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MLB

Game Notes for Sunday, May 31

Southwest University Park - El Paso, TX
By
May 31, 2015

TONIGHT'S GAME: The Iowa Cubs and El Paso Chihuahuas, Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, play the third game of a four-game series tonight at Southwest University Park. This is the third game of the season between the two teams. They have split the first two games of this series. Iowa is second in the American Northern Division, 9.0 games behind Oklahoma City. El Paso is second in the Pacific Southern Division, 3.5 games behind Las Vegas.

HOW THE WEST WAS WON: This series is the third for Iowa against the Pacific Conference. The Cubs are 5-5 against Pacific clubs in 2015. They took three of four from Tacoma before dropping three of four against Reno over the past week. Last season, Iowa went 12-20 against the Pacific Conference, 5-11 on the road and 7-9 at Principal Park.

CAGING THE CHIHUAHUAS: Last night, Iowa banged out 15 hits and downed El Paso 8-3 in game two of this four-game series. Arismendy Alcantara clubbed his seventh home run as part of a two-hit, two-RBI night and Matt Szczur had three hits and stole three bases in the win. Overall, five I-Cubs had multi-hit games. Left-hander Drake Britton made a spot start for the Cubs and allowed just a run in 4.0 innings with a pair of punch outs. Right-hander Blake Cooper spun a pair of scoreless frames for his fourth win. Righty Armando Rivero tossed 2.0 scoreless innings to finish it out.

GAFFES GALORE: Iowa committed two errors in last nights's loss. Iowa's 53 errors are the second-most in the PCL behind Sacramento's 57. Iowa is tied for last in the PCL in fielding percentage (.971). Iowa is 15-5 when committing zero errors, but 9-19 when making at least one. Iowa has committed 3+ errors in a game seven times this season. Christian Villanueva leads all PCL third basemen with 12 errors. Javy Baez leads all PCL shortstops with nine errors, and has 11 overall. 

FREE GIVEAWAYS: Iowa leads the PCL in unearned runs allowed. Iowa has allowed 223 total runs this season, but only 185 have been earned. That's a difference of 38 unearned runs. Iowa has been outscored by opponents 209-223 this season, and would be even better sans the unearned runs. 

vs. EL PASO: This is the third of four games between the I-Cubs and Chihuahuas. This is the only series of the season between the two clubs. Last season, the I-Cubs won three of four against El Paso at Principal Park, and lead the all-time PCL series 4-2. Overall, Iowa is 53-44 against San Diego Padres Triple-A affiliates. El Paso entered the league in 2014. San Diego's Triple-A club was located in Tuscon, Ariz. (Padres) from 2011-2013, and in Portland, Ore. (Beavers), from 2001-2010. 

SHORT HOPS: Iowa has allowed 41 runs in the first inning this season, the most of any inning. ... Arismendy Alcantara has four triples this season, tied for second-most in the PCL. Alcantara led the league with 11 triples last season. ... Iowa has struck out 402 times this season, second-most in the PCL. ... The I-Cubs have turned 52 double plays this seaosn, tied for fourth in the league. ... Iowa is sixth in the PCL with a 4.03 team ERA. ... Rubi Silva has walked zero times in 119 at-bats this season, but has reached base via a hit in 10 of his last 14 games. ... Iowa is 13-6 when Taylor Davis is in the starting lineup this season. ... Christian Villanueva recored two four-hit games last week against Tacoma (5/22, 5/24), but is 2-for-17 since then with a run, an RBI, a walk and three strikeouts. ... Iowa is 4-2 on Sunday this season.

WHAT A RELIEF: The Iowa bullpen is 13-7 with a 3.70 ERA (72ER/175.1IP) through 48 games this season. They have struck out a combined 160 batters. The pen has converted 11 of 15 saves. Six different I-Cubs have at least one save: James Russell-3; Brian Schlitter-3; Blake Cooper-2; Gonzalez Germen-2; Yoervis Medina-1; Joe Ortiz-1. Three Cubs relievers have been particularly effective lately. Armando Rivero has a 1.17 ERA (2ER/15.1IP) with 18 strikeouts in his last 13 appearances. Four of Rivero's last five outings have been 1.0+ innings. Blake Cooper has a 1.29 ERA (3ER/21.0IP) over his last 14 games with 19 strikeouts. Finally, Brian Schlitter is 2-0 with two saves and a 1.39 ERA (2ER/9.1IP) for Iowa.

PEVEY ON BREAK: Iowa manager Marty Pevey has been granted a leave of absence by the Chicago Cubs to attend the high school graduation of his son, Tucker, this weekend in Georgia. He is not with the team for this series in El Paso and will rejoin the Cubs for their next series on Tuesday in Albuquerque.