June 10 Game Notes vs. El Paso

Iowa Cubs (23-37) vs. El Paso Chihuahuas (31-32)
Sunday, June 10 • 1:08 p.m. • Principal Park • Des Moines, IA
RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (2-6, 6.86) vs. RHP Luis Perdomo (3-2, 2.89)

TONIGHT'S GAME: RHP Jen-Ho Tseng will toe the rubber this afternoon for Iowa. The 2017 Chicago Cub Minor League Pitcher of the Year has seen his ups and downs, surrendering four or more earned runs in eight of his 11 starts. The I-Cubs have dropped the first two of a four-game set with El Paso, after the Chihuahuas out-hit the offense 4-to-12 last night. 
CLIFF NOTES: In four innings of work, RHP Trevor Clifton wrapped up his Triple-A debut surrendering two earned runs off seven hits. He totaled three of the 10 strikeouts on the night, while concedeing just one free pass. The righty was cool under pressure, as he held the El Paso lineup to a .271 average (3-for-11) with runners on, and continued to become stingier, posting a .250 average (2-for-8) with runners in scoring position and a .200 average (1-for-5) with runners on and two outs. Conversely, Clifton allowed El Paso to connect for a 4-for-8 (.500) performance with the bases empty. The righty was drafted by the Cubs in 2013 and currently sits as the 27th ranked prospect in the Cubs system. A majority of Clifton's career highs were recorded during the 2017 season--posting highs in hits, runs, earned runs, home runs and walks. 
HOT-HITTING HANNEMANN: In his last 10 games, Jacob Hannemann has led the Iowa offense with a 10-for-29 performance. The centerfielder has registered four earned runs, a home run and two RBI during the span. One of his RBI and run scored, plus his home run, have all come in the last five games; where he is hitting to a tune of 5-for-13. Last night he took two of Iowa's three walks while going 0-for-1. 
LEAGUE RUNDOWN: As the I-Cubs head into the 61st game of the season, sitting 14 behind division leading OKC Dodgers, the hit tool has yet to show up in full force. The I-Cubs are currently sitting in 14th place in batting average (.252) and last in home runs, with 31. Salt Lake paces the PCL with 97 homers, with league leader Jabari Blash mashing 16 Salt Lake long balls. The continual bright spot for the 2018 I-Cubs has been the pitching staff, who is in fifth place in the PCL with a 4.24 ERA. 
BOMBS AWAY: Iowa's team leader in home runs notched another Bote Bomb, as David Bote launched his ninth of the season. In 39 games as an I-Cub, he leads the team in slugging (.503), OPS (.852) and multi RBI games with eight, two-RBI games.
AGAINST EL PASO: The I-Cubs and El Paso Chihuahuas will square off for the third of four games in 2018. Last season in El Paso, The I-Cubs came away with the series victory, taking three of four games. Mark Zagunis wrapped up the series going 8-for-17 with four runs, a double, home run, five RBI, a stolen base and five strikeouts. Taylor Davis had an equally strong series in his three games played, going 4-for-11 with two runs scored, a double, two RBI, two walks and two strikeouts. Both LHP Rob Zastryzny and RHP Dillon Maples came away with W's in the win column, with Zastryzny tossing 6.0 innings and surrendering just one earned run off three hits with six strikeouts in the process.
HIT THE BOOKS: The Chicago Cubs wrapped up the 2018 First-Year Player Draft with another college heavy class, selecting 29 of the 42 draftees from JuCo or four-year programs. Over the 40 rounds, Chicago picked up 18 pitchers, 11 outfielders,10 infielders and three catchers. Stanford SS Nico Hoerner began the three-day event as the club's first-round pick at No. 24, while high school outfielder Brennen Davis swiped the 62nd selection of the second round. With two picks in the Compensation Round B, the Cubs picked up prep outfielder Cole Roederer of Newhall, Calif. and RHP Paul Richan of the University of San Diego. Of the 29 college draftees, Chicago will have six making NCAA Super Regional Appearances this weekend:  Jimmy Herron (Duke), Ethan Roberts (Tenn. Tech), Josh Sawyer (Texas), Jake Reindl (Arkansas), Hunter Taylor (South Carolina) and Levi Jordan (Washington).
FINDING FOOTING: Jen-Ho Tseng comes into today's game in a four-way tie for second in losses with six. The righty is also leading the PCL in runs (49) and earned runs allowed (47), while sitting in a three-way tie for first in the league with five sac flies allowed. 
SHORT HOPS: Jacob Hannemann ended his eight game hitting streak last night with an 0-for-1 performance...During the stretch, the CF recorded two multi-hit games and raised his average nearly 20 points, from .254 to .273. ...Manager Marty Pevey registered his fifth ejection of the season last night, he had eight total in 2017...With Iowa's 4-2 loss last night, the team is 3-9 when allowing four runs, and 2-7 when scoring just two...their record drops to 6-25 when being out-hit by opponents. They are now 3-32 when trailing after seven, and 2-32 when trailing after 8.