Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon
Scores
All Scores Triple-A Scores Double-A Scores High-A Scores Single-A Scores Rookie Scores
Schedule
Complete Game Schedule Triple-A Schedule Double-A Schedule High-A Schedule Single-A Schedule Rookie Schedule Sync Schedules
Teams
Teams by Affiliate Teams by Name Teams by Class Teams by League Ballparks
Watch
Watch Games Subscribe Highlights Prospect Highlights Streaming FAQ Help Center Gameday Audio Podcast Bally Sports Live
Tickets
Tickets
Shop
MiLB Store Auctions Shop Copa Shop Marvel
Standings
Full Season Rookie Leagues Playoffs Playoff Procedures
Stats
Full Season Rookie Leagues Trending Players Top Prospect Stats
News
Pipeline Transactions Copa de la Diversión Baseball Traveler Malmö Oat Milkers MiLB App MiLB Newsletters Sweepstakes & Contests
Prospects
Top 100 Top 30 by Team Top 50 International Draft Top 250 Trending Players
Playoffs
MLB

Game Notes for Tuesday, April 14

Zephyr Park - Metairie, LA
By
April 14, 2015

TONIGHT'S GAME: The Iowa Cubs and New Orleans Zephyrs, Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, play the second game of a four-game series tonight at Zephyr Field in Metairie, La. This is the second game of the season between the two clubs. The I-Cubs carry a five-game winning streak against the Z's into tonight's action. Iowa is currently third in the American Northern division, 1.0 game behind Oklahoma City. New Orleans is tied for third in the American South, 2.0 games back of Nashville.

LAST NIGHT: Right-hander Yoanner Negrin had a strong first start of the year for Iowa, allowing just an unearned run on five hits in 4.2 innings with five strikeouts. The Iowa bullpen followed suit with 4.1 scoreless innings to slam the door. Gonzalez Germen (1-0) earned his first win of 2015, and left-hander Joe Ortiz earned his first save to give Iowa it's third straight win.

VS. NEW ORLEANS: Tonight is the second of a four-game series between the Cubs and Zephyrs, and second of 16 scheduled games this season. The Zephyrs travel to Principal Park April 21-24 and again June 26-29. Iowa heads back to New Orleans July 4-7. Last year, Iowa won the season series 11-5, going 5-3 at home and 6-2 in Metairie. In 2013, New Orleans won the season series 11-5, meaning with last night's win, Iowa is 17-16 against the New Orleans since 2013. The Cubs lead the all-time PCL series 120-115.

HIT PARADE: Iowa's bats have caught five over the past three games. The offense has generated 24 runs and 40 hits in their curent three-game winning streak. In contrast, the Cubs only managed five runs and 13 hits in their first two games, both losses.

PRESTIGOUS PEN: The Iowa bullpen has been lights out so far in 2015. As a unit, the pen has a 1.71 ERA (4ER/21.0 innings) with 17 strikeouts and have earned all three winning decisions through five games this year. During Iowa's current three-game winning streak, they haven't allowed a single run in 14.0 innings with 11 strikeouts to only two walks.

SHUFFLE UP AND DEAL: The offseason saw a flurry of changes in PCL affiliations. During the two-week negotiation window in Sept., six MLB franchises swapped Triple-A PCL affiliations:

  • Milwaukee Brewers - from Nashville to Colorado Springs
  • Houston Astros - from Okla. City to Fresno
  • San Francisco Giants - from Fresno to Sacramento
  • Colorado Rockies - from Co. Springs to Albuquerque
  • Oakland A's - from Sacramento to Nashville
  • LA Dodgers - from Albuquerque to OKC Dodgers (new nickname for 2015 season)

MEET THE MANAGER: Marty Pevey returns for his third season as Iowa's manager. He is the first manager to lead the I-Cubs for three consecutive seasons since Mike Quade (2003-06). Pevey joined the Cubs in 2009 as the manager for single-A Peoria in the Midwest League and led the Chiefs to an 81-57 overall record, a second-half division title, and was named the league's co-Manager of the Year. He spent three seasons as the organization's catching coordinator before returning to the dugout with Iowa last year. Pevey managed and coached in the Toronto Blue Jays' organization from 1996-2008. He was the South Atlantic League Manger of the Year in 1998 with Hagerstown, won the award in the Florida State League with Dunedin in 2000, and in the Eastern League with New Haven in 2003. In 12-plus seasons as a manager, Pevey has a 787-767 (.506) career record.

COACHES' CORNER: The lone new addition to the 2015 field staff is pitching coach Mike Cather. This is Cather's first season in the Cubs organization. He comes to Iowa from Triple-A El Paso where he spent 2014 as the Chihuahuas' pitching coach. Prior to that, he spent two seasons as San Diego's roving minor league pitching coordinator. Hitting Coach Brian Harper returns for his third season with the club. Assistant Hitting Coach Leo Perez begins his seventh season in the Cubs' system, and first with Iowa. He comes to the I-Cubs from Double-A Tennessee. Athletic Trainer Scott Barringer and Strength Coach Ryan Clausen begin their second season with Iowa after moving up from Double-A Tenneessee in 2014.  Video Coordinator Mike Langill joins Iowa after spending the 2013 and 2014 seasons in the same capacity at Single-A Kane County.