Minor League Wrap--July 24

Lots of news on top prospects tonight.

Apparently Jeff Samardzija has been called up to replace Kerry Wood.  It will probably be a short stay to help out the bullpen and to give Piniella and Rothschild a look at him before September.  The long-term plan is still for him to be a starter and this stint in the pen shouldn't stunt his development in any way.

There was a Rich Hill sighting tonight.

Cubs chairman Crane Kenney announced in the booth with Len and Bob that Josh Vitters is getting promoted to Peoria in time for the game at Wrigley.  While that had been assumed, I don't think Kenney realized that hadn't been publicly announced.  Vitters is still on the Boise roster, although not playing.

It would be nice for Vitters to be there, however, as his brother plays for Kane County.

Finally, Andrew Cashner made his professional debut this morning.  For those of you who don't normally read all the way down to the rookie league team, you may want to today.

Iowa Cubs

The I-Cubs skinned the Tucson Sidewinders, 15-7.

Mitch Atkins got the start and the win despite being battered around a bit  by the Sidewinder hitters.  He allowed five runs on eight hits and two walks in six innings.  Two of the hits were home runs.  Atkins struck out six.

Carmen Pignatiello allowed singles to both batters he faced.  Both baserunners would eventually score after Kevin Hart relieved Pignatiello.  Hart was credited with two scoreless innings and Michael Wuertz finished the game with a scoreless ninth.

Those of you worried about Felix Pie can relax.  Pie was 4 for 5 tonight with a walk, a double and a triple.  Pie stole a base, scored three times and batted one in.

Micah Hoffpauir hit a grand slam in the second inning, his twelfth home run for Iowa.  Hoffpauir was 2 for 5 with a double, a walk and that grand slam.  He scored twice.

Andres Torres only managed to hit a measly three-run blast in the ninth inning.  I'm sure Micah teased him about that one.  Torres was 2 for 5 with a triple and his eleventh homer. 

Catcher Koyie Hill was 2 for 3 with a double and two walks.  Hill scored twice, batted two in and stole a base.  Shortstop Luis Figueroa was 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored.  Third baseman Casey McGehee was 2 for 5 with a walk and an RBI.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies fell behind 5-0 after two innings and couldn't catch up, as they fell to the Montgomery Biscuits, 5-4.

James Russell has struggled since the end of May.  Tonight wasn't any better as Russell allowed five runs in five innings to see his record fall to 4-6.  Russell allowed five hits, walked two and hit a batter.  He struck out five.  One of the runs he allowed was unearned.

Rocky Roquet threw 2.2 innings of shutout relief and Casey Lambert tossed 1.1 innings without allowing a run.

Catcher Blake Lalli's grand slam accounted for all of the Smokie runs.  Lalli was 3 for 4 and the home run was his third for the Smokies.

Center fielder Sam Fuld was 2 for 4 with a walk and right fielder Doug Deeds continued his torrid July by going 2 for 4 with a double and a walk.  Deeds is hitting .432 in July, and that's after a .378 June.

Daytona Cubs

Daytona edged the Vero Beach Devil Rays, 3-1.

Starter Rich Hill got the win.  The good news was that he allowed only one run on one hit over five innings while striking out seven.  Unfortunately, I left out the part where he walked five Devil Rays.

And yes, they're still the Devil Rays.

Marcos Mateo pitched three shutout innings of relief and Blake Parker picked up his sixth save with a scoreless ninth inning.

Left fielder Ty Wright was 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored.  Center fielder Jim Adduci was 2 for 5.

Peoria Chiefs

In a game marred by a bench-clearing brawl, a late Chief comeback fell short as the Chiefs lost to the Dayton Dragons, 6-5.

Starter Julio Castillo didn't make it out of the first inning.  He lasted only two-thirds of an inning and gave up four runs on three hits and a walk.  He hit two baters, one in the arm and one Dragon batter in the head, who was out for five minutes, although the Dragon Zack Cozart left the field under his own power.  Castillo struck out one.

Reliever Chris Siegfried allowed only one more run in 5.1 innings in relief of Castillo.  Siegfried allowed three hits and no walks while striking out three.

Shortstop Nate Samson was 2 for 4 with an RBI and three stolen bases.  Bad news for Reds fans as all three bases were stolen off of last year's first round pick Devin Mesoraco.

Center fielder Jonathan Wyatt was 2 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI.

Chiefs second baseman Gian Gonzalez had to leave the game on a stretcher after colliding with Jose Castillo in the first inning while trying to make a play.

The game was held up for 69 minutes after a bench-clearing brawl and multiple ejections.  After 15 players were ejected, the umpires rescinded the suspensions (I guess because the teams didn't have enough position players.)

Manager Ryne Sandberg was not at this game, as he was in Cooperstown for the induction ceremonies.  Carmelo Martinez was the acting manager.

Boise Hawks

Boise continues to pound their opponents into submission with a 12-4 victory over the Everett Aqua Sox.

Starter Josh Whitlock allowed four unearned runs on four hits in four innings.  Whitlock walked two and struck out three.  Jeffrey Beliveau was the winner in relief.  He pitched three shutout innings and permitted only a hit and a walk while striking out four.  John Muller finished the game with two shutout innings in a non-save situation.

Catcher Carlos Perez was the offensive hero for the Hawks. Perez was 4 for 6 with a double.  He scored twice and batted three in.  He also stole a base.

Second baseman Dwayne Kemp was 3 for 4 with a double and a walk.  Kemp had three RBI and scored once.  DH Josh Harrison was 2 for 3 with a triple, a walk, a stolen base and a run scored.

Because they had to get his potent bat in the lineup while Perez was behind the plate, the mighty Michael Brenly played first and just went 2 for 4 with a double and a walk.  Brenly scored twice and batted two in.

(You know, we kid Brenly because of his dad, but he's hitting .377 right now and I was impressed with his defensive skills behind the plate when I saw him.)

AZL Cubs

Beat the AZL Athletics, 6-5.

Andrew Cashner made his professional debut.  He threw one inning and allowed an unearned run and one hit.  He didn't walk a batter and struck out two.