May 19 Game Notes vs. Omaha

Iowa Cubs (13-26) vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (15-26)
Saturday, May 19 • 7:08 p.m. CT • Principal Park • Des Moines, IA
RHP Adbert Alzolay (2-2, 4.10) vs. RHP Glenn Sparkmann (1-0, 1.50)

TONIGHT'S GAME: Iowa and Omaha square off in game three of the set tonight. Iowa has been unlucky against Omaha at home this season, dropping four of six games thus far at Principal Park. Right-hander Adbert Alzolay and company look to chip away at the crooked number tonight in his sixth start in Triple-A. After securing two wins, including a 7.0 inning victory versus Omaha, the Cubs' top prospect has taken a dip in his last two appearances, going 4.2 innings a start and surrendering a combined eight earned runs.  
BERNARD'S BREAKOUT NIGHT: After hitting just .174 (6-for-34) in his last 10 games, Wynton Bernard led the Iowa offense going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, his first home run and an RBI-all while raising his batting average 24 points. His defense was equally impressive with a grab at the warning track to keep Omaha from extra-bases in the ninth. Bernard has been all or nothing this season, recording six multi-hit games and 17 0-fer contests. 
HOME RUN HAPPY: Iowa broke its nine-game home run drought last night with three long balls. Mike Freeman, Efren Navarro and Wynton Bernard's three homers were the first multi-home run game since Mike Freeman's career three-homer night on April 30 in which the club hit a combined five long balls. The I-Cubs still rank third-to-last in home runs, edging only Omaha (22) and New Orleans (19). On the flip side, Iowa has given up just 27 homers as a pitching staff, fourth-fewest in the PCL.  
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST: The Iowa offense tagged Omaha for its second-highest offensive production with 13 hits in last night's loss. Eight of nine bats in the lineup participated in the offense, with Efren Navarro, Chris Gimenez and Mike Freeman all going 2-for-4. Both Navarro and Freeman had two RBI, a home run and scored a combined four runs (Freeman, 3R). Navarro leads the team with six multi-RBI games on the season. 
THAT'S BIG LEAGUE: Left-hander Randy Rosario was recalled by Chicago for the double-header against the Cincinnati Reds today. In his Cubs debut, Rosario pitched two hitless innings while walking one and striking out two. Upon his departure from Iowa, the lefty owned the best ERA on the I-Cubs staff at 0.52, giving up just one earned run in 17.1 innings
AGAINST OMAHA: Iowa tallied its second series win of the season last time the two teams met, as the I-Cubs took three of four at Werner Park. The series victory was part of an eight-game, 6-2 record road trip, included as season-high five-game win streak. Historically, the I-Cubs are 96-68 at Principal Park against Omaha. Mark Zagunis leads the active roster with a .333 average (8-for-24). The Iowa roster as a whole is batting .280 and the pitching staff has compiled a 3.96 ERA. 
CONSISTENT CUBBIES: With last night's 2-for-4 effort, Chris Gimenez secured his sixth consecutive game with a hit. The catcher has notched a hit in nine out of his last 10 contests with 11 hits and a .305 average during the span. Gimenez and Mike Freeman are the two I-Cubs carrying a five-plus game hit streak, with Chesny Young trailing by just one game at four. 
BOTE BACK:David Bote returns to the I-Cubs tonight after logging 10 at-bats with a .400 average in five games for Chicago. Prior to his call up, Bote returns to a team-leading .333 average (27-for-81 and five home runs with Iowa. He will pick up a nine-game hitting streak in which the infielder is 16-for-34 (.470) with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBI.  
LACK-LUSTER LATE-INNINGS: The I-Cubs are still searching for a balance when unable to jump on the board first. The club has yet to win a game when the opposing team scores first, going 0-for-18. Last night's ninth-inning rally almost offset the 0-21 record when trailing after eight innings, but only added to a lack-luster 1-21 record when trailing after six. 
E-FREE: The I-Cubs matched their longest errorless streak at four clean games of defense. Iowa has bookended its one error on May 12 against Round Rock with a total of eight games of a perfect fielding percentage. 
#GOLDENSEA50N: Iowa sports Oaks jerseys tonight in honor of the team nickname from 1969-81.
SHORT HOPS: Mike Freeman's three runs last night matched a season high for an I-Cubs previously accomplished by Freeman April 20 versus Omaha...Iowa is 5-14 in home games this season.