Game Notes for Sunday, June 1

TODAY'S GAME: The Iowa Cubs and Nashville Sounds play game two of a four-game series. The Sounds are the Pacific Coast League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. This is the sixth game of what was supposed to be a nine-game road trip in eight days for the Cubs. The Cubs are 1-4 on this trip after losing a series in Memphis that included one game lost to rain.

NASTY NELSON: RH Jimmy Nelson set a career-high with 11 strikeouts in 7.2 innings to lead the Sounds to a 2-1 victory over the Cubs last night. In four starts against the Cubs this year, Nelson is 2-1 with a 2.03 ERA (6ER/26.2IP) and 31 strikeouts. The Cubs' only run came on a sacrifice fly by Jonathan Mota in the seventh inning, snapping a streak of 12 consecutive scoreless innings for Nelson against the Cubs over his last two outings. Donovan Hand finished the final 1.1 innings and struck out three more Cubs to earn his league-leading 11th save of the season. Sounds' pitchers have struck out 139 Cubs in 113.1 innings this season.

TOUGH LUCK RUSIN: LH Chris Rusin (3-7) allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings to post his seventh quality start in 10 outings this season, but suffered the loss last night. He gave up a solo homer to Hunter Morris in the second inning and the Sounds scratched across a run in the bottom of the seventh thanks to an error on a pickoff attempt and a bloop double over a drawn-in infield. Rusin is tied with LH Yohan Flande of Colorado Springs for the league lead in losses this season. Rusin is 0-4 in four starts against the Sounds this year, despite a solid 3.96 ERA (11ER/25.0IP). The Cubs have scored a total of five runs in his four starts against Nashville.

TRIPLE THREAT: OF Brett Jackson led the Cubs on offense last night, going 2-for-3 with a triple, was hit by a pitch, and scored the Cubs' only run. His triple came in the seventh inning on a fly ball into the twilight sky that Caleb Gindl and Sean Halton couldn't see. It was Jackson's second triple of the season and the 19th of his Iowa career. Jackson is tied with Brian Guinn (1988-91) for fourth on Iowa's career triples list. The record is 23, shared by Billy Hatcher (1984-85) and Chico Walker (1985-87, '90). Sam Fuld (2007-10) is third with 20. Jackson led the PCL with 12 triples in 2012. He has hit safely in a season-high five straight games. 

VS. SOUNDS: The Sounds lead this series 1-0 and lead the season series 7-6. This four-game set will complete the regular season series between these two clubs. The Cubs won the first series 3-1 at Principal Park, April 7-10, and the Sounds returned the favor in the first series at Greer Stadium, May 2-5. The teams split a four-game series in Des Moines, May 10-13. This is the Cubs' final visit to historic Greer Stadium as the Sounds have broken ground on a new stadium that is due to open next season. The Sounds have outscored the Cubs 54-49 on the year. Five of the games have been decided by four runs or more. The Sounds lead the all-time PCL series 132-104, including a 74-42 mark in their home games.

TEAM SLUMP: The Cubs have scored a total of eight runs in five games while starting 1-4 on this road trip - and a total of two runs in the four losses, including two shutouts. The Cubs have been shut out six times this season and are tied with New Orleans for the most in the league. The Cubs have also been limited to one run in 11 games this year and are 1-10 in those contests. The Cubs were last in the league in batting in April (.242) and last in the league in batting for May (.241). The Cubs are also last in the league in runs (223), slugging (.378), and tied for last with Colorado Springs in OBP (.314) for the year.

GOPHER BALLS: With a home run by Hunter Morris of the Sounds last night, the Cubs have allowed at least one home run in six straight games and 13 of their last 14. The Cubs have allowed 50 home runs this season. That ranks 10th in the PCL. Round Rock leads the league with 68 homers allowed this year.

ARMS RACE: The Cubs rank third in the league with a 3.87 ERA (199ER/463.1IP). The team has issued the fewest walks (131) and ranks fifth in strikeouts (443).

NIFTY AT FIFTY: RH Blake Parker finished the bottom of the seventh inning on Friday night to record his team-leading ninth save of the season. He ranks fourth in the league in saves, despite two stints with Chicago this year. Friday night's save was the 50th of Parker's Iowa career. He is the franchise's all-time saves leader. He has allowed one run and one walk all season while striking out 17 batters in 12.2 innings.