Iowa Cubs (41-33) vs. Round Rock Express (43-30)Saturday, June 22 • 7:08 PM • Principal Park • Des Moines, IARHP Craig Kimbrel (0-0, -0.00) vs. LHP Ryan Hartman (5-6, 4.74)
Iowa Cubs (41-33) vs. Round Rock Express (43-30)
Saturday, June 22 • 7:08 PM • Principal Park • Des Moines, IA
RHP Craig Kimbrel (0-0, -0.00) vs. LHP Ryan Hartman (5-6, 4.74)
TONIGHT'S GAME: Round Rock snapped the I-Cubs four-game winning streak with a 6-5 victory in 10 innings on Friday night. The I-Cubs will look to avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time since their six-game skid June 4-9 and improve upon their 18-14 record following a loss.
STREAKING: Jim Adduci extended his hitting streak to 17 games, the longest streak for an I-Cub in 2019. Over the 17-game stretch, Iowa's first baseman is hitting at a .382 clip (26-for-68) with six doubles, four home runs and 20 RBI. Adduci recorded a multi-hit game in eight of the 17 games, while scoring a pair of ninth inning runs in the current series against Round Rock. Trent Giambrone snapped his season-long streak of seven games on Friday going 0-for-4 with a walk.
DON'T MISS A BEAT: Since returning from the IL, shortstop Dixon Machado is hitting at a .320 pace (8-for-25) with four doubles and a home run. The I-Cubs are 5-2 since Machado returned to the lineup, with both losses ending in extra innings. Iowa hold a 30-20 mark this season when Machado is in the starting lineup.
GET IT TO THE PEN: Iowa's bullpen has been excellent over its last three games. The bullpen has provided 9.0 innings of relief while allowing no earned runs on five hits. They have 11 strikeouts and two walks in during the three-game stretch.
DAZZLING DEBUT:Adbert Alzolay made his major league debut as a reliever on Thursday night for the Chicago Cubs against the New York Mets. Alzolay was the first I-Cub to make his major league debut this year and became the first Cub to earn the win in his major league debut since Ryan O'Malley in 2006. He also became the first Cubs reliever to win in his debut since Marc Pisciotta in 1997. The righty threw 4.0 innings allowing one run on one hit (a solo home run), walked two and struck out five. Alzolay became the 16th player to suit up for both Iowa and Chicago so far in 2019.
AGAINST ROUND ROCK: Round Rock and Iowa have split their six meetings in 2019. Iowa holds a slight edge in run differential, holding a 26-24 lead. The two clubs were evenly matched in last year's meetings, with the Express taking the season series 8-6, while outscoring Iowa 65-60 over the 14 games.
ROUND ROCK RAKERS:Robel Garcia has been outstanding against Round Rock this season, batting at a .455 pace (10-for-22) with eight runs scored, three doubles, three home runs, and three runs batted in. Dixon Machado has also had success in his two games versus the Express this year, going 3-for-7 with a double and a home run while driving in five runs. Three regulars to the I-Cubs lineup, Donnie Dewees (.118, 2-for-17), Ian Happ (.080, 2-for-25), and Trent Giambrone (.150, 3-for-20), have been stymied thus far by the Express pitching staff. Each player has hit a home run against Round Rock this season, and Dewees tripled in Friday's contest. Happ has been struck out 12 times by eight different Express pitchers this season.
PCL HONORS: PCL Player of the Week Alec Mills had a solid start on Friday, but was haunted by a pair of home runs in the no-decision. Mills had allowed just one long ball over his previous five starts. He snapped a four-game stretch of allowing three runs or fewer.
ALL-STAR FEELING: Seven-time All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel is made his Principal Park debut in his second appearance for Iowa Friday night. Kimbrel spun a scoreless eighth inning, his only blemish being a one-out double from Kyle Tucker who was left stranded at third base.
SHORT HOPS: Iowa is 1-7 in primetime Friday and Saturday home games, while holding an 0-5 mark with an attendance of 8,000+ at Principal Park...Donnie Dewees had his second error of 2019 in the ninth inning on Friday...Tony Barnette has spun his 10th-consecutive scoreless outings in his second rehab stint with Iowa.
