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MLB

Game Notes for Wednesday, September 2

Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark - Oklahoma City, Okla.
By
September 2, 2015

TONIGHT'S GAME: The Iowa Cubs and Oklahoma City Dodgers, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, play the fourth game of a five-game series at Chickasaw Bricktown Park. 

DOWN THE STRETCH: Iowa has the third-best record in the PCL, but is second in the American Northern Division, 5.0 games behind the Dodgers. Iowa, Omaha (6.0) and OKC are locked in a three-team race for the American Northern Division crown with six games to play. OKC's win in game one yesterday earned it the season series and affords it the divisional tiebreaker should the I-Cubs and Dodgers be tied at the end of the regular season. The I-Cubs have only made the PCL playoffs four times (1998, 2001, 2004, 2008). The I-Cubs are also within just two wins of reaching 80 victories, something they've only done seven times since joining Triple-A in 1969, and last in 2010.  

HISTORIC NIGHT AT BRICKTOWN: Iowa and OKC played 19 innings in game one last night, the longest game by innings in Iowa franchise history. The two teams tied the PCL record for most players used in a single game with a combined 40 players. Iowa used 19 players in the game, while Oklahoma City used 21. Iowa walked a franchise-record 17 batters and struck out 19, tied for second-most in team history. The I-Cubs used seven pitchers to tie a season-high. Iowa also set season-highs in intentional walks (4), sacrifice bunts (4) and men left on base (15). The game lasted a season-long 5 hours nad 44 minutes before Dodgers third baseman Buck Britton hit a two-run walk-off home run. Impressively, catcher Taylor Teagarden caught all 18.2 defensive frames for the I-Cubs. Right-handers Blake Cooper and P.J. Francescon each set career-highs with 4.0 scoreless innings in relief with four strikeouts apiece. In total, Iowa played 26 innings on Tuesday was was swept in a doubleheader for just the second time this season.

HISTORIC HURLERS: Iowa's team ERA this season is 3.63, 0.21 ahead of its season-record mark of 3.84 set in 1974. Iowa leads the league in ERA, 0.09 ahead of New Orleans. Iowa has never led the PCL in ERA. The I-Cubs finished second in the league in 2014 (3.88) and in 2009 (4.14). Over the last 15 games, the pitching staff has a 2.16 ERA (33ER/137.2IP). Iowa has allowed 16 runs over the last eight games over 79.2 innings (6-2, 1.83 ERA). 

VS. OKLAHOMA CITY: This is the fourth game of a five-game series between the Cubs and Dodgers, and the 15th of 16 scheduled games in the season series. Oklahoma City has won 11 of the first 14 games between the two clubs. The Cubs lead the all-time PCL series 129-122, but are 58-66 against the Dodgers at Bricktown. Iowa is 82-103 all-time against Dodgers Triple-A affiliates. 

AND AS FOR THE PEN: The I-Cubs' bullpen has been outstanding over the last to weeks. In their last 44.2 innings over 12 games, they have allowed five runs with 39 strikeouts. Iowa is 9-3 in that time. Right-hander Blake Cooper (10G, 15.2IP, 2ER, 14K) and left-hander Ryan Buchter (13G, 13.2IP, 2ER, 18K) have been particulary effective in recent weeks. Buchter currently leads the PCL with 15 holds. Right-hander Brian Schlitter is second in the PCL in saves with 22, and leads the league with 37 games finished. In total, Iowa's bullpen has a 3.52 ERA (186ER/476.0IP).

DEFENSIVELY SPEAKING: Iowa has committed 128 errors this season, third-most in the PCL. Iowa has allowed 96 unearned runs this season, second-most in the league. 

ROARING BACK: Since returning from the DL July 28, John Andreoli is hitting .279 (41-for-147) with eight doubles, two triples, two home runs and 15 RBI and has staked his claim as Iowa's leadoff hitter. He leads the PCL with 31 runs since his return. Andreoli is tied for eighth in the league with 20 walks and has stolen 12 bases since returning, tied for second-most in the PCL. He has now stolen 31 bases this season, third-most in the league.

TODAY'S STARTER: Right-hander Fernando Cruz makes the spot start for Iowa today. Cruz joined the I-Cubs today after appearing in a combined 31 games, including four starts, between Advanced-A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Tennessee this season. Cruz was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the sixth round of the 2007 June draft out of Puerto Rico as a third baseman. He first took a mound in 2011 for the Rookie-level Surprise Royals, then honed his new craft in the Puerto Rican Winter League in all of 2013 and 2014 before signing a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs prior to the 2015 season. Cruz is making his Triple-A debut for Iowa tonight. His four starts this season were the first of his affiliated profesional career.