Iowa Cubs (43-35) vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (37-41)Wednesday, June 26 • 7:08 PM • Principal Park • Des Moines, IARHP Alec Mills (3-2, 5.40) vs. RHP Zach Lovvorn (3-6, 8.06)
Iowa Cubs (43-35) vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (37-41)
Wednesday, June 26 • 7:08 PM • Principal Park • Des Moines, IA
RHP Alec Mills (3-2, 5.40) vs. RHP Zach Lovvorn (3-6, 8.06)
TONIGHT'S GAME: Iowa welcomes Omaha for game two of the final four-game series between the divisional rivals. The I-Cubs won their first game at Principal Park in the matchup last night after being swept in a four-game set on May 11-14.
ROBEL GOIN' YARD:Robel Garcia hit another home run in last night's game against Omaha, giving him 14 on the year with Iowa. Garcia has hit solo home runs in back-to-back games, making 11 of his 14 home runs solo blasts. The infielder's 14 home runs puts him just one behind the team-leader Trent Giambrone with 28 fewer games played for Iowa. In just 22 games with Double-A Tennessee, Garcia hit six home runs and still leads the Smokies in home runs, despite not playing with them since May 8. Garcia now has 20 total home runs on the year, leading all other players in the Cubs organization. Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez each have 19 at the major league level and in the minors, teammate Trent Giambrone is the closest with 15. Since joining the I-Cubs, Garcia is hitting at a .299 clip (47-157) with eight doubles, a triple, 14 home runs and 30 runs batted in. He leads all qualified players with the I-Cubs with a .631 slugging percentage.
DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK: Left-hander Danny Hultzen has made three appearances for Iowa in 2019 after making two at the end of the 2018 campaign. Previous to 2018, the 2011 second overall pick out of Virginia only played nine games in Double-A or Triple-A since 2013. Hultzen has pitched 2.2 innings with Iowa this season, allowing just one hit and one free pass while striking out four batters. Opponents are batting just .111 off him and he has yet to give up a run.
TURN IT AROUND: Iowa's starter tonight Alec Mills will look to continue the way he has been pitching lately against a team that has hit him well on the year. Mills' only two losses of the year come at the hands of Omaha. In 12 innings against Mills, the Storm Chasers have recorded 10 earned runs on 22 hits, taken three walks and struck out 12 times. The I-Cubs only loss at Werner Park this season was a game that Mills took the mound. Since that performance on May 24, the righty has been much better, giving Iowa three quality starts in five outings.
GONE STREAKING: Since being optioned to Triple-A on May 25th, Mark Zagunis has been an on-base machine. In 19 games, the outfielder has had hitting streaks of four, five, and is currently on a seven-game hit streak. Over his current streak, Zagunis is 10-for-28, batting .357, leading to an overall line of .333 (24-for-72) with 10 doubles, one home run, and 11 runs batted in. Adding seven walks, Zagunis has an on-base percentage of .392. He has reached base in all 19 games as an I-Cub by way of the base-hit in all but three of those games.
AGAINST OMAHA: Iowa leads the season series over Omaha by a record of 8-5 with three games left against the Storm Chasers in the 2019 campaign. The I-Cubs played great baseball at Werner Park, going 7-1 and outscoring the Storm Chasers 45-20 in those eight games. The I-Cubs extended their lead in the American Northern division to six games with a 5-1 victory over Omaha last night, their first win of the season against the Storm Chasers at Principal Park. With the victory, Iowa moved to 98-73 all-time against Omaha at home.
QUALITY SWARMER:Matt Swarmer gave the I-Cubs another great performance last night, pitching seven innings of five-hit, one-run ball. It was the second straight outing for Swarmer going seven innings which ties the longest outing for any Iowa pitcher this year. Last night also marked Swarmer's second straight quality start, giving him seven total on the year, the most of any Iowa starter this season. Colin Rea is the next closest I-Cub with five quality starts.
LOOKING LIKE AN ALL-STAR:Craig Kimbrel made his fourth appearance with Iowa Tuesday night against the Storm Chasers and had arguably his best outing yet. The seven-time All-Star closer threw a perfect ninth inning for Iowa and struck out two of the three batters he faced. In his four outings, Kimbrel has thrown 3.2 innings, while allowing just one run on two hits (a double and a solo home run), surrendered one free pass and struck out four.
SHORT HOPS: The Iowa Cubs and Chicago Cubs have only won on the same day twice in the last month, May 22 and June 20...Iowa's 12 losses in the month of June are tied for the most in any month so far this season...Iowa hit into four double-plays last night for the first time since July 26, 2018, against Fresno.
