May 18 Game Notes - Iowa vs. New Orleans

Iowa Cubs (25-17) vs. New Orleans Baby Cakes (22-20)
Saturday, May 18 • 4:38 PM • Principal Park • Des Moines, IA
RHP Alec Mills (0-1, 8.10) vs. RHP Dustin Beggs (1-1, 4.40)

TONIGHT'S GAME: Iowa will look to even the six-game series after losing game three last night against New Orleans by a final score of 9-5. The I-Cubs are 3-5 overall against New Orleans in 2019 and hold a 2-3 record at Principal Park.
A COOLING BREEZE: On May 10, Donnie Dewees was the I-Cubs' hottest hitter. He was hitting .345 and had a 14-game hit streak. Since that streak was snapped, Dewees has seen just one hit in his last 20 at-bats (.050), bringing his average on the season down to .288. In his first 27 games of the season, he struck out just nine times. After striking out again last night, he now has five strikeouts in his last five games. 
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.
FIRST PITCH MEANS GO: Iowa has trailed in each game this homestand, allowing at least one run in either the first or second inning every game. The I-Cubs are 1-6 on the homestand and 15-13 in 2019 when their opponent scores first. 
EAGLE EYE: As a team, the Iowa Cubs have reached base via a free pass a PCL-best 180 times this season. Iowa also holds the top three spots in individual base on balls in the league. Dixon Machado surpassed Phillip Evans with a walk last night to take over the PCL league with 31 free passes. Evans has 30 walks, good enough for second in the PCL, while Ian Happ has the fourth-most walks with 26. 
DIALED IN: After allowing two runs to score in one inning of work against Omaha on May 6, reliever Rowan Wick has not allowed an opponent to cross the plate since. In three appearances, Wick has thrown 6.2 innings, including a career-high 2.2 innings against Omaha on May 13. The righty has surrendered just three hits and two free passes while striking out four over this three-game stretch. Wick has lowered his ERA from 4.38 to 2.84 and opponents are batting just .130 off the righty in this span. 
AGAINST NEW ORLEANS: The Baby Cakes hold a 5-3 edge over the I-Cubs on the year. In those eight games, New Orleans is outscoring Iowa 43-30 as the Baby Cakes hold a .281 average in the matchup, while holding the I-Cubs to a .210 clip. 
PHILL IT UP: Phillip Evans keeps finding ways to contribute as he is second behind teammate Dixon Machado in the PCL with 30 walks. In 40 games with the I-Cubs, Evans has reached base in 34 of them. Since April 24, Evans is batting .346 (27-for-78) 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.
FOURTH INNING TROUBLES: The I-Cubs have surrendered 38 runs in the fourth inning this year, nine more than any other inning. In 10 of the team's 17 losses this season, they have given up at least one run in the fourth inning. 
COMMANDING COLLINS: Tim Collins was the lone I-Cub reliever to see action in Thursday'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.
GET TO THE PEN: The starting rotation is the strength of this Baby Cakes team with a PCL-best 3.49 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and .224 batting average against. They are the only starting staff in the PCL with more than 200 innings pitched and over 200 strikeouts. However, the bullpen owns a 5.31 ERA (79 ER/134.0 IP) with nine losses, 10 blown saves and has surrendered 31 home runs. 
SHORT HOPS: Iowa is 18-0 when scoring six or more runs in a game...Righty Adbert Alzolay surrendered five earned runs, three walks and four hits while striking out six in his first game back with the I-Cubs last night...Colin Rea is now tied for third in the PCL with four wins...Johnny Field is fourth in the PCL with 13 doubles...Ian Happ doubled last night for his first extra-base hit since May 5...Robel Garcia knocked his first Triple-A home run in the sixth inning last night.