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August 8 Game Notes: Iowa vs. Nashville

August 8, 2021 - International League (IL)
Iowa Cubs News Release


IOWA CUBS (35-46) vs. INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (40-42)

Sunday - 1:08 PM - Principal Park - Des Moines, IA

RHP Joe Biagini (2-5, 5.40) vs. RHP Beau Sulser (5-5, 4.16)

TODAY'S GAME: Iowa and Indianapolis are set to face off for the series finale, and final game against each other at Principal Park this season. Joe Biagini will take the ball for the second time this series, looking to repeat his first performance in Tuesday's game. The righty spun 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while walking four and striking out five. He will square off against righty Beau Sulser for the Indians, who took the loss in that matchup against Biagini. Sulser is 5-5 with a 4.16 ERA on the year, and made a quality start against the I-Cubs on Tuesday. He gave up just three runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings, striking out two batters along the way.

NOT THIS AGAIN: On Friday, Iowa allowed Indianapolis to score 12 runs on 13 hits, including six home runs and a double, falling 12-8. The Indians bats didn't cool off one bit last night, scoring another 13 runs on 18 hits, with 11 extra base-hits, including six doubles and five more long balls. It was the most hits the I-Cubs' pitching staff has allowed all season, with the previous high of 17 set just last week on July 28, against Louisville. Six doubles also tied a season high for any Iowa opponent this year, marking the second time the I-Cubs have allowed their opponent to double six times, last done on June 8, against Columbus. The past two games are the first games all year that Iowa has allowed back-to-back double-digit games for their opponent, giving up 25 runs on 31 hits over their last two games.

WORKING HIS WAY BACK: Catcher Austin Romine is set to begin his major league rehab assignment today with the Iowa Cubs, working back from an injury that placed him on the 60-day injured list. Romine was hitting .111 (1-for-9) in six games as Chicago's backup catcher before being placed on the IL on May 5. Over his career, Romine has played for three teams over parts of 10 seasons in the major leagues, including the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and now the Chicago Cubs. His older brother, Andrew Romine, who just had his contract selected by Chicago on July 30, played in 47 games with Iowa this season. The middle infielder hit .311 (51-for-164) with seven doubles, two triples, one home run and 11 runs driven in in his time with the I-Cubs.

NEED MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM: Dakota Mekkes threw one scoreless inning of relief last night for Iowa, getting the I-Cubs through the eighth inning. Mekkes was the only pitcher on the staff last night to not allow an earned run, with Adrian Sampson allowing seven and both Ethan Roberts and Edwin Figuera surrendering three. It was the big reliever's second consecutive outing without allowing a run, lowering his ERA on the year with Iowa to 3.81.

STAY HOT: One night after being a single shy of the cycle, outfielder Nick Martini drove in Iowa's only run of the game last night with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning off of knuckleballer Steven Wright. Martini is hitting .381 (8-for-21) this series against Indianapolis, with two three-hit games. Four of his eight hits have gone for extra-base hits, including one double, two triples and one home run. The lefty has driven in five, walked twice and struck out just three times, bringing his on-base percentage to .458 through six games.

WRONG KIND OF RECORDS: Iowa hit a season-high five batters last night to go along with three walks and a season-high 18 hits allowed. Five hit batters in a single game set a franchise record for the I-Cubs, with the previous record of four hit batters. Four hit batters had also only been done once, back on July 21, 2019 in an 8-4 victory over the Nashville Sounds. Starter Adrian Sampson plunked three Indianapolis batters, including Michael Chavis twice, while reliever Dakota Mekkes hit two batters in his one inning of work.

SUNDAY BEST: Though the I-Cubs are an even 4-4 in Sunday games at Principal Park, they've received some of their best pitching performances in home series finales. Last time the I-Cubs and the Indians matched up at home was the season-opening series, and Iowa's staff pitched a combined no-hitter in the Sunday finale. Four pitchers combined to allow just three walks while striking out 15 batters in that game. While Iowa has had some tough Sundays too, allowing seven runs each to Omaha and St. Paul during the second two Sundays in May, they've been largely effective. The I-Cubs' second combined no-hitter of the season came in the first half of a Sunday doubleheader against St. Paul at Principal Park, and they followed it up by limiting the Saints to just one run in the second game. They also set their season-high for strikeouts in a game on Sunday, May 30, when the staff combined for 19 punch outs. Overall, I-Cubs pitching has earned a 2.78 ERA (21ER/68.0IP) in Sunday home games and struck out 86 batters in those contests.

AGAINST INDIANAPOLIS: With three consecutive victories, Indianapolis now leads the current series three games to two, and will go for their first series win against the I-Cubs this year. With a win, Iowa would earn a split of the series after winning the first two against Indy four games to two. With three consecutive losses to the Indians, the season series is now only a 10-7 advantage for Iowa, going 6-5 here at Principal Park and holding a 4-2 record at Victory Field. After a 12-run victory last night, Indianapolis is now out scoring the I-Cubs by 13 runs this series, 29-16.

SHORT HOPS: With the 13-1 loss last night, Iowa fell to 0-9 when their opponent scores 10 or more runs this season...Indianapolis has registered 25 runs on 31 hits their last two games, including 17 extra-base hits with 11 home runs and six doubles.

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