Iowa Cubs (41-70) vs. Las Vegas 51s (55-57)Sunday, Aug. 5 • 1:08 p.m. CT • Principal Park • Des Moines, IARHP Duane Underwood Jr. (4-9, 4.16) vs. RHP Cody Martin (3-3, 6.99)
Iowa Cubs (41-70) vs. Las Vegas 51s (55-57)
Sunday, Aug. 5 • 1:08 p.m. CT • Principal Park • Des Moines, IA
RHP Duane Underwood Jr. (4-9, 4.16) vs. RHP Cody Martin (3-3, 6.99)
TODAY'S GAME: After falling in game one of the four-game series with Las Vegas, the I-Cubs will send Duane Underwood (4-9, 4.16) to the mound to face (Cody Martin 3-3, 6.99). The will be Underwood's first start at home since July 1 when he matched a season high in hits (11) and took the loss to Memphis. Underwood is also looking for his first win at Principal Park this season. Both offenses should look to jump on the board in the first inning today, as Underwood Jr. holds a 12.71 (24ER/17.0IP) ERA in the first inning with opposing offenses are hitting .400 (75 ABs), while Las Vegas' Cody Martin owns a 9.00 ERA (13ER/13IP). Over the course of 19 games, Underwood Jr.'s ERA drops significantly after the first, allowing just two earned runs each in the second and third innings for a 1.06 and 1.07 ERA, respectively. Since the All-Star break, he holds a 1.80 ERA, allowing just three earned runs over 15.0 innings pitched with three walks and 11 strikeouts.
FIELDING WOES: The I-Cubs tallied four errors in last night's loss to Las Vegas. Iowa's four errors are tied for the most this season and match their largest error total against Memphis on April 16. Iowa currently ranks in the bottom of the PCL in defensive statistics, finding themselves third to last in fielding percentage (.978) and committing the fourth-most errors (87).
BRILLIANT BRUNO:Stephen Bruno had a great game at the plate hitting leadoff, going 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI last night. Bruno has been Iowa's hottest hitter over their last 10, batting .385 (15-for-39) with five runs, a home run and four RBI. With Chesny Young on the DL and David Bote with Chicago, Bruno has taken full advantage of his opportunity and has thrived batting higher in the order. During the season, Bruno is hitting .337 (30-for-89) while batting leadoff or second as opposed to batting .155 (16-for-103) in the rest of the spots in the lineup.
KO'D: The Las Vegas 51s were able to strike out the I-Cubs 13 times last night. This is the fifth time in their last 15 games that the I-Cubs have struck out double-digit times. Through 111 games this year, Iowa has struck out 954 times, which ranks in the top-five in the PCL.
AGAINST LAS VEGAS: Iowa holds an advantage in the all-time meetings between these two teams at 48-47. Prior to last season's series win, the I-Cubs had only won one series against Last Vegas since 2011. Last year, Mark Zagunis played his cards right against Las Vegas and went 7-for-16 (.438) with four runs, an RBI and four walks. The nine runs that Iowa gave up last night were the second-most to a Las Vegas team over the last five years.
TAKING THE L: Craig Brooks entered last night's game, replacing starting pitcher Trevor Clifton in the fifth inning. Four runs came across and scored while Brooks was on the rubber and he was tagged with last night's loss without giving up an earned run. The last time an I-Cubs relief pitcher was given the loss without giving up an earned run was on May 4 of this season when Cory Mazzoni came into pitch during the ninth inning and was given the loss against Round Rock.
ROB ZZZZZZZ: Last night Rob Zastryzny pitched two scoreless innings to finish the game. After having as high as a 5.59 ERA this year, Zastryzny's ERA has fallen to 4.06 after last night. Zastryzny's ERA has been inflated due two performances where he gave up four and six earned runs. If those appearances are removed, Zastryzny would have a 2.04 ERA over 44.1 innings pitched.
THE STREAK LIVES ON: Another game, another scoreless relief appearance for Dillon Maples. Maples pitched the ninth inning of Friday night's contest without giving up an earned run. It was his 20th straight appearance in which he hasn't given up an earned run. Maples has pitched in the most games of any I-Cub this year (34), tallies a 2.43 ERA, has recorded a 0.00 ERA since the All-Star break and is holding opposing batters to a .164 average.
SHORT HOPS: The Iowa Cubs out-hit their opponent last night and fell to a 25-22 record when out hitting their opponent...Trey Martin and Stephen Bruno combine for five runs scored last night, which is the highest between a leadoff and a two-hole hitter since Mark Zagunis and Chesny Young on June 27 against New Orleans.
