August 29 Game Notes - Iowa at Oklahoma City

Iowa Cubs (72-63) @ Oklahoma City Dodgers (60-74)
Thursday, Aug. 29 - 7:05 PM - Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark - Oklahoma City
RHP Colin Rea (14-3, 3.74) vs. RHP Justin De Fratus (2-5, 7.09)

TONIGHT'S GAME: With a victory last night, Iowa lowered its magic number to one and now has a chance to clinch the PCL American Northern Division title for the first time since 2008 with a win tonight. If the I-Cubs win, they would end their season with an 11-6-1 record on the road. Colin Rea takes the bump to face the Oklahoma City Dodgers.
WALK DOWN THE LINE: The I-Cubs as a team walked 12 times. P.J. Higgins (4), Robel Garcia (3) and Daniel Descalso (2) all had multiple walks while Phillip Evans, Mark Zagunis and Zack Short each added one last night. Four walks for Higgins marked a new career high, raising his OBP with Iowa from .356 to .377.
DOMINATING DILLON: RHP Dillon Maples has been untouchable for the I-Cubs in his last eight appearances. The righty has spun 11.0 straight scoreless innings while allowing just four hits and four free passes over that span. He has struck out 18 hitters in his last 11.0 innings, including two last night, pushing him to 76 strikeouts on the season with Iowa. 
REA DAY: Today, right-hander Colin Rea announced as the PCL Pitcher of the Year. Rea is 14-3 with a 3.74 ERA (59ER/142.0IP) in 25 starts for Iowa. The righty's 14 wins are the most for a PCL pitcher since 2016 and also ties the Iowa single-season franchise record. Rea tops the league in ERA, wins and games started. Rea is the second I-Cubs to capture this award as RHP Carolos Pimentel took the honor in 2015 after going 12-6 with a 2.95 ERA.
NO-HIT BID: After allowing just one run on three hits to Nashville in his previous start, Adbert Alzolay spun four no-hit innings last night. He walked two batters and struck out five, throwing 32 of his 64 pitches for strikes. Alzolay's last two starts marked the first time he has pitched at least four innings and allowed two or fewer runs in consecutive starts since his time with Chicago.
AGAINST OKLAHOMA CITY: The I-Cubs hold a 9-6 record against the Dodgers this season and are 5-2 on the year at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The two teams are tied on the scoreboard in the series at 82, but the I-Cubs have taken care of business on the road against the Dodgers, outscoring them 50-27 in seven games. PCL wins and ERA leader Colin Rea will look for his third win in four starts against the Dodgers this season to send Iowa into the playoffs.
TURN IT AROUND: LHP Randy Rosario had three straight appearances in which he gave up two earned runs from July 27 to August 3. Since then, the lefty has tossed 10.2 innings, allowing just two earned runs over that stretch. In those seven appearances, Rosario has allowed nine hits, while walking four and striking out nine. Both of the earned runs he has allowed came on solo home runs. He has recorded four or more outs in five of the seven appearances, lowering his ERA from 3.90 on August 7 to 3.19 last night.
SWING AND MISS: The I-Cubs pitching staff combined to strikeout 16 Oklahoma City batters last night, matching a season high. Starter Adbert Alzolay led the pack with five, followed by Randy Rosario with four, Dakota Mekkes with three, and Alex Wilson and Dillon Maples each recorded two. All five men combined to allow just three hits and six walks.
THE WAY BACK MACHINE: The last time the Iowa Cubs were in the playoffs was the year 2008. Barack Obama was running for President and would be elected in November. The top-three songs on Billboard's charts at year's end were "Low" by Flo Rida feat. T-Pain, "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis and "No One" by Alicia Keys. "The Dark Night" set a record by making $155 million in its opening weekend, topping Spider-Man 3 ($151M, 2007). American Idol was the top-ranking TV show, followed by Dancing with the Stars and CSI.
SHORT HOPS: Iowa batters walked 12 times to match a season high...Oklahoma City's grand slam last night marked the sixth home run Dakota Mekkes has surrendered this season. He had never given up more than two in a season prior to 2019.