August 7 Game Notes vs. Las Vegas

Iowa Cubs (42-71) vs. Las Vegas 51s (56-58)
Tuesday, Aug. 7 • 12:08 p.m. CT • Principal Park • Des Moines, IA
RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (2-11, 6.36) vs. RHP Drew Gagnon (3-4, 5.11)

TODAY'S GAME: The I-Cubs will wrap up the four-game series with the Las Vegas 51s this afternoon while looking to split the series 2-2 after last night's 6-1 loss. RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (2-11, 6.36) will toe the rubber against RHP Drew Gagnon (3-4, 5.11). Iowa's left-handed bats could be the key to this matchup, as lefties are hitting .295 off Gagnon, compared to his .239 opposing batting average vs. right-handers. 
JASON BOSSLER: After going 1-for-9 prior to Sunday's game, Jason Vosler continued to build on his 4-for-4 Sunday. He followed up the performance with the only multi-hit game of the day for Iowa yesterday, going 2-for-4 with a double. Over his last 10 games, Vosler is pacing the I-Cubs with a .361 average (13-for-36) with seven runs scored, a home run and seven RBI--batting .412 in the last five games with two runs, a home run and four RBI. The third baseman's solo shot in Sunday's game marked his sixth long ball on the season with Iowa and 18th overall in 2018 between Double-A Tennessee and Iowa. Vosler now leads all Chicago farmhands in home runs. 
HOME RUN HAPPY: The I-Cubs and 51s have combined to launch nine home runs over three games. Coming into the final contest of a seven-game homestand, there has been a home run in each contest, for a total of 14 long balls, since Aug. 1. I-Cub starters have given up eight of those home runs, while surrendering 17 total over the past 12 games.
START ANOTHER: Last night's loss to Las Vegas was the first outing since July 19 Alberto Baldonado has given up an earned run. During the period, the lefty made four appearances totaling five innings without surrendering an earned run. The stretch from July 22 to Aug. 2 ties his longest scoreless streak of the season, which he first notched from June 15 to June 25, where he also threw five innings of scoreless baseball--giving up just two hits and striking out five. His three earned runs on the night were the most he has given up since June 30, when he surrendered three earned on three hits, a home run and three walks in one inning of work. 
FAB-FOUR: Over Iowa's last 10 games, four I-Cubs are hitting above the .300 mark, including Stephen Bruno (12-35, .343), Trey Martin (8-25, .320), Jason Vosler (13-36, .361) and Mark Zagunis (11-31, .355). 
AGAINST LAS VEGAS: Iowa holds an advantage in the all-time meetings between these two teams at 49-48. Prior to last season's series win, the I-Cubs had only won one series against Last Vegas since 2011. Last year, Mark Zagunis played his cards right against Las Vegas and went 7-for-16 (.438) with four runs, an RBI and four walks. He has continued the trend into this season, going 4-for-10 (.400) with five RBI in three games of a four-game set. 
IT'S HOW YOU END: Jen-Ho Tseng posted a 7.14 ERA before the All-Star break, before bouncing back for a 3.65 ERA after. Over four starts since the break, the righty has allowed 10 earned runs on 23 hits over 24.2 innings. After a slow beginning, Tseng has allowed no more than two earned runs in a start over his last three outings. He has secured back-to-back quality starts while matching his season-high pitch count at 104 en route to a seven-inning two-earned, five-hit performance. 
HITTING THE MARK: Over his last 13 games, Mark Zagunis has gone 16-for-45 for a .356 average -- driving in nine and swiping three bags along the way. He extended his hitting streak to six games yesterday while going 1-for-3 and scoring one. The outfielder walked once with one strikeout to continue to pace the I-Cubs in OBP at .395 -- he is in a four-way tie for ninth place in PCL OBP. 
BRILLIANT BRUNO: Stephen Bruno continued to produce at the top of the lineup, as he secured one of Iowa's six hits on the day. Over the homestand, Bruno has gone 7-for-21 (.333) with five runs, a RBI, four walks and two strikeouts. With Chesny Young on the DL and David Bote with Chicago, Bruno has taken full advantage of his opportunity and has thrived batting higher in the order. During the season, Bruno is hitting .330 (31-for-94) while batting leadoff or second as opposed to batting .155 (16-for-103) in the rest of the spots in the lineup. 
SHORT HOPS: For the second time this series, Iowa and Las Vegas have posted an equal hit total, with Iowa taking the first and Las Vegas grabbing the second last night. Iowa is now 7-6 in the category...Despite closely mirroring the 51's in walks (4), hits (6) and strikeouts (IOW-10, LV-13), Iowa left nine runners stranded and went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.