May 17 Game Notes - Iowa vs. New Orleans

Iowa Cubs (25-16) vs. New Orleans Baby Cakes (21-20)
Friday, May 17 • 7:08 PM • Principal Park • Des Moines, IA
RHP Adbert Alzolay (0-0, -.-) vs. RHP Elieser Hernandez (1-1, 1.16)

TONIGHT'S GAME: After splitting a twin bill on Thursday, the I-Cubs look to start another winning streak on Friday against New Orleans. Friday's game will mark the third of six games against the Baby Cakes. The I-Cubs hold a 3-4 record against New Orleans in 2019.
FEELING GRAND:Dixon Machado became the fifth I-Cub to hit a grand slam this season in game two on Thursday. The blast was his second-career Triple-A grand slam, his other coming on June 10, 2015 with Toledo. He now has seven home runs in 2019, surpassing his single-season best of six set in 2014.
BASES JUICED: The I-Cubs have a PCL-leading 50 at-bats with the bases loaded, hitting at a .340 clip with a league-leading .760 slugging percentage. After Machado's slam on Thursday, the I-Cubs also pace the league with five grand slams and 57 runs scored with the bases full. Iowa had just two grand slams in 2018.
COMMANDING COLLINS: Tim Collins was the lone I-Cub reliever to see action in yesterday's doubleheader. He spun 1.1 innings, allowing just one baserunner via walk. He has pitched to an impressive 0.90 ERA (1 ER/10.0 IP) on the year, allowing just two walks and three hits. The lefty has also shut down opposing left-handers, not allowing a hit to a left-handed batter in 11 plate appearances this season.
DIALED IN: Junichi Tazawa was assigned to the Iowa Cubs on May 12 after beginning the year in Extended Spring. The righty has made two appearances for the I-Cubs and has been locked in. In two innings against the Storm Chasers, Tazawa struck out three batters and has yet to allow a baserunner.
REA OF SUNSHINE: Colin Rea spun 5.0 innings of two-run ball last night and fanned a season-best seven batters along the way. The rain-shortened 5.0-inning game gave Rea the first complete game of his career. Rea has moved into fifth in the PCL with a 2.91 ERA, sixth with a 1.22 WHIP and eighth with a .242 opponent batting average. 
AGAINST NEW ORLEANS: The Baby Cakes hold a 4-3 edge over the I-Cubs on the year. The teams played in their second twin bill of the year on Thursday with similar results. In the first game of both doubleheaders, New Orleans shut out the I-Cubs. Iowa proved resilient in the second game on both occasions, winning each by three runs.
EAGLE EYE: As a team, the Iowa Cubs have reached base via a free pass a PCL-best 178 times this season. Iowa also holds the top three spots in individual base on balls in the league. Phillip Evans and Dixon Machado pace the league with 30 free passes, while Ian Happ is tied for the third-most walks with 26. Happ has walked 23 times in his last 24 games with just 15 strikeouts. The utility man began the season with three walks and 22 strikeouts in his first 14 games. 
OUR FILL OF PHILL: Phillip Evans keeps finding ways to contribute as he is tied for the PCL lead with 30 walks and is 10th with a .434 on-base percentage. In 38 games with the I-Cubs, Evans has reached base in 32 of them. Since April 24, Evans is batting .338 (25-for-74) with six home runs and 18 RBI. His 21 walks and two hit-by-pitches give him a .495 on-base percentage over this span.
COMEBACK CUBS: Iowa holds a 6-4 record in doubleheaders this year, but have only one win in the first game of their five twin bills and have been outscored 23-9. The second game has proven more successful for Iowa, going 5-0 and outscoring opponents 36-14.
ROSTER ROTATION: Just prior to last night's first pitch, Iowa added RHP Adbert Alzolay to the roster in place of RHP Matt Carasiti, who was placed on the injured list. RHP Ryan Williams and LHP Alberto Baldonado were released. 
SHORT HOPS: Iowa is 18-0 when scoring six or more runs in a game...Ian Happ has walked 23 times in his last 24 games...Colin Rea is now tied for third in the PCL with four wins...Johnny Field is fourth in the PCL with 13 doubles.