Iowa Cubs (29-40) vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (35-31)RHP Casey Kelly (3-1, 5.10) vs. RHP Christian Binford (3-4, 5.18)1:08 p.m. | Principal Park | Des Moines
Iowa Cubs (29-40) vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (35-31)
RHP Casey Kelly (3-1, 5.10) vs. RHP Christian Binford (3-4, 5.18)
1:08 p.m. | Principal Park | Des Moines
TODAY'S GAME: Iowa and Omaha meet for game two of a four-game series at Principal Park on Sunday. The I-Cubs dominated last night, scoring eight runs in the first three innings en route to a 8-1 win over the Storm Chasers. Iowa is coming off a 2-2 series tie in Nashville, failing to win a series for the seventh consecutive series. Iowa's last series victory came against Las Vegas at Cashman Field, taking three out of four from May 15-18.
QUALITY INSURANCE: I-Cubs righty Aaron Brooks twirled a quality start last night, going 7.0 innings, allowing just four hits and one run, while whiffing six. The start was Iowa's first quality start since Casey Kelly spun a complete-game shutout on June 7 in game two of a doubleheader against Oklahoma City. The nine-game streak without a quality outing from a starter was Iowa's longest of the season. Brooks has also found his command lately, and has thrown a quality start in three of his last four starts.
SINGLE DIGITS: Iowa has not registered 10 or more hits in a game since June 6 vs. Oklahoma City. The I-Cubs' current 12-game streak without recording a 10-hit game is the longest of the season, easily surpassing the club's previous season-high drought of six games without reaching double digits in the hit column. It is just the second time Iowa has gone 10 or more straight games without a double-digit hit game since the start of the 2015 season, with the I-Cubs going 10 games without reaching 10+ hits from August 4-14, 2015.
GET OUTTA MY YARD: Mark Zagunis crushed a moonshot to straigh-taway center field last night to bring in the seventh and eighth runs of Iowa's offensive outburst. The homerun was his 10th on the season, surpassing Ian Happ who had previously led the team with nine home runs before his call-up to Chicago. The home run tied Zagunis' career-high for a season after he hit 10 between Tennessee and Iowa last year. His 10 homers as an I-Cub this year mark the most he has ever hit for a single team in his professional career.
GETTING DISTANCE: Iowa pitching has notched 16 quality starts this season, though the team improved to just 9-12 on the season when an I-Cub starter spins six or more frames. Starters are 7-3 when lasting 6.0+ innings, with the bullpen going 2-9 in those games.
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST: Iowa has been struggling at the plate this month, hitting just .220. The I-Cubs have managed to score five or more runs five games in June, resulting in a 4-1 record in those games. The offense has been scuffling as of late, dropping Iowa to second-to-last for team average in the PCL at .250 ahead of only New Orleans.
AGAINST OMAHA: Iowa and Omaha will meet for the first of four series and 15 total games this season. Last year, the I-Cubs went 8-8 against the Storm Chasers and 3-5 at Principal Park. Jeimer Candelario hit .333 (9-for-27) with two homers and six RBI against Omaha last season. Omaha comes into this series owning a 2-8 record when playing a team for the first time in 2017.
CARAT MAGIC:Victor Caratini continued his eye-popping season last night. The I-Cubs catcher and first baseman when 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored. Caratini's strong performance last night moved him back up to fifth on the PCL batting average leaderboard. His .346 average is also best in the Chicago Cubs farm system for qualifying players. He is second in the farm system in RBIs with 47, trailing the 48 driven in by Jason Vosler of Tennessee.
SEE ME ROLLIN', THEY HATIN': Reliever David Rollins has been on fire as of late. With the exception of a spot start on June 8, Rollins has not allowed a run since giving up three runs in relief on May 15. In 11.1 innings of relief since that time, Rollins has allowed just three hits, walked six and struck out 12 batters. In his start earlier this month, Rollins was impressive in 3.0 innings, allowing just four hits and two runs. It was his first start since 2014. Rollins has lowered his ERA from 9.39 to 5.46 after a rough start to May.
EVERYTHING IN LIFE IS FREE:Taylor Davis has drawn at least one walk in each of his last three games for four total over this span. Davis has 26 walks on the season, third-most among I-Cubs, while he has only struck out 22 times. Davis is one of only five PCL players (40+games) to have more walks than strikeouts on the year. He is joined by El Paso's Carlos Asuaje (40BB, 32K), Salt Lake's Shane Robinson (21BB, 16K), Oklahoma City's Alex Verdugo (29BB, 25K) and Albuquerque's Rafael Ynoa (27BB, 26K).
SIZZLING START: Center fielder Jacob Hannemann is hitting .333 (16-for-48) and is a perfect 7-for-7 stealing bases in his first 13 Triple-A games. With two hits last night, Hannemann has his longest hitting streak as an I-Cub at five games. His five-game hitting streak is tied for his longest of the year after he had one such streak for the Tennessee Smokies from April 29 to May 6. In six home games since being called up, Hannemann is hitting .417 (10-for-24) at Principal Park.
SHORT HOPS: Iowa's bullpen has a 1.69 ERA (3ER/16.0IP) in its last four games...Mark Zagunis leads the PCL in walks with 44...Victor Caratini has hit safely in seven of his last eight games, batting .464 (13-for-28) with two doubles, one home run and eight RBI over this span.
