PCL Semifinals Game 4 Notes - Iowa vs. Round Rock
Iowa Cubs (1-2) vs. Round Rock Express (2-1)Saturday, Sept. 7 - 7:08 PM - Principal Park - Des MoinesRHP Matt Swarmer (10-11, 5.65) vs. RHP Cristian Javier (0-0, 1.64)
Iowa Cubs (1-2) vs. Round Rock Express (2-1)
Saturday, Sept. 7 - 7:08 PM - Principal Park - Des Moines
RHP
TONIGHT'S GAME: After staving off elimination on Friday, the I-Cubs host the Round Rock Express on Saturday at Principal Park looking to force a deciding game five on Sunday. The Express had rattled off six straight victories over the I-Cubs prior to Friday's game. This is Iowa's first postseason appearance since 2008 and fifth since joining the PCL in 1998.
AGAINST ROUND ROCK: Prior to last night's 3-2 victory, the I-Cubs held a 1-10 mark in games decided by one or two runs against Round Rock this season. All three playoff games to this point have been one-run games. Iowa holds a 31-30 mark in such games in 2019. The postseason series thus far has been a close affair, with the Express outhitting Iowa .229-.212, but Iowa leading the way in extra-base hits holding a 6-5 advantage. Round Rock has had Iowa's number in recent seasons, holding a 52-28 edge since 2015. Iowa's last winning campaign vs. the Express came with a 9-7 season series in 2014.
JUMBO JIM: After going 0-for-9 through the first two playoff games in Round Rock,
MACHIN-LIKE EFFORT:
HIT PEREDA: In his first Triple-A outing,
BOISTEROUS BULLPEN: After a pair of heart-breaking outings in extra innings, the I-Cub bullpen recovered nicely by clinging onto the slim lead on Friday. The bullpen has combined for a 4.15 ERA (6ER/13.0IP) in the three playoff games. Manager Marty Pevey called upon the trio of
SIT 'EM DOWN: Iowa will send
WELL WHAT HAPPENED WAS: Last time the I-Cubs won their division, they faced the Oklahoma City Redhawks, a Texas Rangers' affiliate, and lost three games to two in the first round. Iowa's Game 5 was a 16-5 route in which the Redhawks out-hit the I-Cubs 12-10 but drew nine walks and blasted six home runs -- including a fourth-inning grand slam off the bat of Travis Metcalf . Iowa has won just one championship in its 51-season history with an American Association title in 1993. Tuffy Rhodes hit a walk-off home run in the 11th inning of Game 7 to win it for the Iowa Cubs.
ON THE MEND:
OVER THE LINE: Jim Adduci finished the regular season batting .301 after hitting .217 (23-for-106) through his first 33 games. He became the first I-Cub to hit over .300 with 100+ games in a season since Josh Vitters batted .304 through 110 games in 2012. Adduci is the first left-handed hitter to accomplish the feat since Brian LaHair hit .331 through 129 games in 2011.
EXTRA, EXTRA: With Thursday's extra-inning loss, Iowa fell to 6-9 when tied after eight innings and to 2-7 in extra frames. The I-Cubs are 1-5 all-time in postseason extra-inning contests. The one victory secured the American Association Championship for Iowa in 1993 with an 11-inning, walk-off win in Game 7.
SHORT HOPS: Through three games in this series,