Game Notes - 7.22.17 vs. Oklahoma City
Iowa Cubs (44-53) vs. Oklahoma City Dodgers (53-45)RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (2-0, 1.46) vs. RHP Fabio Castillo (4-4, 4.08)7:08 p.m. | Principal Park | Des Moines
Iowa Cubs (44-53) vs. Oklahoma City Dodgers (53-45)
RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (2-0, 1.46) vs. RHP Fabio Castillo (4-4, 4.08)
7:08 p.m. | Principal Park | Des Moines
TONIGHT'S GAME: Iowa and Oklahoma City meet for the middle game of a three-game series at Principal Park. In last night's game, the I-Cubs were handed their third straight loss, dropping three games in a row for the first time since they lost a season-high five in a row from June 8-11. Tonight, the I-Cubs look to avoid losing four straight home games for the first time since May 25 - June 2.
WE'RE NO STRANGERS TO ONE RUN: The I-Cubs and OKC Dodgers have met 14 times this season, with five of the meetings being one-run games. Iowa is 3-2 in those games. On the season, Iowa and Oklahoma City are tied for the most one-run games in the PCL (30) along with Sacramento. The I-Cubs are 16-14 in games decided by one run this year, and 7-8 in one-run games at Principal Park. Iowa's .533 winning percentage in one-run games ranks seventh-best in the PCL, while Oklahoma City (15-15, .500) ranks ninth.
FINE UNTIL NINE: In each of Iowa's last three contests, the game has been tied heading into the ninth inning with Iowa dropping all three games. On July 19 vs. Nashville, Iowa led 8-2 before surrendering six runs in the top of the eighth to make it 8-8 and eventually losing 11-8 in extra innings. On July 20 vs. Nashville, the I-Cubs and Sounds were tied 5-5 going into the ninth, with Nashville scoring two in the ninth to win 7-5. On Friday vs. Oklahoma City, the I-Cubs and Dodgers were tied at three runs apiece before Edwin Ríos hit a solo home run in the ninth to give OKC a 4-3 win.
TD RAKES: Catcher Taylor Davis went 3-for-4 with an RBI on Friday, his third straight multi-hit game. The three hits tie a season-high for Davis, who now has 22 three-hit games and one four-hit game in his career. Earlier in the season, he owned the PCL's longest on-base streak, which lasted 38 games from August 10, 2016 to May 1, 2017. With 30 walks and 30 strikeouts on the season, Davis is one of five players in the PCL with at least 250 plate appearances to have as many walks as strikeouts.
TWO HITS ON THE DAILY:Chris Dominguez has been on fire at the plate in July. The big righty has been on a tear since June 24, hitting a whopping .468 (44-for-94) with 18 runs scored, seven doubles, one triple, three home runs, 16 RBI, three walks and 22 strikeouts, while also collecting six of his nine stolen bases this season. Dominguez has been racking up the multi-hit games, recording at least two hits in 17 of his last 23 games, and only going hitless in three of those games. His .468 average over that time is highest in the PCL.
AGAINST OKLAHOMA CITY: The I-Cubs and Oklahoma City Dodgers will meet for the final of four series this year and the 15th of 16 games. The I-Cubs took the first series, winning three out of five at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark April 6-10 to kick off the season. In the clubs' most recent meeting, the Dodgers came away with a 2-1 series win over the Fourth of July holiday. This season, the Dodgers have outscored the I-Cubs, 72-57. In the 14 meetings, Oklahoma City has a 4.02 ERA (54 ER/121.0IP), while Iowa pitching has a 4.99 ERA (66 ER/119.0IP). The Dodgers are hitting .293 against Iowa pitching, while Iowa is hitting just .226.
PUTTING THE 'K' IN OKC: Iowa's offense struck out 13 times last night, making it the 24th time this season where the I-Cubs have struck out 10 or more times. Iowa owns a 7-17 record when it strikes out 10 or more times in a game. Last night, Oklahoma City starter Wilmer Font recorded 11 strikeouts against Iowa, the most strikeouts by a single pitcher against Iowa since Tyler Skaggs of Salt Lake struck out 12 I-Cubs on July 20, 2016 in game one of a doubleheader.
BB COME BACK: Iowa only drew one walk as a team last night, Jemile Weeks in the seventh inning. It marks the 21st time this season where the I-Cubs have drawn one or fewer walks in a game, falling to 6-15 in those games. Iowa's 322 walks as a team this season ranks 11th in the PCL, one season after finishing fourth in the PCL with 495 walks.
QUALITY DUEL: Last night's Iowa starter Williams Pérez (6.0IP, 7H, 3ER, 2BB, 5K, HR) and Oklahoma City starter Wilmer Font (7.0IP, 7H, 2ER, BB, 11K) both tossed quality starts, the first time opposing pitchers each recorded quality starts in an I-Cubs game since June 19 vs. Omaha. In that game, Luke Farrell went 8.0IP, 3H, ER, 9K, HR for the Storm Chasers, while Iowa's Seth Frankoff went 7.0IP, 6H, 2ER, 3BB, 4K in a 5-1 Omaha win at Principal Park.
SHORT HOPS:Mark Zagunis leads the PCL in walks (53), but has not walked in five straight games for the first time since June 23-27, 2016…Chris Dominguez has hit safely in his last 14 home games, tied for ninth-longest streak in the PCL in 2017 and the second-longest active streak…Dominguez is 10 plate appearances short of qualifying for the PCL batting title…Dylan Floro pitched his longest relief outing last night (3.0 IP) since May 9, 2016 with Triple-A Durham...Iowa is 61-for-80 stealing bases this season, third-best stolen base percentage (76.3) in the league,
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