Iowa Game Notes - June 3 @ OKC

TONIGHT'S GAME: Iowa and Oklahoma City play the third and final game of the rain-shortened series tonight. The I-Cubs are in the midst of a six game winning streak as they swept Albuquerque at Principal Park prior to this road trip. Iowa had dropped 10 of 11 contests entering that series. Oklahoma City one half game ahead of Omaha for the PCL American North division lead, but has dropped nine of its last 11 contests to let Iowa creep within a game. 

ABOUT WEDNESDAY: Drew Rucinski pitched seven strong innings as Iowa downed Oklahoma City. After giving up a first-inning run to the Dodgers, Rucinski rebounded to allow just five hits through the next six frames, while striking out seven total and only issuing one walk. The righty earned his second consecutive win and improved to 4-4 on the season. Entering the ninth with a 5-2 lead, the I-Cubs had almost closed the door on the ballgame, before three walks from Carl Edwards Jr. loaded the bases for Oklahoma City. The Dodgers were down to their final strike, but Scott Van Slyke roped a single to left field to pull the home team within one and keep the game alive. Edwards Jr. was able to dial in and struck out Austin Barnes to put the cap on an Iowa win and take his first save of the season. 

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY: Last night was Iowa's fourth rain out of the season and third on the road. Iowa was postponed on back-to-back nights at Round Rock, April 17-18, and lost a game on April 30 at home against Colorado Springs. The I-Cubs and Zephyrs were suspended on April 21 in New Orleans, but the game was picked up and finished the following day. 

SIXES: Iowa's six game winning streak is a season best. The last time the team won six in a row was Aug. 26-31, 2015. That time, the streak was snapped by Oklahoma City in game one of a double-header on Sept. 1 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Iowa hasn't won seven in a row since April 21-May 1 (G1), 2014. 

K COUNTER: Iowa whiffed 12 batters Wednesday, the 10th time the I-Cubs' pitching staff has struck out 12 or more batters in a game this season and the 14th outing of striking out 10 or more. Iowa ranks fourth in the league with 435 strikeouts, trailing Nashville (480), Oklahoma City (459) and Fresno (453). Drew Rucinski paces Iowa with 48 Ks and is tied for the ninth-most in the PCL. 

LEAGUE LEADERS: The six game win streak has propelled several I-Cubs into the top batting categories in the Pacific Coast League. Daniel Vogelbach and Willson Contreras are representing Iowa in on-base percentage with .429 and .427 respective clips, good for third and fourth in the league. Vogelbach also holds the second spot for base on balls (32) and fellow I-Cub John Andreoli is in third with 31. Contreras also places eighth in batting with a .337 average. 

AGAINST OKLAHOMA CITY: Iowa and Oklahoma City meet for the second time this season and the first at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The Dodgers won the last series between the two teams, 3-1 at Principal Park and have won 7 of the last 10 contests against the I-Cubs. Iowa is hitting .300 against the Dodgers, while limiting them to a .250 average. 

WHAT A TRIP(LE): Three I-Cubs -- John Andreoli, Juan Perez and Willson Contreras -- smashed triples Tuesday night in Iowa's victory over Oklahoma City. It was the first time this season that three Iowa players have recorded triples in the same game. Iowa followed this effort with two triples Wednesday; one off the bat of Arismendy Alcantara, Iowa's all-time career triples leader, and the other from Dan Vogelbach, his first of the season and sixth of his career. Iowa is third in the league with 22 triples this season. 

ON A ROLL: To say that Willson Contreras has found his groove is a vast understatement. He is in the midst of an 11-game hitting streak in which he is hitting .362 (17-for-49) with four doubles, a triple, 16 RBI and five home runs, including a grand slam on Monday, the second of his career. His RBI total ranks third in the PCL over this span and his 10 extra-base hits are also third best. 

HOLY BULLPEN: Armando Rivero pitched a solid two innings for Iowa Tuesday night, limiting the Dodgers to just one hit and whiffing three batters. Through 85 batters faced this season, he has kept opponents to a .153 average, coming in at third in the Pacific Coast league for lowest batting average for a relief pitcher. He trails only New Orleans' Brian Ellington (.133) and fellow I-Cub Felix Pena (.136). Despite throwing from the 'pen, Rivero has claimed three wins, the most of any I-Cubs' reliever and second to only Ryan Williams, Jake Buchanan and Drew Rucinski, who all have four. 

SAVE ME SAN FRANCISCO: Despite a shaky ninth, Carl Edwards Jr. collected the save for Iowa Wednesday, his first of the season and first since Aug. 3, 2015 against Colorado Springs. Iowa had not recorded a save since May 4 when Brandon Gomes closed out the game at Nashville. Iowa is tied with Sacramento with a league-worst eight saves. 

PERFECT 10: Iowa rallied for 10 runs in the sixth inning Monday as every batter reached base at least once in the inning. The last time the I-Cubs scored 10 or more runs in an inning was on Aug. 12, 2008 when Iowa scored 12 in the eighth inning against New Orleans. 

SHORT HOPS: Willson Contreras has reached base in 41 of 44 games this season ... Logan Watkins is riding a season-best four game hit streak ... Felix Pena has not allowed a run in 9.2 IP (6 appearances)