Games Notes for Monday, May 19
YESTERDAY: The Cubs were swept by the Round Rock Express as they fell 9-1 yesterday. Despite striking out nine and picking up his third quality start, Randy Keilser was tagged with the loss. The Express led 2-1 until the eighth inning when they ran away with the game, scoring seven runs, six earned, off reliever Andy Cavazos. LF Matt Murton went 3-for-3 in the loss, and was a home run shy of the cycle. Murton scored Iowa's only run. Round Rock batted around in the eighth inning. It was the eighth time an opponent has batted around this season and the second time in two games.
ROSTER MOVES: OF Jason Dubois joins the Iowa Cubs this evening after being released by the Columbus Clippers, the triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals on May 18. This is his third stint with the Iowa Cubs. He played 113 games with the Iowa Cubs in the 2004 and 2005 seasons. LHP Rich Hill was retroactivated on the disabled list to May 17. He left Friday's game with a stiff back after allowing three runs on two hits. 1B/OF Micah Hoffpauir was selected by Chicago Sunday when INF Daryle Ward was placed on the 15-day disabled list. Hoffpauir was hitting .324 (11-for-34) with three home runs, 12 RBI and a .676 slugging percentage in nine games for Iowa this season after missing the first month with a strained left oblique. With the extra roster spot, LHP Carmen Pignatiello was activated from the disabled list May 18.
BULLPEN BLUNDERS: Iowa's relievers have given up more runs (100) and earned runs (87) than the starters. The starting pitchers have allowed 91 runs, 83 of them earned, this season. In 155.1 innings, the bullpen's ERA is 3.69 while the starters have a 4.72 ERA over 204.2 innings of work. However, Cubs' relievers have 11 wins, while the starters have picked up nine.
ROCKED BY ROUND ROCK: The Iowa Cubs were swept by the Round Rock Express with a 9-1 loss yesterday. It was the second time this season the Cubs were swept. Iowa's lost four in a row at Fresno from April 28-May 1. The Express bullpen has been dominant against the I-Cubs this season. In eight games, Round Rock relievers allowed just six runs in 24.2 innings pitched and struck out 28 batters.
SEVENTH INNING SLUMP: In the seventh inning alone, Iowa is outscored 43-11 by their opponents. The Cubs hold the edge in the first three frames of the game, outscoring opponents 87-46, but are outscored 55-54 in the middle three innings and 81-39 in the final three innings of the game.
Vs. ROYALS: Iowa leads the all-time series 109-80. The Roylas won the season series 6-10 last season. The two teams split the eight games at Principal Park while Omaha took six of eight at Rosenblatt. The Cubs are 64-47 all-time when playing in Omaha.
HITTING AWAY: OF Josh Kroeger and OF Matt Murton lead the team with 11 multi-hit games. Murton hit a double and triple yesterday and was 3-for-3 for his second three-hit game of the season.
STREAKERS: 2B Eric Patterson singled last night to extend his season-high hit streak to six games. In those six games he has scored four times, driven in three runs, hit two doubles, stolen two bases and is batting .375 (9-for-24).
ROUGH START: The Iowa Cubs are 0-3 since OF Felix Pie joined the team on May 16. Pie is 0-12 with one walk and two strikeouts.
STREAK SNAPPED: SS Andres Blanco saw his six game hit streak come to an end yesterday when he went 0-for-4. Over the streak, Blanco hit .388 (7-for-18) with three RBI.
JUST PLAY SEVEN: The Cubs are 0-21 when trailing after seven innings, but 19-0 when leading after seven innings of play.