April 16 Game Notes at Memphis

Iowa Cubs (3-6) at Memphis Redbirds (9-2)
Monday, April 16 • 11:05 PM CT • AutoZone Park • Memphis, TN
RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (0-2, 6.10) vs. RHP Dakota Hudson (2-0, 4.35)

TODAY'S GAME: Iowa and Memphis play the final game of the four-game set today. The I-Cubs snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Redbirds with a 9-4 victory last yesterday. They need a win to force a series split. 
SAT DOWN: 16 Iowa batters struck out Saturday at the hand of Memphis pitching with 12 delivered by Daniel Poncedeleon. In 2017, Oklahoma City's Wilmer Font struck out 11 Iowa batters on July 21 for a season high by a single opposing pitcher. The last time an opposing team struck out 16 or more batters was Sept. 1, 2015 when Oklahoma City fanned 18 in a 19-inning game. 
IT'S SLOW GOING: Jacob Hannemann has been slow out of spring, batting just .083 (2-for-24) with 10 strikeouts after an 0-for-4 night Saturday. In 2017, the outfielder was 6-for-22 (.273) with five strikeouts through his first six games with Double-A Tennessee. 
IT'S A SEASON OF FIRSTS: Yesterday's offensive breakout marked several 'firsts' in Iowa's season. 
- Rob Zastryzny earned his first win
- Mark Zagunis and Ryan Court hit their first home runs of the season
- Iowa notched its first game with more than two extra-base hits
- Iowa tallied its first multi-homer game
- The I-Cub's collected more than 10 hits for the first time
SOFT CONTACT: In his first start for Iowa this season, Zach Hedges allowed three runs through 5.0 frames, walked two and fanned none. In five career starts for Iowa, this is the second in which he has pitched at least 5.0 innings and not struck out a batter. In 2017, Hedges was one of two Iowa starters, along with Aaron Brooks (5/16), to do so.
AGAINST MEMPHIS: Iowa finished 5-10 against Memphis in 2017, its worst mark against any PCL American Division team. The I-Cubs snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Redbirds yesterday, which matched their longest losing streak against the team set on July 25, 2014-April 10, 2015. David Bote, Mike Freeman and Mark Zagunis are all batting .333 to lead the I-Cubs in the 2018 season match-up. 
KEEP IT IN THE PARK: Iowa has only hit five home runs on the season, but the pitching staff has also only given up five. Iowa trails only Nashville and Omaha (both 2) in home runs allowed this season. The Reno Aces take the bottom of the list with 18 homers allowed. 
HOME RUN HEROS: Three home runs yesterday helped Iowa to victory. Entering the game, Iowa only had two home runs on the season -- both coming off the bat of David Bote. The trio of long balls were Iowa's most in a game since Aug. 1, 2017 in Albuquerque. Bote now ranks fifth in the league, averaging one home run every 9.33 at-bats.
NO CHANCE: Catcher Ali Solis made his first start of the season yesterday after coming off the DL Saturday. Solis cut down both baserunners trying to steal. Iowa catcheres are 3-for-15 (20%) against runners this season. 
SHORT HOPS: Michael Roth is one of two qualifying PCL pitchers with a 0.00 ERA. He is fourth in the league with a 0.83 WHIP and a .161 opponent batting average...Iowa has committed an error in all but one game this season...Iowa ranks last in the PCL in batting average (.209) and slugging (.310)...Iowa is 3-4 on the season when getting out-hit