May 1 Game Notes: Iowa Cubs vs. Omaha Storm Chasers

TODAY’S GAMES: The Iowa Cubs and the Omaha Storm Chasers play a doubleheader today at Principal Park...LHP Justin Steele is expected to start game one on rehab assignment vs. LHP Daniel Lynch...Iowa will send right-hander Chris Clarke to the mound in game two and Omaha is scheduled to pitch right-hander Zach Davies.

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Four of the I-Cubs 12 losses this season have come in doubleheaders, including being swept by Louisville on April 19 and at Buffalo on April 25...the I-Cubs went .500 in doubleheaders last season, going 7-7 in such games...they won both games on two occasions, lost both on two more, and split the pair three other times.

SERIES RECAP: Iowa dropped their last series at Buffalo from April 23-28 with the Bisons’ winning four of the six games...in the series finale on Sunday, the I-Cubs were shutout by a 2-0 score for the second consecutive game...it marked the first time Iowa has been shutout in back-to-back games since Sept. 8-9, 2022 at Jacksonville, dropping both games by scores of 16-0.

HOME SWEET HOME: Iowa returns to Principal Park today for a 12-game homestand, hosting Omaha from May 1-5 and Columbus from May 7-12...the I-Cubs have an 8-4 record at home this season, vs. a 7-8 record on the road, and have won seven of their last 10 games at Principal Park.

STORM CHASIN’: The I-Cubs and Omaha opened up their seasons facing each other in a three-game series at Werner Park in which the Storm Chasers won two of the three games, with the run differential being even at 12-12...the two clubs faced off 21 times in 2023, with Iowa going 13-8 and outscoring Omaha 160-117 (+43) including a 20-1 win at Werner Park on Aug. 9 in which Iowa outhit Omaha 17-4 and hit seven home runs, four of which came in the first inning...the I-Cubs tallied a seven-game winning streak against the Storm Chasers last year from July 2 (G2)-Aug. 12.

THE BIG O: Owen Caissie extended his on- base streak to 12 games on Sunday, tied for his longest such streak of the season, batting .341 (14-for-41) with five extra-bas hits and 10 walks...it’s tied for the fifth-longest active on-base streak in the International League and he has reached base in 24 of his 25 games with an at-bat.

STAY HOT: After hitting just .167 (3-for-18) through his first five games this season, Iowa infielder, and Cubs No. 16 prospect (MLB. com), Luis Vázquez is batting .388 (26-for- 67) in his last 18 games dating back to since April 5...his batting average ranks third the International League during that span, trailing Toledo’s Ryan Vilade (.390)...Vázquez also ranks among International League leaders in on-base percentage (6th, .455) and hits (T-7th)...he went 0-for-4 Saturday, which snapped his hit streak at six games.

IN THE STANDINGS: From April 17-26, the I-Cubs held at least a share of first place in the International League West Division, but after the dropping the last two games at Buffalo, Iowa sits in the third in the division, 0.5 game behind Toledo and Omaha, who share the lead in the division.

STREAKING: Outfielder Darius Hill went 2-for-4 Saturday to extend his hit streak to six-games, dating back to April 21...he is batting .435 (10-for-23) with two doubles and three RBI during that span and the streak is tied for the 10-longest active streak in the International League and tied for the longest by an I-Cub this season.

THAT’S OFFENSIVE: Iowa tallied a season-high-tying 15 hits and scored a season-high 12 runs in their 12-3 victory over Buffalo Friday night...the 12 runs was the most scored by the I-Cubs since the club scored 20 runs in a 20-1 win over Omaha on Aug. 9, 2023...Iowa starting pitcher Riley Thompson tossed 4.0 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit with four strikeouts in a no decision.

STREAK SNAPPED: Iowa’s catcher Ali Sánchez went 0-for-2 in Sunday’s rain- shortened game at Buffalo...he tallied a hit and an RBI in five straight games from April 19 (G1)-26 and batted .421 (8-for-19) with three runs and eight RBI during that span...the RBI streak is tied for the sixth-longest in the International League this season and is the longest by an I-Cub since Alexander Canario from Aug. 10-17, 2023 (five games).

START ME UP: Iowa’s starting pitchers have posted a 4.03 ERA (43 ER in 96.0 IP) with 90 strikeouts this season...their ERA ranks second in the International League, behind leader Scranton/WB (3.69)...the I-Cubs pitching staff overall ranks second in the IL with a 4.10 ERA (104 ER in 228.1) and ranks third in strikeouts with 268.