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July 15 Game Notes: Iowa at Toledo

July 15, 2021 - International League (IL)
Iowa Cubs News Release


IOWA CUBS (24-35) @ TOLEDO MUD HENS (34-26)

Thursday - 6:05 PM CT - Fifth Third Field - Toledo, OH

RHP Joe Biagini (1-4, 6.39) vs. RHP Drew Carlton (2-1, 3.21)

TONIGHT'S GAME: Iowa will face the Mud Hens for game three of the series in Toledo tonight, still looking for their first win at Fifth Third Field. The I-Cubs will look to righty Joe Biagini, who has struggled to get back on track after missing the first half of June due to an injury. Biagini has seen limited action in his last four starts, never making it past the third inning, and has struggled with his control during that span. He'll face off with Toledo righty Drew Carlton, who will be making his first start for the Mud Hens tonight. Carlton has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen this season, holding a 2-1 record and collecting two saves in 18 relief appearances for Toledo. Tonight marks his first career start in four years of professional baseball.

THREEPEAT: Ian Miller continued his hot streak last night with three singles and an RBI in game two against Toledo. It was his fourth three-hit effort of the season, putting him first in three-hit games on the I-Cubs. He's also notched nine two-hit games for a total of 13 multi-hit games this season, which is tied with Taylor Gushue for second most on the team behind Abiatal Avelino. Miller's 3-for-4 night last night also extended his hitting streak to six games, which is his longest of the season. He's hitting .360 (9-for-25) over his last six games, but has collected only one RBI and no extra-base hits during that span. Miller's current streak is his longest since May 5 to May 10 of 2019, when he hit in six straight games with Triple-A Tacoma. The last time he had a streak of longer than six games was June 21 to July 4 of 2018, when he hit in eight straight with Tacoma.

NOT HIS BEST START: Cory Abbott recorded just eight outs in last night's start against the Mud Hens, allowing six earned runs on five hits. For Abbott, it was the shortest outing of the season as a member of the I-Cubs; his previous shortest was four innings on May 25 against St. Paul. In that game, he allowed 10 runs, five earned, on seven hits including two home runs, while walking five and striking out seven. He also walked five last night over just 2.2 frames, while striking out a season-low three batters. He had previously struck out five batters twice on May 19 and June 25, both against the Omaha Storm Chasers. Abbott suffered his fourth loss of the season against Toledo, moving to 1-4 with a 6.75 ERA on the year with Iowa.

GETTIN' ON BASE: With a single in last night's game, Alfonso Rivas is now riding a six-game hitting streak, his longest of the year. Over the six-game stretch, Rivas is hitting .409 (9-for-22) with three doubles, a home run and five runs batted in. He has also walked twice and gotten hit by a pitch once compared to just four strikeouts. The first baseman is inching closer to batting .300 on the year, as he has raised his average from .195 to .270 over the six-game span.

NOT TRANSLATING: In both games of the series so far, Iowa has out-hit Toledo. In game one, they registered four more hits than the Mud Hens, 6-2 and in game two, it was just two more, 11-9. Unfortunately for the I-Cubs, having more hits than Toledo has not transferred over to winning the games, as the Mud Hens have now taken each of the first two games. They won game one 2-1 and held off Iowa in their comeback attempt last night, winning 8-4, outscoring them in the series now by five runs, 10-5. Typically this year, when Iowa has out-hit their opponent, they have come out on the right side of the scoreboard, but after losing each of the first two games of this series, they are now 18-8 when out-hitting their opponent.

FIND THE ZONE: Dillon Maples made the sixth outing of his major league rehab assignment with Iowa last night, throwing 2.0 scoreless innings of relief. He didn't allow a hit to Mud Hens batters, but did walk one and strikeout one. The righty owns a 4.14 ERA (4ER/8.2IP) in six games with the I-Cubs this season. Control has been the biggest problem for Maples, walking eight total batters including his one from last night. He has allowed just four hits and struck out 10 batters over his rehab assignment, but has allowed four earned runs because of his lack of control. In each of his last two outings, July 11 against St. Paul and last night against Toledo, the reliever has tossed 2.0 scoreless innings, tying his longest outing of the year with Chicago. Maples has thrown two innings in five of his 18 outings with the Chicago Cubs, including his first three appearances of the year.

AGAINST TOLEDO: Iowa will match up with Toledo tonight for the third of their six games at Fifth Third Field. The I-Cubs are still searching for their first victory against the Mud Hens after dropping the first two games. Despite falling to 11-14 away from Principal Park, they have not lost a road series since they dropped five of six in Omaha at the beginning of June. The Mud Hens' victories against the I-Cubs have improved them to 34-26 on the season, just four games behind the Omaha Storm Chasers in the Triple-A East Midwest division.

UNTOUCHABLE: Ben Leeper threw yet another hitless inning last night, extending his hitless innings streak to 13.1 in 11 games with Iowa. Leeper struck out two batters last night for the second one-inning outing in a row, running his strikeout total to 22 compared to just five walks. The righty improved his ERA to 0.68 (1ER/13/1IP) with another scoreless inning.

SHORT HOPS: Tony Wolters threw two baserunners out at second base last night, marking the first time this season an Iowa catcher has caught two men stealing in a game...Iowa's leadoff hitters have gone 0-for-8 with four strikeouts through the first two games in Toledo...Michael Hermosillo's stolen base last night was his seventh of the season, moving him into second on the team behind Abiatal Avelino, who has ten.

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