July 5 Game Notes - Iowa vs. Memphis
Iowa Cubs (50-37) vs. Memphis Redbirds (35-52)Friday, July 5 • 7:08 p.m. • Principal Park • Des MoinesRHP Tyson Miller (0-0, -.--) vs. LHP Austin Warner (0-0, 7.50)
Iowa Cubs (50-37) vs. Memphis Redbirds (35-52)
Friday, July 5 • 7:08 p.m. • Principal Park • Des Moines
RHP
TONIGHT'S GAME: The I-Cubs and Redbirds meet for the second of four games on Friday night. Iowa has taken four of five against Memphis this season after a walk-off win on Thursday night. The win tied their season-best record at 13 games over the .500 mark.
COMEBACK CUBS: Iowa has taken four games this season while trailing after seven innings of play, but Thursday night marked the club's first win while trailing after eight innings. The 2018 I-Cubs collected two such wins, the last coming on June 6, 2018 against Albuquerque.
TRIPLE-A TYSON: RHP
LIGHTS OUT: The I-Cubs bullpen played a key role in holding the deficit at one during last night's comeback, spinning another 3.0 scoreless frames. The trio of
CLEAN UP TIME:
DOMINATING DUANE: After collecting a 6.46 ERA through 10 starts to begin 2019, RHP Duane Underwood Jr. transitioned to the bullpen. Since May 31 when he made his first appearance of the year in relief, Underwood Jr. has earned a 2.51 ERA (4ER/14.1 IP) while collecting 17 strikeouts and walking six batters. Including Tuesday night's outing, the right-hander is on an impressive stretch of 8.0 consecutive scoreless innings over his last five outings with 10 strikeouts to just two walks.
AGAINST MEMPHIS: The first-place I-Cubs are 4-1 against the defending Triple-A Champions in 2019. Iowa struggled against Memphis in 2018 with a 2-14 record, including an 0-8 mark at Principal Park, but defeated the Redbirds at Principal Park for the first time since Aug. 25, 2018 with a 5-4 win on Thursday. Despite the slanted record, four one-run games in five contests has Iowa outscoring Memphis just 28-23 this season.
NEAR QUALITY: RHP
REDBIRD KILLERS:
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Only four Redbird hitters recorded a hit on Thursday, with only two of the six total hits going for extra bases. Unfortunately, the two extra-base hits both went over the fence off the bat of Justin Williams to score all four Memphis runs. He is the seventh player to hit multiple home runs in a game against the I-Cubs this season.
THE DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: With last night's win, the I-Cubs matched their 2018 win total with their 50th of 2019. They are on pace for an 81-59 record, which would be the most in a season since an 82-win campaign in 2010. On the flip side, the Redbirds won the Triple-A Championship last year as they went 83-57 in the regular season. This year, Memphis is in last place of the division with a record of 35-51.
SHORT HOPS: The I-Cubs are 8-2 in their last 10 games, the best mark in the PCL...Iowa released OF