IL Iowa Cubs

April 23 Game Notes: Iowa Cubs at Buffalo Bisons

Published on April 23, 2023 under International League (IL)
Iowa Cubs News Release


IOWA CUBS (12-5) @ BUFFALO BISONS (7-12)

Sunday - 12:05 PM CT - Sahlen Field - Buffalo, NY

RHP Rowan Wick (0-1, 8.22) vs. RHP Matt Peacock (1-0, 2.84)

TODAY'S GAME: Iowa and Buffalo are set to play the sixth and final game of their series this afternoon, with the I-Cubs having already won the series with their victory yesterday. Taking the ball for Iowa will be Rowan Wick, who is making the first start of his professional career. The righty has made 325 appearances over nine seasons, not starting a single game. So far this year with Iowa as a reliever, he is 0-1 with an 8.22 ERA in five games. Opposite of Wick will be Matt Peacock toeing the rubber for the Bisons in the series finale. Peacock is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA in six games this year, allowing two earned runs on three hits and four walks in 6.1 innings pitched. Out of 108 minor league games, the 29-year-old has made 37 starts, with his last coming in 2019.

CAN WE CATCH THEM: Iowa lost two games in their last home stand due to inclement weather and have one game to be made up still against St. Paul in June, putting them three games short of what other teams have played. Entering today's game, the I-Cubs sit in third place in the International League West Division, with a record of 12-5. They are one game behind the Toledo Mud Hens who are 14-5 and 1.5 games behind the Memphis Redbirds who enter today with a record of 15-5. The Redbirds could sweep their second consecutive six-game series if they win today, having won 12 straight games to put them at the top of the standings.

TIED FOR THE LEAD: Tyler Duffey spun two scoreless frames of relief last night, walking one batter while striking out two. The veteran right-hander also used two groundouts and a fly out to get through the fifth and sixth innings unscathed. With his performance yesterday, he earned the victory, making him 2-0 with a 6.14 ERA this year in six games. He has allowed five earned runs on two hits and seven walks in 7.1 innings, striking out six batters along the way. Duffey hasn't really been hit by any of his competition, with opponents hitting just .083 against him. With his win yesterday afternoon, Duffey is now tied for the team-lead with starter Roenis Elías as the only two I-Cubs pitchers with two wins this year.

DID IT AGAIN: After losing in game four of the series on Friday night, Iowa came back with a big victory yesterday to clinch the series victory. They continued their streak of bouncing back after each loss this season, having never lost two consecutive games to this point. In games following a loss this year, Iowa is now 5-0 and has outscored their opponent by 30 runs.

KEPT IT GOING: Christopher Morel entered yesterday's game with a 10-game hitting streak, the longest for any I-Cubs player this year. In Friday's game, the utility player extended his hitting streak to 10 games on the very first pitch of the game, swatting it for a solo home run. Yesterday was quite the opposite, as Morel was hitless through his first five at-bats. Luckily for him, the offense was on a roll and he earned a sixth at-bat in the final inning of the game. Buffalo was out of pitching options and had to turn to a position player, who lobbed in a pitch that Morel turned on, crushing his seventh home run of the year and second in as many games to extend his streak to 11 games. The 23-year-old leads the team in virtually every hitting category, and is in the top-10 in the International League in batting average (9th, .354), home runs (T-2nd, 7), RBI (T-5th, 17), OBP (10th, .462), slugging percentage (1st, .815), OPS (1st, 1.277), this (T-8th, 23), doubles (T-1st, 7), extra-base hits (1st, 15) and runs scored (T-3rd, 18).

AGAINST BUFFALO: The I-Cubs earned the series victory against the Bisons with their 11-6 win yesterday, taking four of the first five games. Today's game will mark the series finale, as the two teams are also meeting for the final time this year. With their 4-1 record so far this year, Iowa is now 54-62 against the Bisons on the road all-time, while going 117-108 all-time overall against Buffalo.

SHORT HOPS: Iowa moved to 7-0 when they score 10 or more runs this year, scoring 10 or more runs in 41% (7-of-17) of their games...the I-Cubs are now 3-0 when they make two errors this year...after starting the year with seven out of his first eight games hitless, Brennen Davis has now recorded a hit in four of his last six games, including two multi-hit games here against Buffalo.

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