April 21 Game Notes vs. Memphis

Iowa Cubs (4-9) vs Memphis Redbirds (12-4)
Saturday, April 21 • 7:08 PM CT • Principal Park • Des Moines, IA
RHP Duane Underwood Jr. (0-1, 3.60) vs. RHP John Gant (2-0, 2.77)

TONIGHT'S GAME: Iowa will welcome the Memphis Redbirds for the first of a three-game series at Principal Park. The I-Cubs ended their three-game skid last night by beating Nashville 7-1.
WIDENING THE GAP: Iowa topped Nashville 7-1 last night, with the six runs marking its largest margin of victory of the season. Prior, Iowa hadn't out-scored its opponent by six or more runs since beating Memphis 9-1 on Aug. 20, 2017. 
CONSISTENCY IS KEY: Mark Zagunis elevated his batting average to .310 with a 2-for-4 game last night, making him the only Iowa Cub with a mark above .300. Following a four-game slump (0-for-13) April 10-13, Zagunis has hit safely in each of his last five games, batting .526 (10-for-19) with two doubles, one homer and five RBI over this stretch. Zagunis currently leads the I-Cubs in batting average (.308), OBP (.408) and OPS (.837).
THE WEATHER SEGMENT: Last night marked the first time Iowa was able to play back-to-back home games without a cancellation due to weather. The expected temperature high for the first pitch tonight is 58 degrees with winds blowing east at 10 miles per hour. 
WYNTON'S HITTIN': Center fielder Wynton Bernard belted two doubles last night and drove in three runs.The last time Bernard drove in three in a game was Aug. 21, 2016 while with Double-A Erie. Over his last four games, Bernard is 5-for-14 (.357) and has increased his season batting average from .174 to .250. 
ERROR FREE: The I-Cubs didn't haven't committed an error in consecutive games for the first time this season. Last night's defensive play was solid, but the I-Cubs still currently rank second-to-last in the league with a .967 fielding percentage, leading only Nashville (.966).
BOTE CALLED UP: With Ben Zobrist heading to the 10-Day D.L., David Bote has been called up to meet the Cubs in Colorado. Bote will join the active roster for the first time in his career and is expected to make his major league debut tonight batting eighth and playing third. He is the second Iowa Cub to get the call to Chicago this season (also Efren Navarro) and will be the first to notch a major league debut in 2018. 
AGAINST MEMPHIS: This is the second time Iowa has squared off against Memphis this season. Iowa was outscored 17 to 23 in the four-game series against the Redbirds last week. The I-Cubs recorded their highest run total of the season, knocking in nine on April 15. Iowa is 1-8 through its last nine games against Memphis dating back to last season. 
MARTY PEVEY DAY: Tonight, we celebrate Manager Marty Pevey. Pevey captured his 1,000th career victory on April 12 at Nashville. The win was also the 356th in his Iowa Cubs career, making him the winningest manager in Iowa history in his sixth season at the helm of the club. Opposing manager Stubby Clapp played for Pevey in 2004 at Triple-A Syracuse. 
ADBERT ALZO-YAY!: Top pitching prospect Adbert Alzolay made his Iowa Cubs debut last night. Alzolay was perfect through four and hitless through 5.1 when BJ Boyd broke the no-hitter and the shutout with a solo homer to left. Alzolay became just the second I-Cub to record a quality start this season (also Michael Roth) and the first starter to earn a victory. He is also the first I-Cub starting pitcher to claim a win in his Triple-A debut since Jen-Ho Tseng on July 9, 2017. 
PITCHING IN WITH PITCHING: While the bats might still be warming to start the season, I-Cubs arms have propelled Iowa into the top-five PCL teams with a 3.47 ERA. Leading the way is left-hander Michael Roth who is tied with Nashville's James Naile for the PCL lead with a 0.00 ERA. Iowa is in the basement of the league for hitting, batting .211. The team's .289 on-base percentage is also last. 
NO RUNS ROSARIO: Iowa's left-hander Randy Rosario made his fifth appearance of the season last night. Rosario threw 2.0 scoreless innings of baseball while striking out two. Rosario has given up earned runs in 7.0 innings pitched this year. 
ON THIS DATE IN IOWA HISTORY...the very first Triple-A baseball game in Des Moines was played in 1969 at Pioneer Memorial Stadium. . The game was between Iowa and Oklahoma City -- back whenthe Cubs were the Oaks and Dodgers were the 89ers. The Oaks took the victory in that game by a score of 12-7.