April 15 Game Notes at Memphis

Iowa Cubs (2-6) at Memphis Redbirds (9-1)
Sunday, April 15 • 2:05 PM CT • AutoZone Park • Memphis, TN
RHP Zach Hedges (0-0, -.--) vs. RHP John Gant (2-0, 0.69)

TODAY'S GAME: Iowa and Memphis play game three of the four-game set today at AutoZone Park. The I-Cubs need a win today to avoid losing the series. 
ON THIS DATE IN IOWA HISTORY...Alfredo Amezaga went 5-for-7 at Round Rock in 2012 as the nine-hole hitter. Amezaga's five hits contributed to Iowa's 22 total hits in an 11-10 loss in 13 innings. Amezaga had four singles and one double. 
BACK IN MY DAY: In 2004, Memphis manager Stubby Clapp was a 31-year-old utility man, suiting up for Triple-A Syracuse under the leadership of manager Marty Pevey. Clapp played 29 games for Pevey, batting .287 (25-for-87) with eight doubles, two triples and six RBI.
SAT DOWN: 16 Iowa batters struck out last night at the hand of Memphis pitching with 12 delivered by Daniel Poncedeleon. In 2017, Oklahoma City's Wilmer Font struck out 11 Iowa batters on July 21 for a season high by a single opposing pitcher. The last time an opposing team struck out 16 or more batters was Sept. 1, 2015 when Oklahoma City fanned 18 in a 19-inning game. 
THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED: David Bote connected for his second home run of the season last night. Bote is the only I-Cub with a home run this season. The 24-year-old hit a career-best 14 home runs for Double-A Tennessee in 2017 and has 41 career long balls.  
IT'S SLOW GOING: Jacob Hannemann has been slow out of spring, batting just .083 (2-for-24) with 10 strikeouts after an 0-for-4 night last night. In 2017, the outfielder was 6-for-22 (.273) with five strikeouts through his first six games with Double-A Tennessee. 
AGAINST MEMPHIS: Iowa finished 5-10 against Memphis in 2017, its worst mark against any PCL American Division team. The I-Cubs have dropped seven-straight contests to the Redbirds, matching their longest losing streak against the team set on July 25, 2014-April 10, 2015. Stephen Bruno carried the I-Cubs in the matchup last season, batting .391 (9-for-23) through 13 games. 
ON THE MOUND: Righty Zach Hedges makes his Iowa season debut in a spot-start today. Hedges made four starts with the I-Cubs in 2017, going 0-3 with an 11.94 ERA (23ER/17.1IP). He walked 10 and fanned five. 
THE RUNDOWN: Nine of Iowa's 19 runs this season have scored in extras with the help of a runner at second to begin the inning. Five of the 19 runs (26%) were unearned. 
HEY, BATTER BATTER: Iowa's average of 6.13 hits per game (49H/8G) is just in front of Omaha at the bottom of the PCL (48H/8G), just out of last in the league. Albuquerque leads the group with 11.60 hits per game (106H/9G). Iowa's high of eight hits in a game this season also ranks last. 
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Memphis tagged Iowa pitchers with six doubles Friday, matching a high allowed by Iowa in 2017. The last time an opponent roped six doubles against Iowa was July 2 against Round Rock. Memphis also snagged a triple and a home run for a total of eight extra-base hits. In 2017, opponents only matched this mark twice and exceeded it twice (9).
SHORT HOPS: Michael Roth is one of five qualifying PCL pitchers with a 0.00 ERA. He is fourth in the league with a 0.83 WHIP...Iowa is batting .178 (38-for-213) against righties and .282 (11-for-39) against left-handers.