Minor League Wrap--July 18

My daughter is six months old today!

Iowa Cubs

The I-Cubs silenced the Nashville Sounds, 8-1.

Mitch Atkins turned in a gem in only his second start in AAA.  Atkins threw seven innings and allowed one run on three hits and a walk.  He struck out three.

Michael Wuertz threw a scoreless inning.

Felix Pie was 2 for 5 with his seventh home run, a two-run shot in the eighth inning.  Second baseman Bobby Scales was 3 for 4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.   First baseman Jason Dubois was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies lost to the Huntsville Stars, 6-4.

James Russell continued to struggle.  Russell picked up the loss by lasting only 2.2 innings and allowing five runs on seven hits and a walk.  He didn't strike out a batter.

Right fielder Doug Deeds was 3 for 4 with a double and his eighth home run.  Deeds had three RBI.  Left fielder Jake Fox was 2 for 4 with a run scored and catcher Chris Robinson was 3 for 4.

Daytona Cubs

As you probably heard, Rich Hill and the Daytona Cubs lost to the Ft. Myers Miracle, 10-4.

Hill pitched 4.1 innings and allowed six runs on six hits and three walks.  One of the runs was unearned and Hill struck out six. 

The good news, if you're looking for silver linings, is that through four innings, Hill had only given up two runs, one of which was unearned and had struck out six and walked one.  He fell apart in the fifth inning, giving up one run and leaving with the bases loaded.  Reliever Mike Phelps allowed those three runs to score and then added four runs of his own in an eight-run fifth.

I'm not saying Hill had a good outing. As a starting pitcher, you've got to pitch more than four innings.  But it truly wasn't as bad as the line appears.

Jeremy Papelbon threw two shutout innings of relief.

First baseman Steve Clevenger was 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs hammered the Lansing Lugnuts, 6-3.

Julio Castillo had a great start, throwing six shutout innings.  He allowed five hits and a walk and struck out two Lugnuts.  Jordan Latham, however, picked up the win by blowing the lead by allowing two runs in the inning he worked.  Latham was tagged for three hits and a walk.  One of the two runs he allowed was unearnded.

Steve Vento recorded his 12th save with a perfect ninth.

As Richard Pryor famously said, when you are on fire, people will get out of your way.  Right now no one is getting in Nate Samson's way.  Especially pitchers.  Samson went 2 for 3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored.  He was caught stealing once, so I guess a middle infielder dared to step in his path.  Samson is now batting .403 with a .456 OBP for the month of July.  Hopefully he'll keep this up until the game in Wrigley at the end of the month.

Third baseman Jovan Rosa was 2 for 4 with two doubles and four RBI.  Left fielder Elvis Lara was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored.

Boise Hawks

The Hawks got two runs in the ninth inning to beat the Tri-City Dust Devils, 4-2.

Chris Carpenter made his Boise debut and allowed a run on three hits in 1.2 innings.  He walked one and struck out one.

Casey Coleman pitched out of trouble all night long as he allowed seven hits and a walk in only 4.1 innings.  Yet the Dust Devils could only manage a single run off of him, and that was on a solo home run.

Bubba O'Donnell got the win with two innings of shutout relief.  O'Donnell didn't allow a hit.  He walked one and struck out two.  John Muller pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save.

Josh Vitters was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

AZL Cubs

The AZL Cubs beat the AZL Angels, 12-4.

Third baseman John Contreras was 5 for 5 with a double and two home runs.