September 7 Game Notes: Iowa Cubs at Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

September 7, 2022 – International League (IL) – Iowa Cubs News Release

IOWA CUBS (60-70) @ JACKSONVILLE JUMBO SHRIMP (69-60)

Wednesday – 6:05 CT – 121 Financial Ballpark – Jacksonville, FL

RHP Anderson Espinoza (0-3, 15.58) vs. LHP Braxton Garrett (2-1, 3.12)

TONIGHT’S GAME: Iowa and Jacksonville are set to meet for game two of their six-game set tonight, with Anderson Espinoza taking the ball for the I-Cubs. Espinoza has had a rocky start to his Triple-A career, going 0-3 with a 15.58 ERA in four games (two starts) entering tonight’s contest. The righty has had difficulty with control, walking 10 batters over 8.2 innings pitched, walking two or more batters in three of his four games. Over those 8.2 innings, Espinoza has allowed 15 earned runs on 13 hits including two home runs, striking out six batters while allowing his opponents to hit .371 against him. On the other side, Braxton Garrett is scheduled to make a start on Major League rehab for Jacksonville tonight. Garrett was placed on the 15-day injured list back on August 20 with a right oblique strain and is set to make his first start since August 14 with Miami. The southpaw started the year with the Jumbo Shrimp, where he went 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA in five starts. His last start for Jacksonville came back on May 29 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre where he threw five scoreless, one-hit innings. In all, Garrett has allowed nine earned runs on 19 hits and seven walks in 26.0 innings pitched with the Jumbo Shrimp, striking out 21 over that span.

LEAVE IT TO LEVI: Though he hasn’t had a consistent spot in the lineup over the last month, Levi Jordan has been a big contributor over the past two weeks. In the six games he’s appeared in through the last three series, Jordan has gone 10-for-23 – good for a .435 average during that span. He crushed three doubles between St. Paul and Columbus and launched a home run last night in Jacksonville, increasing his OPS to 1.196 over the last two weeks. He’s scored seven runs and driven in three and taken three walks compared to five strikeouts in 26 plate appearances. His .467 average so far in September leads Iowa’s active roster while his seven hits and two doubles are both tied for second so far this month.

SITTING IN THIRD: Three different players on Iowa’s active roster are going for the top-spot among all Minor League players in 2022. Starting with Alexander Canario, whose 31 home runs this year have him tied for third among all Minor League players. Canario hasn’t…