Game Notes - 9.3.17 at Omaha

Iowa Cubs (67-70) at Omaha Storm Chasers (67-72)
RHP Stephen Perakslis (0-1, 3.18) vs. RHP Christian Binford (6-10, 7.44)
Sunday, September 3 • 7:05 p.m. CT • Werner Park • Papillion, NE

TONIGHT'S GAME: The I-Cubs and Storm Chasers play the third of four scheduled games at Werner Park tonight. Iowa took the first two games of the series and has now won three in a row against Omaha. Iowa swept the final series of 2016 against Colorado Springs at Principal Park and looks to do the same in Omaha to finish on a high note.
SEVENTH HEAVEN: Iowa scored seven runs yesterday with the help of three-run seventh and ninth innings. Iowa's seven runs were its most scored since August 20 at Nashville when the I-Cubs beat the Sounds, 9-1. The I-Cubs have scored seven or more runs just four times since the first of August, going 4-0 in these games. They are 27-6 overall this season when scoring seven-plus runs. 
DIME PIECE: Iowa walked 10 times last night, setting a new season high. It was the most walks for the I-Cubs since May 14, 2016 at Reno. Recording just six hits, it was the fourth time this season Iowa has tabbed fewer hits than walks. All four occurrences came after in August or later: 8/3 vs. FRE (8BB-5H), 8/6 vs. FRE (8BB-7H), 8/15 vs. CSP G2 (7BB-6H). Iowa is 2-2 in those games.  
DOWN ON STRIKES: John Andreoli has four strikeouts in the series and 392 career strike outs as an I-Cub, trailing Brett Jackson for second-most in franchise history by one (393). Joe Hicks is the record holder with 520. In 2016, Andreoli set a single-season franchise record with 162 whiffs. He has 132 this season. 
PASS THE BIJAN:Bijan Rademacher tabbed another multi-hit game, continuing to wield his scorching hot bat. In 19 games since August 12, Rademacher is swatting .385 (25-for-65) with three doubles, three home runs and 12 RBI. His average and hit totals pace the Cubs' system over this span. Since the All-Star Break, the outfielder has posted a .360 average (32-for-89) with a .408 on-base percentage. 
SEPTEMBER IS CALLING: Chicago recalled LHP Rob Zastryzny this morning, marking the fifth September call-up from the I-Cubs. Zastryzny makes his way to Chicago for the fourth time this season. The lefty went 2-3 with a 5.94 ERA (31ER/47.0IP) in 14 games, seven starts, with Iowa. He holds no record with a 6.75 ERA (3ER/4.0IP) in one game with Chicago. 
AGAINST OMAHA: Iowa and Omaha meet for the final time in 2017 with a four-game series to wrap up the regular season. It's the first time since the 2011 season that Iowa and Omaha are closing out the season against each other. Iowa will look to win its first series at Omaha since it took three out of four from the Chasers May 6-9, 2016. The last time Iowa swept Omaha was August 26-29, 2013 and the last time it accomplished this feat in on the road was June 6-8, 2008 in the Omaha Royals days. 
FIGHTING BACK: Iowa dug a 4-1 deficit Friday, before making a comeback bid with a three-run sixth, then taking the lead in the seventh last night. Iowa improved to 15-44 on the season when allowing its opponents to score first. This marks the fewest wins for the I-Cubs in this category since at least 2005. 2012 is a close neighbor as Iowa went 53-87 with a 17-56 mark when allowing opponents to score first. 
A PIERCING PERFORMANCE: Pierce Johnson was called on in the ninth yesterday, entering with no outs and bases loaded. He promptly struck out the side in order. Johnson has posted four-consecutive scoreless outings (6.0IP) and holds a 2.11 ERA (5ER/21.1IP) through 13 games since July 23 with just eight walks and 30 strikeouts. The right-hander paces all I-Cub relievers with 74 strikeouts on the year. 
THIEVERY: Iowa stole five bags as a team yesterday, matching a season high. Jacob Hannemann swiped his 22nd as an I-Cub and 28th on the season. He ranks second to only John Andreoli (26) in stolen bases on the roster. Taylor Davis is the only active position player without a swiped bag this season. 
SCORE A TD: Taylor Davis went 2-for-4 yesterday, notching his second-consecutive multi-hit game and his third in five contests. The "Staring Catcher" has a hit in seven of his last nine games and is batting .324 (11-for-34) with four doubles, one home run and eight RBI over this stretch. 
SHORT HOPS: Scott Carroll and Jen-Ho Tseng posted back-to-back quality starts, the first time Iowa has done so since August 19-20 at Nashville. Iowa has 41 QS on the season...John Andreoli leads the team with 13 home runs, the fewest homers for an I-Cub team leader since at least 2005.