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June 16 Game Notes: Iowa Cubs vs. Indianapolis

June 16, 2023 - International League (IL)
Iowa Cubs News Release


IOWA CUBS (36-28) vs. INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (29-35)

Friday - 7:08 PM - Principal Park - Des Moines, IA

RHP Riley Thompson (1-4, 6.75) vs. LHP Cam Alldred (2-0, 3.55)

TONIGHT'S GAME: Iowa enters tonight with the 2-1 series lead over Indianapolis. They send Riley Thompson to the mound for the start tonight. Thompson has been a hybrid starter/reliever for Iowa this season, making six appearances out of the bullpen and seven in the starting rotation. Tonight marks Thompson's fifth straight start dating back to May 24. In that stretch he is 0-2 with a 7.30 ERA. Thompson made a relief appearance versus the Indians earlier this season on May 17. He tossed just 0.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks. The relief appearance is his only career outing versus Indy. Thompson will be opposite Indians' starter Cam Cam Alldred. Alldred will make just his sixth start of the year, as he has also been a hybrid pitcher for the Indians. Through his five starts this year, the lefty has an 0-0 record with a 3.15 ERA. He made one appearance against Iowa earlier this series on Tuesday night. He threw 0.1 scoreless, hitless inning and recorded one strikeout. In five total career appearances against Iowa, Alldred is 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA. Tonight will be his first start against the I-Cubs.

PALENCIA SAVES THE DAY: Daniel Palencia reached an exciting career mark in his outing yesterday: his first career save. He entered the game with one out in the top of the ninth inning. All he needed was to retire two hitters to get the save and he did just that. Palencia struck out back-to-back hitters to end the game and get the save. The righty reliever has played in parts of five seasons of minor league baseball, making 47 appearances combined. Palencia has spent nearly all of his career as a starting pitcher and made his first career relief appearance for Iowa on May 25. So, while his opportunities for saves have been limited, he showed up when it counted in his first chance at one last night.

KILIAN WITHOUT THE K: Known as a high strikeout pitcher, it's rare to see Caleb Kilian go a game without getting a single punchout. It's so rare, it's only happened three times in his career. One of those few times came last night. Kilian faced 19 batters across 4.0 innings without getting a strikeout. The other two instances of a zero in the strikeout column came on June 15, 2022, and August 6, 2019. The righty has struck out at least one batter in 60 of his 63 career Minor League appearances.

TEN OR MORE: Last night, the Iowa Cubs scored 10 or more runs for the 15th time this season. It is the most games in one season since the I-Cubs had 16 in 2011. The highest mark for 10 plus run games since 1999 is 22, which happened in 2004. In that stretch, Iowa has surpassed the 15-game mark of 10 plus run games just seven times. The I-Cubs are currently on pace to have 35 games of double digit runs. If they stay on that track, this 2023 season would far surpass previous seasons.

MERVIS IN THE MINORS: Chicago's No. 6 overall prospect Matt Mervis returns to Iowa today after being optioned from Chicago on June 15. The Chicago Cubs selected the first baseman's contract on May 5 and he made his Major League debut that day. He recorded his first big league hit and RBI in his debut. Mervis appeared in 27 games with Chicago. In that stretch, he hit .167 with three home runs and 11 RBI. He returns to Iowa in conjunction with Cody Bellinger being reinstated from the Injured List. Before being called up to Chicago, Mervis played in 24 games with the I-Cubs to start the season. He slashed .286/.402/.560 with 27 runs, seven doubles, six homers and 27 RBI. Before his departure, he paced Iowa's offense in multiple categories including games (24) and walks (18). Mervis has had a successful career in his four minor league seasons, boasting a .276 average with 51 home runs and 190 RBI. Last season, Mervis was named the Buck O' Neil Minor League Player of the Year, awarded to the best minor league player in the Chicago Cubs organization. Mervis played across three levels in 2022: Advanced-A South Bend, Double-A Tennessee and Iowa. He slashed .309/.379/.605 with 92 runs, 40 doubles, 36 home runs and 119 RBI. Mervis will look to stay on the right track of his successful minor league career in his return to Iowa tonight.

MARTIN'S DEBUT DEBACLE: Left-handed reliever Riley Martin made his Iowa Cubs and Triple-A debut last night. He came in for the top of the seventh inning for Iowa. With a 10-5 Iowa lead, it was a comfortable time for Martin to make his first appearance and he used nearly all the extra padding. Martin allowed a single to three of his first four batters faced to load the bases. A sacrifice fly plated the first run against Martin. Then, a double put two more on the board for Indianapolis. The Triple-A "rookie" quickly allowed his first hits and runs for Iowa and accumulated a 27.00 ERA by the end of his outing. Martin did however end his inning of work on a high note. He recorded his first Triple-A strikeout to end the inning.

AGAINST INDIANAPOLIS: With their victory yesterday, Iowa took the series lead 2-1. They also retook the season series lead 5-4. The I-Cubs still trail by six games, going 21-27 all-time at home and 43-62 all-time overall against the Indians. Iowa's current two-game win streak matches their season high against Indianapolis, dating back to their double header sweep on May 20.

SHORT HOPS: Jeremiah Estrada was added to Iowa's roster yesterday, marking the 100th transaction of the season...with Cam Sanders landing on the development list, just seven players have been active on Iowa's roster since Opening Day on March 31; three pitchers and four position players make the group...all nine starters in Iowa's lineup recorded at least one hit last night, marking back-to-back games with each starter recording a hit and just the fourth time it has happened all year.

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