Game Notes - 8.6.17 vs. Fresno

Iowa Cubs (52-58) vs. Fresno Grizzlies (66-47)
RHP Eddie Butler (2-0, 1.98) vs. RHP David Martinez (6-9, 4.76)
Sunday, August 6 | 1:08 p.m. | Principal Park | Des Moines

TODAY'S GAME: Iowa and Fresno meet in final game of a four-game series today at Principal Park. The I-Cubs defeated the Grizzlies 6-1 last night for their second consecutive comeback win. Iowa trailed 4-1 on Friday before scoring four unanswered runs to snag the win. Iowa trailed just 1-0 last night before exploding for six runs between the seventh and eighth innings to grab the win. Eddie Butler will take the mound for Iowa, looking to build off his strongest start since being optioned from Chicago. 
IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT: Taylor Davis went 3-for-4 last night, his third three-hit game of the season, and has now hit safely in 11 of his last 13 contests with nine multi-hit games over this span. Hitting .426 over this span (23-for-54, since July 17), Davis paces the Cubs system in batting average and is second to only Memphis' Breyvic Valera (27-for-60, .450) in the PCL. The hot streak has raised Davis' season average from .262 to .295. Davis has three career seasons in which he hit over .300 on the year -- 2011 (.308 w/ Mesa); 2014 (.319 w/ Tennessee), and 2015 (.311 w/ Tennessee & Iowa). 
NOT MISSING A BEAT: Victor Caratini has been on fire since being optioned from Chicago on July 31. The switch-hitting catcher and infielder is 6-for-11 (.545) in his first three games back with Iowa. Caratini has also scored three runs, hit two doubles and two homers, while racking up four RBI to extend his team lead to 58 RBI on the year. Caratini is now hitting .350 in 72 games with Iowa this season, and has hit home runs in consecutive games for the first time this season, giving him a career-high 10 homers (+1 MLB). Caratini is having the best season of his career, owning his highest batting average (.350), home runs (10) and RBI (58). He is also just shy of his career-highs in doubles, triples and runs scored. 
KINGS OF THE K: Iowa's pitching was dominant last night, racking up 15 strikeouts on the evening. Starter Seth Frankoff fanned 8, Félix Peña whiffed four, Justin Grimm struck out two and Matt Carasiti added one more to the mix. That mark was the second-highest mark reached by I-Cubs pitching this season behind only July 27 when they channeled their inner Kerry Wood to fan a combined 20 batters. Iowa's previous season-high was 14 strikeouts on June 1 against Nashville. Including the July 27 game, Iowa's pitching staff has struck out 99 batters over the last nine games, including hitting double-digit K's in five of those games. 
AGAINST FRESNO: The I-Cubs and Grizzlies meet for a four-game series, the only time the two teams will meet this season. They met in a four-game set last season from August 12-15 at Chukchansi Park, with Iowa taking three out of four from Fresno. The I-Cubs dropped the opener in that series before rattling off three straight victories. Historically, Iowa has had Fresno's number, going 57-37 against Fresno and 33-14 in Des Moines. Since 2010, the I-Cubs own an impressive 6-1 series record against the Grizzlies.
RELIABLE RELIEVERS: Iowa relievers have come out strong against Fresno, posting a 1.92 ERA (2ER/9.1IP) over the last three games. The lone dent in the line came on a two-run homer from John Kemmer Thursday off Justin Hancock in Iowa's 8-1 loss. The 'pen has walked two and fanned 14 in the matchup. Overall, Iowa pitching has limited the Grizzlies to a .235 team average, significantly lower than its .289 season mark. 
WORKING OVERTIME: Last night snapped a streak of six consecutive games with an error for the I-Cubs defense - which included a season-high four errors on Thursday. Iowa's miscues have led to five unearned runs for the pitching staff in this span. Iowa's 92 errors ranks 11th in the league and its .978 fielding percentage is in a six-way tie for ninth. With 31 games remaining in the 2017 schedule, Iowa has almost matched its error total of 96 from 2016. That number set a franchise record for fewest errors in a season for the I-Cubs.
COMEBACK KIDS: Iowa overcame a 1-0 deficit late in the game last night to snag its second consecutive comeback victory. Iowa trailed by three Friday night before storming back for the win. With two straight comeback wins, it marked the first time since June 24-25 at Round Rock this season that Iowa captured two straight come-from-behind victories. The last time Iowa captured two consecutive comeback victories at Principal Park was May 28-29, 2016 against Albuquerque when they rallied back from three and two run deficits, respectively.
SHORT HOPS: Mark Zagunis is second in the league behind former I-Cub Daniel Vogelbach in walks with 61 on the year...Felix Pena struck out four batters for the second consecutive outing last night, the first time he's done that this season...Victor Caratini has hit homer in back-to-back games, the eighth time an I-Cub has done so this season.