Game Notes for Thurs., June 25th

TONIGHT'S GAME: The Iowa Cubs and New Orleans Zephyrs play game two of what is now a three game series at Principal Park. This is the sixth game of what was scheduled to be an eight-game homestand over nine days for the Cubs. This series was shortened by a game when Tuesday night's game was rained out. Tuesday's game will be made up as part of a double-header on Sunday, August 23rd at Principal Park. The Cubs won three of four from the Memphis Redbirds to begin this homestand.

ZEPHYRS GET IN THE WAY OF CUBS WIN: New Orleans scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning without the benefit of a hit as RH Blake Parker hit three batters with a pitch and walked in one run. LH Neal Cotts walked in a second run to tie the game. Cotts (1-1) then surrendered a three-run homer to Jai Miller in the ninth that gave the Zephyrs a 5-2 win. Before the home run, Cotts hadn't allowed a run in 9.2 innings over his last nine appearances. Jarrett Santos (3-3) pitched a scoreless eighth inning and picked up the win. Nate Field finished the bottom of the ninth inning for his eighth save. The Cubs out-hit the Zephyrs 10-5 in the game. RF So Taguchi and PH Sam Fuld drove in the Cubs' runs.

FOR THE RECORD: RH Blake Parker's three batters hit by a pitch in the eigth inning yesterday set a Cubs' franchise record for most batters hit in an inning and tied the team record for most batters hit by a pitch in a game. Parker also enters his name in the PCL record book as the fourth pitcher in league history to hit three batters in the same inning. Bobbie Keefe of Tacoma was the first to do it on August 31, 1905 against Los Angeles. George Glinatsis of Colorado Springs hit three batters against Albuquerque on August 12, 1998 and Frank Rodriguez of Salt Lake hit three against Memphis on May 19, 1999.

"ZERO"-ING IN: The Cubs held the Zephyrs scoreless over the first seven innings yesterday, giving the pitching staff a streak of 25 consecutive scoreless innings over three games. It is the longest scoreless streak in the club's PCL history going back to 1998. Since May 29th, the Cubs have posted a 2.92 ERA (69ER in 213IP) and lowered the overall team ERA from 4.53 to 3.96. The Cubs are third in the league in ERA behind Nashville (3.65) and Sacramento (3.87). The Cubs are second in the league for fewest walks allowed with 214. Omaha has walked 205. The Cubs are third in the league with a 3.07 ERA this month behind Albuquerque (2.57) and Nashville (2.64).

FREEL RETURNS TO CHICAGO: Ryan Freel completed his rehab assignment with the I-Cubs yesterday and was activated by Chicago today when OF Reed Johnson was placed on the disabled list. Freel hit in all seven games he played with the I-Cubs, batting .417 (10-for-24) with four doubles, four RBI, six runs scored, and five stolen bases.

GAUB-STOPPER: LH John Gaub joins the I-Cubs today from double-A Tennessee and will be available out of the bullpen. Gaub was 3-1 with a 2.83 ERA and four saves in 26 games for the Smokies. In 28.2 innings, he allowed 19 hits, walked 17, and struck out 40. The Cubs acquired Gaub, along with Jeff Stevens and Chris Archer, from the Cleveland Indians for IF Mark DeRosa on December 31st. The Indians drafted Gaub in the 21st round of the 2006 draft out of the University of Minnesota.

CLEVENGER CONTINUES STREAK: C Steve Clevenger doubled and scored in the second inning last night, extending his season-high hitting streak to eight games. During this streak, he is batting .379 (11-for-29) with three doubles, seven RBI, and four runs scored. Clevenger's streak started with a pinch-hit walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning on June 14th against Omaha.

PLAYING ALL THE HITS: The Cubs have recorded at least 10 hits in seven straight games and are batting .302 (73-for-242) with 13 doubles, three home runs, 39 runs scored, 34 walks, and 37 strikeouts in this stretch.

vs. NEW ORLEANS: The Zephyrs lead this series, and the season series, 1-0. Last year, the Cubs won the season series 11-5 over the Zephyrs, including a stretch of seven straight wins from August 12-18. The Cubs won six of eight match-ups at Principal Park. Last year, the Zephyrs were the PCL affiliate of the New York Mets, but this off-season became the affiliate of the Florida Marlins. Albuquerque was the Marlins' PCL affiliate last season and the Cubs won the season series 9-7 over the Isotopes. Since joining the PCL, the Cubs lead the all-time series 77-66 over New Orleans, including a 44-30 record in Des Moines.

INJURY REPORT: RH Esmailin Caridad left the game in the top of the fifth inning last night with a strained left hamstring. Caridad will be evaluated again today and has not been ruled out of his next start scheduled for Monday night at Round Rock. Over his last three starts, Caridad had allowed two runs in 13 innings for a 1.38 ERA. OF Brad Snyder was placed on the disabled list May 21 with a broken bone in his left wrist. He's expected to be out at least four to six weeks.

UPCOMING PROBABLES (times CT)

Friday, June 26	7:05 p.m.	vs. New Orleans	RH Jeff Samardzija (4-3, 3.71) vs. RH Rick VandenHurk (3-0, 1.82)
Saturday, June 27	7:05 p.m.	@ Round Rock	LH J.R. Mathes (7-4, 3.41) vs. RH Yorman Bazardo (7-2, 2.67)
Sunday, June 28	7:05 p.m.	@ Round Rock	RH Greg Reinhard (1-1, 3.43) vs. LH Mark McLemore (1-3, 4.21)
Monday, June 29	7:05 p.m.	@ Round Rock	RH Esmailin Caridad (3-8, 4.14) vs. RH Jeremy Johnson (4-6, 3.79)
Tuesday, June 30	7:05 p.m.	@ Round Rock	RH Mitch Atkins vs. LH Josh Muecke