Congratulations to the Iowa Cubs.  We all hope that this isn't the last clinching night for a team named "Cubs."

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs clinched the PCL American North DIvision title tonight with a come-from-behind 5-3 victory over the Oklahoma RedHawks.

Mitch Atkins got the start and while he didn't get his eighth victory for Iowa, Atkins did keep Iowa in the game by allowing three runs over five innings.  Atkins gave up five hits, walked one and struck out three.  One of the runs charged to Atkins was unearned.

Jesse Estrada picked up the win with three strong innings of relief.  Estrada allowed only one hit and one walk.  He struck out one.  Kevin Hart struck out the side in the ninth for his fifth save, although he gave everyone a scare by allowing a two-out triple and allowing the tying run to come to the plate.

Catcher Koyie Hill hit a huge three-run home run to tie the game up in the sixth.  Hill had a 2 for 3 night with a walk.  The home run was Hill's sixteenth on the year.  Hill also scored the go-ahead run in the ninth when Andres Torres singled him home.  It was a bit of redemption for Torres, as he had made the error that led to the unearned run in the first inning.  It was also Torres' only hit of the night in five at bats.

Shortstop Luis Figueroa was 2 for 4 and scored the fifth run.

The I-Cubs will host these same Oklahoma RedHawks for the first round of the PCL playoffs, starting at Principal Park in Des Moines on September 3.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies didn't let the Chattanooga Lookouts see what was coming and trounced them 10-1.

Esmailin Caridad started and improved his record to 7-3 with 6.1 strong innings.  Caridad allowed only one run on six hits.  He walked one and struck out four.

Rocky Roquet continued his second half surge with a perfect ninth inning.

Right fielder Matt Camp, of all people, hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning.  Camp was 2 for 5 and scored twice.  It was Camp's first home run of the season.

Center fielder Sam Fuld is also having a nice second half.  Tonight he was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk.  Fuld scored once.  Fuld is now hitting .299 since the All-star break with a .390 OBP.

Catcher Wellington Castillo was 2 for 4 with three RBI and a run scored.  Third baseman Josh Lansford went 2 for 4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

Daytona Cubs

Mother Nature let the D-Cubs get six innings in today and they beat the St. Lucie Mets, 6-5 in six innings.

Starter Marcos Mateo pitched four innings and allowed five runs on eight hits.  He didn't walk a Met and struck out two.  One of the runs Mateo allowed was unearned.

Jayson Ruhlman got the win with 1.1 innings of relief.  He allowed only one hit and struck out two.  Mike Cooper got his second save with two-thirds of an inning of work.  Cooper gave up one hit, one walk and struck out one.

Third baseman Jonathan Mota had a big game.  He went 3 for 3 with a double and his third home run.  Mota scored twice and batted three in.  Mota also stole his sixth base on the year.

Right fielder Ryan Harvey hit his ninth home run.  Harvey was 1 for 2 with a walk.  He had one RBI and scored twice.  DH Blake Lalli was 2 for 2 with an RBI.

Today's game ended in the top of the seventh inning with no one out and two on for the D-Cubs.  A scheduled second game of the double-header was postponed because of weather.  This was Daytona's first game since Monday.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs lost to the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 2-1 in 10 innings.

Chris Siegfried started and allowed one run over five innings.  Siegfried gave up five hits, walked one and struck out two.

Steve Vento got the loss when he allowed an unearned run in the tenth inning. Vento pitched two innings and allowed two hits and a walk while striking out two.

First baseman Luis Bautista was 2 for 4.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks bombed the Yakima Bears, 11-5.

Andrew Cashner started and pitched four innings.  He allowed one run on five hits and three walks.  Cashner struck out five Bears.

Because Cashner didn't pitch five innings, Chris Carpenter got the win. Carpenter allowed two runs, one of which was unearned, on one hit and two walks.  Carpenter struck out two.

Drew Rundle went 2 for 4 with a walk, a double and his seventh home run on the season.  Rundle scored twice and had two RBI.

Kyler Burke went 3 for 3 with a double and three runs scored.  Marwin Gonzalez hit two doubles in a 2 for 4 night.  Gonzalez had four RBI and scored once.

Michael Brenly went 2 for 3 with a double and a walk.  Brenly scored three times and had one RBI.  He even threw out a runner trying to steal.

Ho-hum.  Josh Vitters was just 2 for 5 with an RBI.

AZL Cubs

Did not play.