April 9 Game Notes - Iowa vs. New Orleans

Iowa Cubs (4-1) vs. New Orleans Baby Cakes (2-3)
Tuesday, April 9 • 6:38 PM • Principal Park
RHP Duncan Robinson (0-0, 1.93 ERA) vs. RHP Elieser Hernandez (0-0, -.--)

TONIGHT'S GAME: Iowa faces New Orleans in its 2019 home opener tonight Iowa is 8-14 in PCL home openers and 1-2 in home openers against New Orleans. The two teams met for Iowa's first home game in 2017 and the Baby Cakes took a 2-1 victory in front of 7,031 fans. 
THE WEATHER MAN: The forecasted high of 65 degrees in Des Moines is the warmest home opener Iowa has had since 2015. That season, the I-Cubs opened eight days later than this year, on April 17, and were greeted with an 80-degree day. Over the last 10 seasons, Iowa has averaged a high of 55 degrees on Opening Day.  
SIT DOWN: Last night the I-Cubs pitching staff sat down a season-high 13 batters on strikes. It marked their most Ks in a game since Aug. 18, 2018 at Oklahoma City. Iowa struck out 13 or more batters just six times in 2018. 
THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT: Twenty-three year old Zack Short has kick-started his Triple-A career with a five-game hitting streak to open the season. He is one of 11 PCL players and the only Iowa Cub to have a hit in all five 2019 games.
POWER SURGE: Four of five of Trent Giambrone's hits have fallen for extra bases. With four doubles and one home run, the infielder has a team-leading 11 total bases
AGAINST NEW ORLEANS: The I-Cubs went 10-6 against the Baby Cakes in 2018 -- their best mark against any American Conference opponent. Current I-Cub Cristhian Adames was 15-for-52 (.288) with five RBI in 15 games against Iowa. Taylor Davis had a scorching hot season series against New Orleans, batting .415 (22-for-53) with nine runs, four doubles and 11 RBI. 
WINNING WAYS: Iowa is off to a 4-1 start, a mark last matched by the 2006 squad. The I-Cubs haven't gone 5-1 to start a season since 1998 -- their first season in the PCL. That season, Iowa went 8-1 to open the campaign. With one more victory, the I-Cubs would match their April win total from 2018 as the team was 5-17 in the month. 
FLASHING LEATHER: Iowa has made just two errors through the first five games of the season, sitting with Omaha and Tacoma as the only two teams in the PCL with two miscues and a league-leading .989 fielding percentage. In 2018, the I-Cubs tied the 2016 squad with the fewest errors in franchise history (96) and tied for the second-best fielding percentage (.981).  
SHORT HOPS:Dakota Mekkes has pitched six-straight scoreless outings for the I-Cubs (5.1IP) dating back to 2018...Dixon Machado has a two-hit game in all three of his starts this season. He leads the I-Cubs with six hits.