Game Notes for Wednesday, August 15
DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK: Iowa trailed 7-1 after four innings and a 59-minute rain delay last night. The Cubs' offense exploded for a seven-run fifth inning and never looked back, defeating the Padres 12-7 for their second win of the road trip. IF Nate Samson led the charge, collecting a team-high three hits with an RBI and a run scored on the night. Samson is 4-for-7 since rejoining Iowa Sunday from double-A Tennessee. After the Cubs' bullpen allowed nine earned runs in four innings of relief Monday, Iowa's staff recovered with five scoreless frames. RH Marcus Hately hurled two scoreless innings and allowed one hit and two walks to pick up his first triple-A win.
FAB FIVE: Down by six runs, the I-Cubs offense responded by sending 12 batters to the plate and scoring seven in the fifth to match their biggest inning of the season. The 1-5 hitters in the lineup ripped 10 of the Cubs 16 hits, each collecting two base knocks. They also drove in five of Iowa's seven earned runs on the evening.
ROH-AN IN THE RUNS: IF Greg Rohan has hit safely in 11 of his 13 games since coming up from double-A. With two more RBI last night against Tucson, the triple-A rookie has driven in a run in six straight games and is second behind Tennessee's Justin Bour (101) in the Cubs minor league system with 99 RBI on the season. Rohan has posted a .364 average (8-for-22) with 10 RBI and four runs scored in his last five contests.
AU-GUST OF POWER: After the Cubs scored just 118 runs in the entire month of July, Iowa has plated 60 in just 13 games since August 1. More than half of those runs have come in the last four games. Despite call-ups to Chicago for three biggest offensive leaders in 3B Josh Vitters, OF Brett Jackson, and IF Adrian Cardenas, the team's batting average has jumped from .264 in July to .279 in August, including a .307 mark in the last five games.
VS. TUCSON: Iowa leads the series 1-0. This is the only series between the I-Cubs and Padres this season. Last year, the Cubs took three of four from the Padres at Principal Park, May 19-22. This is the Cubs' first series at Kino Stadium against Tucson as a San Diego Padres affiliate. Iowa leads the all-time PCL series 37-30, but are 13-15 in Tucson. The Cubs are 7-6 against the Pacific Southern Division this season.
GREAT ESCAPE: The Cubs have lost their last seven series and 21 of their last 26 games. The team is 8-25 since the All-Star Break, including a 5-16 mark on the road. Iowa is tied for the fewest wins in full-season minor league baseball with Memphis and Tucson and is tied with Memphis for last in the league with a 22-39 record on the road. After the Cubs and Padres play the three remaining games of the series the Cubs will return home to face the Redbirds in a four-game set. Eleven of Iowa's final 20 games of the season are against below .500 teams.
PARKER REHABS WITH IOWA: RH Blake Parker allowed the first hit and run of his rehab assignment after a lead-off triple came around to score Saturday in Las Vegas. The Arkansas native holds no record and a 3.00 ERA (1 ER/3.0 IP) in three one-inning appearances since beginning his rehab assignment with Iowa on August 3. He has been on Chicago's disabled list since June 6 with a right elbow stress reaction. His first appearance against Reno on August 6 was his first live action since June 1.
AUSSIE INVASION: RH Ryan Searle joins the I-Cubs today from advanced-A Daytona for his first appearance on a triple-A roster. The Queensland native is the second Austrailian born hurler on the club, joining LH Ryan Rowland-Smith out of Kingscliff. The 23 year old is 5-3 with a 5.01 ERA (26 ER/46.2 IP) in 28 outings (1 start) with Daytona this season. Searle began the 2012 campaign at double-A Tennessee and posted a 1-2 record with a 4.07 ERA (11 ER/24.1 IP) over eight appearances (2 starts).
FRANKIE SAYS GOODBYE: RH Frankie De La Cruz was released by the Chicago Cubs to sign a contract with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. The Domincan import posted a 1-6 record with a 3.80 ERA in 27 games, including 14 starts with Iowa.