Minor League Wrap--August 20

First, a correction.  I've been counting down the Iowa Cubs magic number to clinch the PCL American North division for the past few days.  But I made a mistake in counting the number of remaining games.  Instead of actually counting them (which I did today) I simply subtracted the number of games played from the number of games scheduled.  But what I didn't realize is that both the I-Cubs and the Memphis Redbirds have a game that was cancelled because of weather that won't be made up.  This being the minor leagues, it's not "will be made up if necessary" for such games.  They're just not going to play them, even if it would affect the outcome of the pennant race.  Therefore, the magic number for the I-Cubs to clinch was one fewer yesterday, at six rather than seven.  Actually, it might even be one less than that, since if two teams tie for the title in the minors, they don't have a one-game playoff like in the majors.  They just use a tiebreaker, and I don't know if Iowa or Memphis would come out ahead in a tie.

Also, I don't want to repeat what was said in yesterday's comments, but I suggest reading the comments from yesterday if you want to know Baseball Prospectus' Kevin Goldstein's opinion of Jay Jackson and Josh Vitters.  (It's good, folks.)  Also, some bad news relating to the suspension of Mark Pawelek that the Cubs aren't calling a suspension.  But that's what it apparently is.  I suppose he still gets paid.

Iowa Cubs

The I-Cubs lost their second game in a row and fell to the Oklahoma RedHawks, 8-5.

Starter Mike Burns had a rough night, as he allowed seven runs on ten hits over five innings.  Two of the hits were home runs.  Burns walked one and struck out five.

First baseman Micah Hoffpauir was 3 for 5 with a double and a run scored.  Hoffpauir is now hitting .370 in AAA this season.

Right fielder Josh Kroeger was 2 for 5 with his 14th home run, a second-inning solo shot.  Kroeger had two RBI total and stole his tenth base.  Second baseman Bobby Scales went back-to-back with Kroeger in the second inning with his 15th homer.  Scales went 1 for 3 with a walk.

Third baseman Casey McGehee had a 2 for 5 night with an RBI.

However, the Memphis Redbirds also lost tonight, so the I-Cubs magic number to clinch now stands at five.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies banged out 14 hits tonight, but still lost to the Montgomery Biscuits, 6-4.

Starter Grant Johnson took the loss.  Johnson lasted only 3.2 innings and allowed three runs on five hits and four walks.  Johnson struck out two.

Ed Campusano allowed three runs in an inning and a third.  Dumas Garcia had three innings of scoreless relief.

Left fielder Tyler Colvin was 2 for 5 with his 14th home run.  It was a two-run blast in the fourth inning.  Right fielder Doug Deeds went 3 for 5 with a solo home run.  It was Deeds' 11th home run on the season.  Deeds also scored twice.

Center fielder Sam Fuld was 2 for 4 with a walk.  DH Kyle Reynolds and third baseman Matt Matulia were both 2 for 4.  Matulia had an RBI. 

Catcher Mark Reed was 2 for 5 with a triple.

Daytona Cubs

Yesterday I said it was a good thing the D-Cubs didn't have a scheduled game because it would have likely been rained out.  Tonight their scheduled game was rained out.

Peoria Chiefs

The weather tonight in Peoria was fine.  The schedule said to not play anyway.

Boise Hawks

The Hawks came from behind to beat the Spokane Indians, 3-2 in 11 inning.

Starter Jeff Beliveau allowed two unearned runs in a 3.2 inning start. Both runs scored on a two-run home run in the fourth inning. Beliveau allowed only two hits, walked two and struck out six.

Then the bullpen settled in for a long game.  Thirty-seventh round pick Eric Hamren made his Boise debut with two shutout innings, although he did allow three hits and a walk.  Mike Perconte had 1.1 innings of perfect relief.

David Cales, a 24th round pick this season, got the win when the Hawks got a run in the ninth to tie and a run in the eleventh to win.  Cales pitched three shutout innings, allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out four.  Bubba O'Donnell got his second save with a perfect 11th inning.

Right fielder Kyler Burke was 2 for 4 with the eventual game-winning home run in the 11th.  It was his sixth home run.  Burke also doubled. 

Shortstop Ryan Flaherty went 2 for 5 with two doubles.  Left fielder David Macias went 2 for 4.

We haven't needed a special Michael Brenly alert in about a week.  So as not to disappoint the Brenly groupies out there, Brenly went 2 for 4 with a double.

One guy who didn't have a good night was Josh Vitters.  Vitters could have tied the  record for longest hitting streak in the Northwest League tonight, but he went 0 for 5 and his hitting streak ended at 25 games.  He also made the error that led to the two unearned runs in the fourth.  Clearly we need to reassess his status as a prospect after a performance like tonight.

I hope everyone knows I'm not serious about that.  He just had a bad night.

AZL Cubs

Were beaten by the AZL Rangers, 8-1.

Chris Huseby had three shutout innings of relief, although he did walk four and struck out only one.