AutoZone Park • Memphis, TN

TONIGHT'S GAME: Iowa and Memphis meet for the third game of a four-game series at AutoZone Park and for the seventh consecutive day. The I-Cubs have dropped four straight to the Redbirds and are in danger of tying their season-long five-game losing streak. Memphis has won each of the last three games by one run, dropping Iowa to 27-20 in one-run games on the season.
DON'T STRIVE FOR FIVE: If the I-Cubs lose tonight, they will have tied their season-worst losing streak of five games. Iowa lost five in a row from June 8-11 against Oklahoma City (6/8) and Colorado Springs (6/9-6/11). The I-Cubs have not lost five consecutive games to the same opponent since July 25-27, 2014, when they lost five in a row at home vs. Memphis. Those five games included a pair of doubleheaders played on July 26-27.
SO DONE WITH ONE RUN: Iowa played in its league-leading 46th one-run game of the season on Tuesday, falling to 26-20 (.565) in those contests. Iowa has dropped each of its last three games to Memphis in one-run fashion and are now tied for second in the league in one-run losses. The I-Cubs last led the PCL in one-run in 2012, when they played in 54 one-run ballgames, going 22-32 (.407) in those contests.
FREE SWINGERS: Iowa's offense only walked once last night, falling to 7-20 (.259) when walking one or fewer times in a game. The offense also only struck out once, just the second time the I-Cubs only struck out once and tying a season-low previously set on July 1 vs. Round Rock. Last night was the first time Iowa struck out one or fewer times in a loss since June 30, 2016 in game one of a doubleheader at Round Rock.
HANNEMANN SETS HIGH FOR IOWA: Center fielder Jacob Hannemann went 1-for-4 with a single in the eighth inning last night, extending his hitting streak to 11 games. It's the longest hit streak for an Iowa Cubs player this season, breaking a tie with Taylor Davis, Mark Zagunis and Victor Caratini, who all put together 10-game hitting streaks for Iowa this season. Hannemann is hitting .300 (12-for-40) during the streak with seven doubles, one home run and eight RBI. He also recorded his 20th stolen base for Iowa this season in just his 75th game at the Triple-A level. He and John Andreoli (26 SB) join Billy Burns (24) and Raul Mondesi (21) as the only pairs of PCL teammates with 20 or more stolen bases this season. 
AGAINST MEMPHIS: Iowa is 5-9 against Memphis this season heading into Wednesday night and 2-4 at AutoZone Park. The I-Cubs were last in Memphis from May 27-30, winning the series opener and finale, while dropping the middle two games. In that series, Iowa was narrowly outscored by Memphis 13-12, with three of the four games in the series decided by one run. Overall, six of the seven games Iowa and Memphis have played in the Redbirds' home ballpark have been decided by one run. Last season, the I-Cubs and Redbirds split the season series 8-8, and in 2015 the I-Cubs won the season series by a 9-7 advantage.
OUT-HITTING ≠ WINNING: The I-Cubs out-hit the Redbirds 11-8 last night, the second night in a row that Iowa has out-hit its opponent in a loss. It's the first time since a doubleheader at Colorado Springs on July 16 that Iowa's recorded more hits than its opponent in back-to-back losing efforts. Iowa still owns a 42-15 (.737) record when out-hitting its opponents this season. 
ALLOWING THREE: Iowa allowed exactly three runs and lost the game for the first time this season. Heading into last night, Iowa had been 10-0 when allowing its opponent to score exactly three runs. It's the first time Iowa has given up exactly three runs in a loss since August 29, 2016 at Nashville, losing that game 3-2 in 11 innings.
LONG RELIEVER: Right-hander Brad Markey tossed three scoreless innings out of the bullpen last night, allowing no runs on two hits while striking out two. It's the third time that he's pitched three or more innings out of the bullpen, tossing multiple innings in each of his four relief outings since joining Iowa. Markey and Rob Zastryzny are the only pitchers on Iowa's active roster who have gone at least three innings in a relief appearance this season.
SHORT HOPS: Iowa pitching did not surrender a walk for the first time since Aug. 8 vs. Sacramento...Stephen Bruno is batting .462 (6-for-13) in his last five games...Rob Zastryzny went exactly five innings for the fourth consecutive start...John Andreoli has back-to-back multi-hit games for the first time since July 9-16...Victor Caratini recorded his 100th hit for Iowa this season with his second double last night...Iowa catchers are batting .297 (145-for-488) this season...The I-Cubs are three games better than they were at this point last season.