Game Notes for Saturday, July 30
DOING THE SPLITS: The Cubs split a double-header at New Orleans last night and have split all four double-headers they've played this season. The Zephyrs won game one 1-0 before the Cubs came back to win 5-1 in the night cap. Last night's twin bill wrapped up the season series against the Zephyrs. New Orleans won 10 of 16 against the Cubs this season.
BLANKED: Chris Volstad pitched a complete game, shutout for the win in the first game last night. The last pitcher to toss a complete game, seven-inning shutout against the Cubs was Hayden Penn of New Orleans on August 23, 2009. The Cubs have been shutout five times this season, including twice in seven-inning games. Two of the team's five shutouts have come at New Orleans this year.
JUMP START: CF Brett Jackson led off game two with a home run last night. The blast was his second as an I-Cub and was the catalyst for a big night at the plate. He added a double among his three hits, drove in two, and scored three times. Three hits is a season-best for the 15 games Jackson has played with Iowa. Bobby Scales was the last Cub to lead off a game with a home run. He did it on May 27 at Round Rock off Zach Jackson.
THE BROKEN ROAD: With a split of the last series, the Cubs ended a streak of losing four straight series on the road going back to a split at Omaha, June 13-16. The Cubs have lost 13 of their last 16 road games and haven't won consecutive road games since June 14-15 at Omaha. The Cubs have the worst road record in the PCL at 20-35 (.364) just behind Fresno at 19-33 (.365). The Cubs haven't won a road series since taking three of four at Round Rock to begin the season. The team's worst road record since joining the PCL in 1998 is 24-48, set in 2000. The Cubs also have the worst league record in July at 9-17, including a 3-12 mark on the road this month.
VS. MEMPHIS: This is the final series between these two clubs this season. The season series is tied 6-6. The Cubs won five of the eight games played at Principal Park. The Redbirds won three of four in the first series at Auto Zone Park in April. Last year, the Cubs and Redbirds split the season series 8-8 and finished tied for the best record in the PCL. Memphis won the tie-breaker with the better record within the American Northern Division. The Redbirds lead the all-time PCL series 95-92 and hold a 60-32 edge all-time at Auto Zone Park.
WHAT A RELIEF: Cubs relievers combined to allow one run in 3.1 innings combined between the two games last nights. On this road trip, Cubs' relievers have allowed three runs on 10 hits in 20 innings for a 1.35 ERA. The group has walked 10 while striking out 20. Overall, the Cubs are second in the league with a 3.87 team ERA in July. Omaha leads the league at 3.74.
RUNNING MEN: The Cubs set a season-high with three stolen bases in game two last night, including a double steal by Lou Montanez and Bryan LaHair. The Cubs are 14th in the league wtih 55 stolen bases. Only Nashville (49) and Memphis (54) have stolen fewer bases in the PCL this year.
LaHAIR IN LAUNCH MODE: 1B Bryan LaHair connected on his league-leading 29th home run of the season on Wednesday. He is tied for second in all of minor league baseball behind Paul Goldschmidt of double-A Mobile (Diamondbacks), who has 30. LaHair has already surpassed his career high for homers in a season. His previous high was 26 set in 2009 with Tacoma. With one more home run, LaHair would become the eighth player in franchise history to hit 30 home runs in a season.
TRADE WINDS: RHP Carlton Smith joins the I-Cubs today. Smith was one of the two players acquired by the Chicago Cubs from the Cleveland Indians on Thursday in excahange for Kosuke Fukudome. Smith was pitching for Triple-A Columbus in the International League and has been assigned to Iowa. In 34 relief appearances, Smith was 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA and two saves. The Indians drafted him in the 21st round of the 2004 draft out of Northwest Florida State College. For his career, he is 36-28 with a 4.21 ERA and eight saves in 194 appearances (66 starts).