July 22 Game Notes vs. New Orleans

Iowa Cubs (36-63) vs. New Orleans Baby Cakes (47-53)
Sunday, July 22 • 1:08 p.m. • Principal Park • Des Moines, IA
RHP Alec Mills (4-10, 5.03) vs. RHP Odrisamer Despaigne (2-3, 4.82)

TODAY'S GAME: Iowa and New Orleans play their final game of the series today, with Iowa looking to RHP Alec Mills for the series win. Right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne will toe the rubber for New Orleans in the rubber match. Despaigne enters today's game with three starts on the season. The righty is 2-0 at home with a 0.64 ERA over one start and four total appearances, but is 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA on the road--making two starts over four outings. Getting on the board early and often could prove the difference, as Despaigne's ERA hovers around 10.00 over the first and second innings.  
ROSTER ROTATION: RHPs Dillon Maples and Luke Farrell were called up to Chicago yesterday as catcher Ali Solis was been has been added from the disabled list. Iowa's roster is at 24, plus three DL and one Major League rehab.
MAKING A MARK: Since being promoted from Double-A Tennessee on June 5, Dakota Mekkes has tossed 17.2 innings while surrendering four earned runs and converting two out of three saves. Over 14 appearances, the righty has K'd 21 while walking nine for a 2.33 K/BB rate.  
CARRYING THE LOAD: Ryan Court has 19 of the I-Cubs' 68 hits - 28 percent - through their last 10 games. Runners up Mark Zagunis and Taylor Davis each have seven in the same span. Without Court, Iowa would be batting .188 over this stretch.
BY A SMIDGE: Last night was Iowa's second 1-0 loss of the season, while the team fell to 15-15 on the season in one-run games - the eighth-best winning percentage in the league. 1-0 games are a rarity in the hitter-friendly PCL and have only occurred 12 times in 2018. Iowa leads with two 1-0 losses, while Nashville has been on the winning end four times. 
AGAINST NEW ORLEANS: Before Iowa's series win over Nashville (July 12-15) the team's last series victory came on June 28 at New Orleans, when the team took three of four from the Baby Cakes. Iowa's lone series victory at home also came against New Orleans May 25-29. Iowa notched its longest home winning streak during that time, winning five-straight including one game against Omaha. Iowa and New Orleans have played in five one-run games this season with the Cubs leading the series 8-3. 
FIRE IN THE HOLE: Ryan Court continues to wield a red-hot bat, extending his hitting streak to 16 games as he went 2-for-4 -- matching Jason Vosler for the longest hitting streak by an I-Cub this season . Through the streak, Court is batting .464 (26-for-56) with 11 RBI. The utility infielder is batting .361 (48-for-133) since May 21 and leads the PCL with a .556 average (20-for-36) and a .600 on-base percentage after the All-Star break.
TAKE YOUR BASE: Mark Zagunis continued his steady walk rate after drawing a free pass on his team-leading 2-for-3 night. The outfielder holds a healthy lead among I-Cubs with 49 walks, as Bijan Rademacher trails by 17 with 32 BBs. His one walk last night propelled him into sixth place in the PCL, tied with Nick Martini in the category. 
DOUBLE, DOUBLE, DOUBLE: The I-Cubs matched a season-high three double plays in last night's game by way of double play counterparts Court, Bote, Coghlan and Vosler. The I-Cubs now lead opponents in double plays turned, 85 to 73.  
SHORT HOPS: Ryan Court tabbed his 21st multi-hit game of the season last night. Of the 21, eight have come in his last 10 games...last night's 1-0 loss was the ninth time this season Iowa has been shutout, owning a 2-9 record in the category.