IL Iowa Cubs

July 23 Game Notes: Iowa Cubs vs. Indianapolis Indians

July 23, 2023 - International League (IL)
Iowa Cubs News Release


IOWA CUBS (55-38) vs. INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (44-50)

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

LHP Jordan Wicks (1-0, 6.08) vs. RHP Luis Ortiz (2-3, 4.03)

TODAY'S GAME: Iowa enters today's game with a chance to win the series, sending Jordan Wicks to the mound for his second start this series. The southpaw spun 4.0 innings of three-run ball in Tuesday's game, allowing five hits while striking out four. In three starts at Triple-A, Chicago's No. 5 ranked prospect is 1-0 with a 6.08 ERA, allowing nine earned runs on 12 hits and six walks. He has struck out 13 batters in his 13.1 innings pitched, limiting opponents to a .240 batting average against him. Opposite of Wicks will be Luis Ortiz also getting his second start this series, looking to bounce back after taking the loss in game one on Tuesday. In that game, Ortiz went 4.1 innings, allowing six earned runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out two. Two of his eight hits allowed were home runs, accounting for three of the six runs he allowed. In nine games (eight starts) with Indianapolis this year, the right-hander is 2-3 with a 4.03 ERA, allowing 17 earned runs on 28 hits and 19 walks. He has struck out 32 batters over his 38.0 innings pitched, holding opponents to a .200 average against him.

CAM CAN DO IT: Another key player in last night's victory was relief pitcher Cam Sanders. The hard-throwing righty tossed two perfect innings in his outing with no hits, runs, or walks allowed to go along with four strikeouts against the Indianapolis lineup. For his efforts, Sanders was credited with the win, which gave him his sixth of the season and he is now tied with Bailey Horn and Caleb Kilian for the team lead. On the year, Sanders owns a 5.18 ERA with two saves over 40.0 innings pitched with 45 walks and 65 strikeouts. His 65 strikeouts rank second on the I-Cubs pitching staff.

MORE FROM MADRIGAL: In his second game back with Iowa during his current Major League Rehab assignment, infielder Nick Madrigal got right back to where he left off at the Triple-A level with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate and a run scored. When Madrigal has played with Iowa this year, he is hitting at a clip of .468 (22-for-47) with six doubles, three triples, a home run, seven RBI, and eight walks drawn compared to just six strikeouts. He also owns a .561 on-base percentage and a .787 slugging percentage when donning an I-Cubs uniform. In 13 games with Iowa Madrigal has recorded multiple hits in nine of them.

WESNESKI PUTTING IN WORK: The I-Cubs got another stellar outing from their starting pitcher in last night's 5-3 win over Indianapolis. Hayden Wesneski had his stuff working from the get-go and finished with an impressive final line of 5.0 innings pitched, four hits allowed, no runs, no walks, and season-high eight strikeouts. At the Triple-A level this year, the right-hander has been dominate with a record of 1-0 and an ERA of 1.35. Over 20.0 innings of work he has allowed just three earned runs and has recorded 28 strikeouts compared to eight walks. The 25-year-old has been especially great in the two times he has gone up against Indianapolis this season. His lone victory in Triple-A came against the Indians and he owns a 0.00 ERA against them with four hits allowed, four walks, 13 strikeouts, and a batting average against him of .222.

PINCH ME: For the second game in-a-row Iowa used a pinch hitter, which marks just the ninth time they have done so all season. Matt Mervis was called to pinch hit on Friday night and went 0-for-1, popping out with the bases loaded. Last night, Yonathan Perlaza pinch hit and went 0-for-1 with a strikeout. Iowa pinch hitters haven't been very successful this season, as they have tallied a hitting clip of just .154 (2-for-13) with two runs scored, a home run, one RBI, and two walks compared to six strikeouts.

AGAINST INDIANAPOLIS: Iowa's win last night earned them at least a series split, heading into the finale of their six-game series today with a 3-2 series lead. The victory moved Iowa's record at home this year against Indianapolis to 8-3, going 11-6 overall against the Indians. They enter today's game with an all-time record against Indianapolis of 49-64, looking for their 50th win all-time. At home all-time against the Indians, Iowa is two games below the .500 mark, at 27-29 entering play today.

SHORT HOPS: Indianapolis did not record a single at-bat with a runner in scoring position last night, as Alike Williams reached second base on a double in which Miguel Andújar was thrown out at the plate...Iowa will look to get to .500 on Sunday home games as they are 3-4 entering today's game...last night's win guaranteed at least a series split for Iowa, who looks for their sixth series win at home this year, entering today 5-2-1 in series at Principal Park.

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