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Game Notes for Monday, May 13

Aces Ballpark - Reno, NV
May 13, 2013

TONIGHT'S GAME: The Iowa Cubs and Reno Aces play game three of a four-game series. The Aces are the Pacific Coast League affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. This is the seventh game of an eight-game road trip for the Cubs. The Cubs are 2-4 on this trip after losing three of four in Colorado Springs to begin this swing.

ALOHA MEANS GOOD-BYE: Aces 1B Kila Ka'aihue lifted the Aces to a 9-8 win over the Cubs yesterday afternoon with a two-run walk-off homer against Cubs' closer Blake Parker. Ka'aihue also homered in the eighth inning yesterday and has now hit nine home runs in 41 career games against Iowa. Yesterday's blast was his second game-winner against the Cubs. He hit a home run off Justin Berg in the top of the 10th inning to give Omaha and 6-5 win over the Cubs on August 31, 2008 at Principal Park. Ka'aihue is the fourth player to have a two-homer game against the Cubs this year, joning Chris McGuiness of Round Rock, Nick Buss of Albuquerque, and Brett Wallace of Oklahoma City.

UNHAPPY ENDINGS: Yesterday's game was the Cubs' third walk-off loss of the season. The Cubs lost 1-0 on April 21 at Memphis on a game-ending single by Jermaine Curts and 5-4 win 10 innings on April 26 at Omaha on a game-ending single by Jermaine Curtis. Yesterday, RH Blake Parker suffered his first blown save and loss of the season and allowed just his second run in his last 11 appearances. Parker has allowed just six hits in 46 at-bats and leads all PCL relief pitchers in opponents' batting average at .130.

WEARY TRAVELERS: The Cubs are 6-16 on the road this year, leading the league in road losses. The Cubs finished a league-low 22-44 on the road last year. Since recording their first-ever sweep at Auto Zone Park in Memphis, May 25-27 last year, the Cubs have won just one of the last 15 road series. The Cubs won three of four at Tucson, August 14-17.

OH, NELLY: 1B Brad Nelson was 2-for-4 with two runs, a home run, and two RBI yesterday and has recorded a multi-hit game in four of his last five starts. In his last nine games, Nelson is batting .485 (16-for-33) with five doubles, two homers, 10 runs scored, and eight RBI. He has raised his batting average from .183 to .279 during this stretch.

VS. ACES: The Cubs lead this series 1-0. This is the only series scheduled between these two teams this season. Last year, the Aces won three of four in a series at Principal Park, August 5-8. It was the first time the Aces won the season series against the Cubs in their four years in the PCL. The Cubs lead the all-time series 10-7 and are 6-3 all-time in Reno. The Cubs won three of four in their first visit to Aces Ballpark in 2010 and split a four-game set in 2011.

JACKSON BACK IN ACTION: OF Brett Jackson has played four games since coming off the disabled list on May 9. He was out for a week due to turf toe on his right foot. He has come back swinging, batting .412 (7-for-17) with two doubles, two RBI, and two runs scored in his last four games.

IN A PINCH: IF Ian Stewart drove in two runs with a pinch-hit triple in the eighth inning yesterday. Stewart is 1-for-3 coming off the bench this year and the team is 4-for-20 with a triple, a home run, and four RBI. Stewart snapped an 0-for-13 streak over his last five games with the hit.

WALK THIS WAY: 2B Logan Watkins drew a walk yesterday, ending a streak of six straight games without taking a base on balls. Watkins hadn't gone more than two games without a walk before that stretch. He ranks third in the league with 27 walks in 33 games.

BOS-"CAN" HIT: C J.C. Boscan finished 2-for-4 with a double and scored a run on Saturday night. In his last five games, Boscan is batting .412 (7-for-17) with a double, two RBI, and thre runs scored. Boscan has hit safely in 16 of 20 games for the season and is hitting .338 (23-for-68) on the year. Boscan entered this season with a career .222 batting average in 1,107 minor league games.

PUT IN CHARGE: RH Zach Putnam pitched a scoreless eighth inning to earn a hold on Saturday night. After allowing five runs in his first 2.1 innings, Putnam has allowed just one run in 12 innings over his last 10 appearances. He hasn't allowed any runs in six innings over his last five games.

INJURY REPORT: IF Edwin Maysonet was placed on the disabled list on May 9 with a sprained right ankle.