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September 2 Game Notes: Iowa Cubs at Toledo Mud Hens

September 2, 2023 - International League (IL)
Iowa Cubs News Release


IOWA CUBS (72-55) @ TOLEDO MUD HENS (61-68)

Saturday, September 2 - 6:05 PM CT - Fifth Third Field - Toledo, OH

LHP Stephen Gonsalves (0-0, 6.35) vs. LHP Jack O'Loughlin (3-5, 4.85)

TONIGHT'S GAME: The I-Cubs and Mud Hens will meet for game five of their six-game series tonight, with the series even at two games apiece. Iowa will send Stephen Gonsalves to the mound, set to make his second start of the series and the season. In his last start against Toledo on Wednesday, Gonsalves allowed one earned run on three walks and four strikeouts in 1.2 innings pitched. The southpaw enters tonight's game with an 0-0 record and a 6.35 ERA through five games with Iowa. He has allowed four earned runs on two hits and eight walks while striking out 10 over 5.2 innings pitched. Opposite of Gonsalves will be lefty Jack O'Loughlin taking the ball for Toledo, set to make his 13th start and pitch in his 15th game of the year with the Mud Hens. O'Loughlin is 3-5 with a 4.85 ERA through his first 14 games, allowing 37 earned runs on 72 hits and 28 walks, striking out 67 batters along the way. Opponents are hitting .272 against the lefty in his 68.2 innings pitched. In one start against Iowa this year, O'Loughlin spun 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and three walks while striking out eight.

THROW SOME STRIKES: Tonight's starter for Iowa, Stephen Gonsalves, has limited opponents to just a .111 batting average against him in 5.2 innings pitched over his five games with Iowa this season. Despite surrendering just two hits, Gonsalves comes into tonight's start with an ERA of 6.35. A big factor as to why he has allowed four earned runs to score is his high walk-rate. The southpaw has walked eight batters over his 5.2 innings, including two or more in three of his five outings this year. Last time out, he didn't allow a single hit to the Mud Hens but walked three batters which resulted in one earned run allowed. Through his five games with the I-Cubs, Gonsalves has thrown 54% (70-of-129) of his pitches for strikes.

BLAKE'S BACK: After starting the season with Double-A Tennessee, Blake Whitney earned a promotion to Iowa yesterday. In his first outing with Iowa this year, Whitney spun 1.2 innings, allowing two hits, two runs, two earned runs and a home run while walking three and striking out one. The reliever spent time with Iowa in both 2022 and 2021 where he made 17 and 11 appearances, respectively. In his Triple-A career, Whitney is 2-6 with a 7.05 ERA. He has walked 32 and struck out 45 through 29 games.

HAT TRICK IN HIS RETURN: Brennen Davis rejoined the Iowa Cubs last night following a three-month stint on the Injured List and his return wasn't quite ideal. Davis was 0-for-3 with a hit by pitch and one run scored. He struck out in each of his three at-bats, swinging twice and a backwards K once. Davis had last played for Iowa on June 6 and was placed on the IL the following day. The outfielder made nine rehab starts between the Arizona Complex League Cubs and High-A South Bend. In those rehab starts he went 10-for-35 (.286) with 15 strikeouts. Davis has struck out 18 times combined since coming off the Injured List, doing so in 47% of his at bats. Before being injured, he had struggled with Iowa, hitting just .197 with 35 strikeouts.

STILL IN IT: Despite going 4-6 so far on this 12-game road trip, Iowa is still in the race for the second-half winner of the International League. After winning the International League West division but falling 4.5 games behind the Norfolk Tides for the first-half champion, Iowa has to win the second half in order to make playoffs. Entering tonight's game, Iowa is tied for second in the International League West but are 3.5 games out of first place overall in the International League. They are 29-25 so far in the second half, trailing the current leaders, the Durham Bulls and Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs who are both 33-22 this half. There are seven teams from the IL East and one team in the IL West above Iowa currently, with just over three weeks left to play this year.

LOST SOME THUMP: With yesterday's September call-ups taking place, Iowa lost outfielder Alexander Canario and starting pitcher Shane Greene. Canario suffered two serious injuries in the off-season that each required surgery. He broke his ankle and dislocated his shoulder on the same play in the Dominican Winter League and didn't join Iowa's roster this year until July 14. Since being on Iowa's active roster, the 23-year-old hit .276 (40-for-145) with 23 runs scored, 12 doubles and eight home runs. Canario drove in 35 runs and walked 15 times, growing his on-base percentage to .342. Greene was signed to a minor league contract on June 25 and assigned to Iowa on August 6. The righty allowed just four earned runs on 12 hits and nine walks while striking out 20 over his 16.2 innings pitched with Iowa. He started five games, going 1-1 with a 2.16 ERA. Greene was slated to start for Iowa in tonight's contest prior to getting his contract selected by Chicago yesterday.

AGAINST TOLEDO: Iowa and Toledo are set to play the third and final series between the two teams this week, with the Mud Hens currently leading the season series 9-7. They have split the first two games of their current series, going 2-2 this year at Toledo. Their two wins this series put them at 19-30 all-time against Toledo, having gone 5-11 all-time at Fifth Third Field.

SHORT HOPS: Iowa has struck out 47 times through four games this series, averaging just under 12 per-game this series; Wednesday night's strikeout total was the highest of the series at 14 while they struck out 13 times in last night's game...eight of nine Iowa's starters recorded at least one hit last night, Brennen Davis was the only starter who went hitless...Jared Young recorded his 22nd multi-hit game this season in last night's game, he is tied for third among Iowa's season roster, Yonathan Perlaza paces the team with 30, Jake Slaughter has 23 and Matt Mervis also has 22...Luis Vazquez slugged his second home run of the series last night, he joins Jared Young as the only players with multiple home runs this series.

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