Well, I don't have any good news to report tonight, except that neither series is over.  But everyone should be in a better mood after yet another Brewers loss.

Seriously.  It's to be expected that both the Cubs and the Brewers would cool off and have a slump at some point.  But who would have thought they'd do it at the same time?

Iowa Cubs

A fielder error by shortstop Andres Blanco led to five unearned runs in the second inning and the I-Cubs lost to the Oklahoma RedHawks, 6-2.

Starter J. R. Mathes allowed all six runs over five innings of work. Five of the runs were unearned due to the Blanco error.  Mathes gave up six hits.  He walked three and struck out four.

I watched the first half of this game on milb.tv and this is a perfect example of why you shouldn't put too much stock in ERA and especially not with minor leaguers.  Mathes got battered like a piñata at a kid's birthday party in the second inning, but because it all happened after two were out following the Blanco error, none of those five runs were earned.  But believe me, Mathes earned those runs.

Right fielder Josh Kroeger was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.  First baseman Jason Dubois went 2 for 3 with a walk.  Andres Blanco did have a good day with the bat, as he was 2 for 4 and scored a run.

The best-of-five series is now tied at a game a piece and continues tomorrow night in Oklahoma City.

Daytona Cubs

After being down 5-0, a late comeback by the D-Cubs fell short as they lost to the Palm Beach Cardinals, 5-4.

Once again, it was unearned runs that did in the D-Cubs tonight.  Starter Marcos Mateo allowed five runs, four of which were unearned because of an error in the fourth inning by third baseman Jonathan Mota.   Mateo allowed six hits.  He walked two and struck out two.

If you're looking for good news, first-round pick Andrew Cashner relieved Mateo in the fourth inning and threw 3.2 innings without allowing a hit.  Of the eight outs he recorded, seven were by strikeout.  Cashner did, however, mix in three walks in that stretch of dominating pitching.

Second baseman Tony Thomas went 2 for 4 with a double and a walk.  He also scored once.

After being down 5-0 at one point, the D-Cubs scored two in the ninth to get within a run.  The tying run was on first with two outs when first baseman Russ Canzler came to the plate.  Unfortunately, Canzler struck out.  He was 1 for 4 with a walk in the game, though.

Amid charges of hippodroming the past two games, this three-game playoff series will be decided tomorrow night in Palm Beach.  The winner will take on the Minnesota Twins affiliate, the Ft. Myers Miracle, in the Florida State League Championship.

I was just joking about the hippodroming charges.  No one's accused anyone of hippodroming.  It's just such a great word and you don't get a chance to use it much.