April 24 Game Notes: Iowa Cubs @ Buffalo Bisons

TONIGHT’S GAME: After being rained out last night, the Iowa Cubs begin a six-game series against the Buffalo Bisons tonight at Sahlen Field...Iowa is in first place in the International League West Division while Buffalo sits in a tie for second place in the International League East Division 0.5 game behind Scranton/Wilkes-Barre...right-hander Chris Clarke is slated to make his fourth start of the season vs. Buffalo’s right-hander Alek Manoah who will make his fourth start on Major League rehab assignment.

THIRD INNING SPECIAL: Iowa took the finale of the series vs. Louisville on Sunday by a score of 11-3...the win was highlighted by an eight-run third inning in which the I-Cubs tallied seven hits...it marked the most runs Iowa has scored in a single frame this season and the most since they also scored eight in the seven inning on Aug. 10, 2023 at Omaha...the I-Cubs also batted around (at least 10 plate appearances) for the first time since Sept. 5, 2023 vs. the Storm Chasers.

SERIES RECAP: Iowa won four of the six games vs. Louisville from April 16-21 at Principal Park, outscoring the bats 34-27 to give them their third straight series win...Louisville swept Iowa in a doubleheader on April 19, but the I-Cubs came out on top in the remainder of the games.

IN THE STANDINGS: With the I-Cubs taking the series finale on Sunday vs. Louisville, they sit alone in first place of the International League West Division...it marks the first time Iowa has had a sole possession of first place this season and the first time since Aug. 22, 2023 in which they held a 1.0 game advantage on St. Paul...since dropping the first two games of the season at Omaha, Iowa is 13-6 in their last 18 games, including a four-game win streak from April 6-9 vs. Toledo and at St. Paul.

CAISSIE AT BAT: The No. 43 prospect in all of baseball (MLB.com) Owen Caissie has reached base in 18 of his 19 games this season with an at-bat, despite being only one of five active position players aged 21 or younger in the International League...the outfielder is slashing .264/.384/.431 (19-for-72) with one home run and 11 RBI...Caissie has shown off his power capabilities in the past as he went deep 22 times a season ago while playing for Double-A Tennessee...Caissie’s 22 homers during the 2023 season were the most hit on the Tennessee Smokies and tied for the fourth most in the Southern League.

VS. BUFFALO: Iowa and Buffalo match up for the first time this season tonight...they played a six-game series last season from April 18-23 at Buffalo in which Iowa took four of the six games, outscoring the Bisons 33-24.

FINDING HIS STRIDE: Iowa’s corner infielder BJ Murray Jr. stayed hot in Sunday’s 11-3 victory over Louisville at Principal Park...he went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI and a walk...after starting the season going 5-for-43 at the plate in his first 11 Triple-A games, Murray Jr. is batting .417 (10-for-24) over his last eight games dating back to April 12 at St. Paul...he has two home runs, 10 RBI and nine walks over that span and the Cubs’ No. 15 prospect ranks among International League leaders in on-base percentage (2nd, .559), walks (T-3rd), batting average (4th) and OPS (6th, 1.267)...Murray Jr. spent all of the 2023 season in Double-A Tennessee and slashed .263/.382/.462 (119-for-452) with 36 doubles, 16 home runs and 74 RBI across 124 games...he ranked among Southern League leaders in doubles (1st), extra-base hits (3rd, 54), hits (3rd), total bases (5th, 209), OPS (7th, .844) and on-base percentage (9th).

CARL IS CLOSING: MLB veteran and two-time world series champion Carl Edwards Jr., including 2016 with the Cubs, was signed by the Cubs for the third time of his career in early April and has pitched in five games in relief so far this season...his last two have come as save opportunities, and he has converted both times...on April 17 against Louisville, Edwards Jr. needed just 26 pitches for the six-out save, allowing one hit and striking out three...Saturday’s outing was a little more eventful as he allowed a hit and a walk in his 1.0 inning of work...Edwards Jr. brought the tying-run to the plate with 0 outs, but retired the next three batters in order to preserve the 4-1 victory.

REBOUND ON THE MOUND: From the start of the season until April 13, the I-Cubs pitchers had a 3.23 collective ERA, which led all of Triple-A...from April 14 until Friday’s two losses, that number rose to 4.29 which ranked ninth in Triple-A...but Iowa’s pitching staff bounced back to secure a 4-1 win on Saturday and an 11-3 win on Sunday...the I-Cubs have posted an 4.06 ERA (84 ER in 186.0 IP) as a staff this season which is second best in the International League, trailing Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s 3.90 mark.