May 20 Game Notes - Iowa vs. Omaha

Iowa Cubs (13-27) vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (16-26)
Sunday, May 20 • 1:08 p.m. CT • Principal Park • Des Moines, IA
RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (1-4, 7.85) vs. RHP Trevor Oaks (2-3, 3.15)

TODAY'S GAME: Iowa will try to split the series with Omaha this afternoon by sending Jen-Ho Tseng to the mound. Tseng has struggled mightily this year, tallying a 1-4 record with a 7.85 ERA. The Storm Chasers will throw Trevor Oaks, who is 2-3 with a 3.15 ERA. This is the third time Oaks will be pitching against an Iowa Cubs lineup this season.  
TSENG'S STARTING: Today's starting pitcher Jen-Ho Tseng is squaring off against the Omaha Storm Chasers for the third time in his career. In three starts, Tseng has given up 11 earned runs in 17.1 innings pitched equaling a 5.79 ERA. Tseng's most recent start against the Storm Chasers came on May 2 where he was roughed around, throwing five innings and surrendering seven earned runs. 
FEEL THE BERN:Wynton Bernard went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles last night, accounting for nearly 1/3 of Iowa's offense. Bernard is on a tear, going 5-for-7 through his last two games with two doubles and a home run. This is the just the third time this season Bernard has hit safely in two-straight games. Bernard has been all or nothing this season, recording seven multi-hit games and 17 0-fer contests. Of his 20 hits this season, 10 have fallen for extra bases (7 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR). 
CLOSE THE GAP: Iowa fell to a league-low 3-9 in two-run games last night with the 2-4 loss to Omaha. The I-Cubs are also in the basement in one-run games with a 3-7 record. Of Iowa's 40 games this season, 29 have been decided by two or fewer runs with the I-Cubs coming out on the winning end just eight times in close games. 
FLASHING THE LEATHER: The I-Cubs are currently riding a six game errorless streak, which is their longest of the season. The team is starting to climb out of the bottom of the PCL in defensive statistics ranking 13th in the league in fielding percentage (.987) and errors committed (32). 
NEED TO BITE FIRST: The Iowa Cubs have moved to 0-18 when opposing teams score first on the year. The team is a 1-23 in games where they are trailing after the seventh inning with the I-Cubs picking up that lone win against the Memphis Redbirds on April 15. 
AGAINST OMAHA: Wins against Omaha at Principal Park have been hard to come by as Iowa is 2-5 this season. Overall, the Storm Chasers hold a slight 6-5 edge in the season series, though the I-Cubs are far outperforming in the set. Iowa is batting .275 with a 3.96 ERA, while Omaha holds .248 and 4.53 marks. Wynton Bernard leads Iowa's active roster in the matchup, going 10-for-28 with four doubles, one home runs and four RBI. Efren Navarro is 14-for-44 (.318) with two doubles, three home runs and 12 RBI. 
RYAN'S ROCKIN': Kyle Ryan replaced Adbert Alzolay in last night's contest pitching 3.2 scoreless innings. Ryan has only thrown 10.2 innings this year with the I-Cubs, but has a team low 0.84 ERA. The lefty has been dominating right-handed hitters as they're 5-for-32 (.156) on the year. 
FREEMAN'S ON FIRE:Mike Freeman added another 2-for-4 performance to his name after last night's contest. Freeman currently has a six game hitting streak in place (9-for-25, .375) He has also been crushing Storm Chasers pitching going 12-for 39 (.308) with four home runs and nine RBI in nine games played against them this season. 
THAT'S A RELIEF: RHP Anthony Bass and LHP Kyle Ryan pitched a combined 4.2 scoreless innings in relief last night. In 68.0 innings pitched during May, the team has given up 30 earned runs which marks a 3.97 ERA. Current I-Cub Cory Mazzoni hasn't given up an earned run all May, while Rob Zastryzny has been knocked around giving up a team-high seven earned runs over the same time frame. 
HOME TURF: Principal Park has been tough on Iowa this season as the team is just 5-15 at home. The I-Cubs stats are similar in home vs. road games, as the team is working a .257 average and 4.03 ERA at home and a .241 average with a 4.27 ERA on the road. However, opponents have out-scored Iowa 96-79 at Principal Park.  
SHORT HOPS: In his return to the I-Cubs from Chicago, David Bote went 0-for-4 last night to snap a nine-game hitting streak...Chesny Young is riding a four-game hitting streak (6-for-18, .333).