Sept. 1 Game Notes - Iowa vs. Memphis

Iowa Cubs (73-65) vs. Memphis Redbirds (69-69)
Sunday, Sept. 1 • 1:08 PM • Principal Park • Des Moines, IA
RHP Kendall Graveman (0-0, -.--) vs. RHP Jake Woodford (9-7, 3.95)

TODAY'S GAME: Iowa and Memphis will play game three of the four-game series today after splitting the first two games of the series. The I-Cubs will send righty Kendall Graveman to the hill for his first organizational appearance for the Cubs. Graveman is coming off of Tommy John surgery after making 78 starts for the Oakland Athletics over the past four seasons. Right-hander Matt Swarmer is expected to piggy-back the outing.
PLAYOFF PICTURE: With a victory Friday night, Iowa clinched their first playoff appearance since 2008. With a San Antonio loss, Round Rock also clinched their division. Iowa and Round Rock will meet for a best-of-five series, starting with two games in Round Rock. From there, the series will move to Principal Park for a guaranteed game on Friday, with Saturday and Sunday only happening if necessary. On the Pacific side of the PCL playoffs, Sacramento has clinched a spot, while Las Vegas holds a one- game lead over El Paso to decide the Southern division.
MILLER TIME: Tyson Miller logged his first quality start of the season last night with three runs allowed through 6.2 innings. Miller matched a Triple-A career high in innings and strikeouts (6). The righty now has 11 quality starts this season including his time with Double-A Tennessee.
ONE AND DONE: Iowa was nearly one-hit for the third time this season but a ninth-inning triple from Albert Almora Jr. spared the fate. It was the second two-hit game of the season for the I-Cubs' offense.
SHORT HOPS: After losing last night, Iowa has not won back-to- back games since taking the first two games of the series against San Antonio on Aug. 19 and 20.
2019 Season Review
• The Iowa Cubs have made 216 transactions in 2019 and have used 38 pitchers and 29 position players for a total of 67 players entering tonight.
• 11 Chicago Cubs have served rehab assignments with Iowa including pitchers Pedro Strop, Cole Hamels, Carl Edwards Jr., Mike Montgomery, Tony Barnette, Kendall Graveman, and Xavier Cedeño, as well as catchers Victor Caratini and Willson Contreras and infielders Ben Zobrist, Daniel Descalso and Addison Russell.
• Iowa set several franchise records in a 19-5 route of the Nashville Sounds in a 7.0-inning game on April 28. The I-Cubs scored 15 runs in the first inning and drew 15 walks.
• 29 players have suited up for both Chicago and Iowa this season. Most notably Albert Almora Jr., Craig Kimbrel, Ian Happ and David Bote. Brad Wieck will be the 30th when he appears in a game.
• Cubs' top prospect Adbert Alzolay made his MLB debut with Chicago, spinning 4.0 one-run frames on June 20 against the Mets.
• Robel García also debuted for Chicago. The infielder completed his Cinderella story as he had been out of affiliated baseball since 2013 and never climbed higher than Class-A baseball prior to this season.
• Jim Adduci finishes the season with the second-longest hitting streak of the year, hitting safely in 19-straight games from May 20-June 24.
• Adbert Alzolay and Alec Mills both earned PCL Pitcher of the Week Honors.
• Trent Giambrone has 26 doubles and 23 home runs on the season. He is the first I-Cub with a 20/20 campaign since Javy Baez in 2014 (24 2B / 23 HR).
• Iowa is nearing half-a-million fans in 2019 and has welcomed nearly 18 million in Principal Park's 28-season history.
• Iowa's head groundskeeper Chris Schlosser and his crew were recognized with a Presidential Commendation as the runner up for the PCL Sports Turf Manager of the Year.
• Donnie Dewees (16), Phillip Evans (17), Dixon Machado (17), Trent Giambrone (23) and Robel García (31 total, 21 w/ Iowa) have all set career highs in home runs.
• On Aug. 22 vs. San Antonio, Matt Swarmer (6.0), Brad Wieck (0.2), James Norwood (1.1) and Dillon Maples (1.0) combined for Iowa's first one-hitter since 2015.
• Phillip Evans went 5-for-5 on July 28 vs. Round Rock, recording Iowa's 23rd five-hit game in its PCL history (since 1998) and just the second in the last five seasons (also David Bote on May 6, 2018).