Game Notes - 7.26.17 at El Paso

Iowa Cubs (46-54) vs. El Paso Chihuahuas (53-47)
RHP Seth Frankoff (1-5, 4.12) vs. RHP Michael Kelly (2-2, 6.23)
8:05 p.m. CT | Southwest University Park | El Paso, TX

TONIGHT'S GAME: Iowa and El Paso meet for the second game of a four-game series tonight at Southwest University Park. Last night, the I-Cubs defeated the Chihuahuas 2-1 and were powered by left-hander Rob Zastryzny's six-inning, one-run effort. The I-Cubs sit at 46-54 at the 100-game point of the season, three games better than they were last season after 100 games.
THREE'S COMPANY: The I-Cubs recorded just three hits last night and still won, their fewest number of hits in a winning effort since June 25, 2015 when Iowa recorded two hits in a 1-0 seven-inning victory vs. Omaha. Tuesday's three-hit effort marks the fourth time this season that Iowa has recorded exactly three hits in a game, also occurring on 4/9 at OKC, 5/23 vs. REN, 6/19 vs. OMA and 7/5 at OKC. The only time this season that Iowa recorded fewer than three hits in a contest came on April 14 vs. New Orleans when the I-Cubs were no-hit.
CATCH SOME Z'S: Iowa starter Rob Zastryzny dazzled in his return to Iowa after missing time with a strained lat. He went six innings and gave up just one earned run on three hits and a home run, walked none and struck out six. Zastryzny left El Paso hitters kerfuffled, getting through his outing with Maddux-like efficiency by tossing just 60 pitches (47 strikes). For the left-hander, it was his longest outing at any level since August 7 last season, when he went six scoreless innings with Iowa.
A TON OF ONE RUN: Iowa played in its 31st one-run game of the season last night, improving to 17-14 (.548) in one-run contests. Iowa's .548 winning percentage in one-run games ranks seventh in the PCL. The 31 one-run ball games are second-most in the PCL, trailing only Sacramento's 32 (14-18, .438). Last season, the I-Cubs went 20-21 (.488) in one-run games, which was tied for sixth-most one-run games.
100% OF THE OFFENSE:Mark Zagunis hit a two-run home run in the top of the third on Tuesday, accounting for all of Iowa's offense in the 2-1 win. Zagunis now has 12 home runs on the season, a career-high. Last season, he hit 10 home runs between Double-A Tennessee and Iowa. His 12 home runs lead the I-Cubs this season, with Jeimer Candelario's 10 homers ranking second.
AGAINST EL PASO: Iowa and El Paso will meet for the first and only time this season for a four-game series at Southwest University Park. Last season, the I-Cubs went 1-3 against the Chihuahuas at Principal Park from May 23-26. In that series, El Paso outscored Iowa, 24-13. Iowa's lone win in that series was a Rob Zastryzny start on May 24 in which he pitched seven innings and earned his first career Triple-A win. Willson Contreras also homered in an 8-3 Iowa win.
ROAD SERIES DROUGHT: The I-Cubs have not won a road series in over two months, when they took three of four from Las Vegas in mid-May. Since that series, Iowa has played in six road series, going 0-3-3. It's the longest drought between Iowa road series victories in terms of days since the 2013 season, when Iowa's final victory in a road series that season came on June 27-30 in Omaha. The I-Cubs would not win another road series that season, going 0-6-2 in their remaining eight road series.
VACCUM CLEANER: With a .977 fielding percentage (4E/174TC) at third base, Jeimer Candelario paces PCL third baseman. His last error came on June 22. Candelario is the top-rated third base prospect according to MLB.com.
NO WALKS/10+ K AS A STAFF: Last night, Iowa pitchers Rob Zastryzny (6.0IP, 6K), Felix Peña (1.1IP, 2K), Jack Leathersich (0.2IP, 1K) and Matt Carasiti (1.0IP, 2K) combined for no walks and 11 strikeouts against the Chihuahuas. For Iowa, it's just the second time this season that the pitching staff has walked none and struck out at least 10. On May 21 vs. Tacoma, I-Cubs pitchers Aaron Brooks (6.2IP, 7K) and Stephen Perakslis (2.1IP, 5K) combined for no walks and 12 strikeouts in an 8-7 Iowa loss.
SHORT HOPS: Rob Zastryzny recorded his first Triple-A win in both 2016 and 2017 against El Paso…Chris Dominguez is six plate appearances (264 to required 270) short of qualifying for the PCL leader board in batting…Matt Carasiti recorded a save last night for the first time in 18 days (7/7 vs. OMA)…Jack Leathersich has thrown scoreless outings in his last four games and 11 of his last 12…Jemile Weeks has reached base safely in 29 of his 30 games with Iowa.