Schwarber snaps out of funk for I-Cubs

The few Cubs fans who didn't know Kyle Schwarber's name before last week certainly learned it through an electric stint with the big league club. Now he's introducing himself to Cubs fans in a different locale.

Chicago's No. 2 prospect broke out after a slow start to his Triple-A career with his first Pacific Coast League homer, part of a three-hit night that helped Iowa to a 6-1 win over New Orleans on Saturday night at Principal Park.

"It was just good to snap out of this little slump and, hopefully I can put a couple good days together," Schwarber said. "The first couple of days were a little bit of a lull, trying to calm down, get things back together. It's good to finally put together a good day."

The fourth overall pick in last year's Draft, Schwarber lit up Double-A pitching to the tune of a .320/.438/.579 slash line in 58 games with Tennessee before being promoted for six Major League contests. There, he served as a designated hitter in interleague play and hit .364/.391/.591 in 22 at-bats. The Cubs were clear with Schwarber that his big league promotion would be an abbreviated one but would lead to the 22-year-old making his Triple-A debut.

"It was a fun time just being able to get up there, get my feet wet, knowing what it takes to prepare for a big league game, being able to learn so much from guys like [Cubs catchers] David Ross, [Miguel] Montero, our big league catching coach [Mike Borzello], our pitching coach [Chris Bosio]," he said. "Just being able to sit down and talk about situations, things that would happen in certain situations, pitch selection. It's crazy how much attention to detail they do, the scouting reports.

"It was cool to have some success and failure at the same time. Now I know what it's going to be like."

After his first four Triple-A games, Schwarber was a .133 hitter with a double and a triple his only hits in 15 trips to the plate. On Saturday night, he looked more like the big league-caliber hitter he's been through his brief professional career. The backstop singled to left in the first inning, led off the fourth with a double to right and scored, then belted a two-out solo homer to center in the fifth.

"These guys, they're good. That's why they're in Triple-A," he said. "They're good. You've just got to go up there with the same approach of just trying to get your pitch, and when you do get your pitch, don't miss it."

The experience in Chicago left Schwarber with a taste of what he wants to be the norm in his career. Putting together consistent games like Saturday's is the ultimate goal and the Indiana University product's ticket back to the Windy City.

"I'm striving to get back there, and some things you put a little too much pressure on yourself," he said. "You just have to go back to being yourself, being the person you are. I've just got to get better, keep working as hard, be a leader and try to stay consistent."

Saturday wasn't just an offensive showcase, with Schwarber on the receiving end of a solid night for I-Cubs pitching. Starter Drake Britton allowed four hits over six scoreless innings, striking out four without issuing a walk. 

"He was just spotting everything up and he had confidence in every pitch that he threw today," Schwarber said. "Being able to be on the same page as him just helped the flow of the game and helped him stay in his rhythm. Being able to work at a quick pace was huge for us, and it helped him a ton."

Britton (4-4) won for the third time in his last four starts and bounced back from an ugly outing in which he surrendered 11 runs on eight hits over 2 2/3 innings in a loss at Round Rock.