Pinch-Hit Minor League Wrap - September 2

by memphiscub on Sep 3, 2009 11:50 AM CDT

Iowa Cubs (71-68)

The Iowa Cubs lost their third in a row to the Omaha Royals, 17-7, in Nebraska.

Starter Jeff Samardzija gave up 10 hits, 6 runs, and 2 walks, with no strikeouts, in only 2.2 innings of work. Greg Reinhard was the only bright spot on the mound pitching 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Vince Perkins , Ezequiel Astacio, and John Gaub combined to pitch 4 innings and gave up 11 runs all earned.

CF Matt Camp and 3B Nate Spears both went 3 for 5 with 1 double. In addition to the double, Spears had another extra-base hit with a solo homer.

The I-Cubs are now 2.5 games behind Memphis and 1 game behind Nashville in the PCL American North race. Memphis beat Nashville, 5-1, yesterday, in Nashville.

Tennessee Smokies (35-30)

The Southern League had the day off. The Smokies are one game ahead of both the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx and Chattanooga Lookouts. The Smokies start a 5-game series with the Jaxx Thursday night on the road at Pringles Park.

Daytona Cubs (27-36)

The Daytona Cubs lost to the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 3-2, in walkoff fashion, on the road in the completion of a suspended game from Tuesday. Jay Jackson started the game Tuesday throwing three innings giving up three hits including two solo home runs. He struck out 4 and issued no walks. Mike Perconte on Tuesday and Oswaldo Martinez on Wednesday combined for five scoreless innings of relief. Chris Siegfried lost the game pitching 0.2 innings giving up three hits, one walk, and the game-winning run.

DH Jake Optiz was a perfect 4 for 4. 2B Nate Samson collected 2 hits in his 4 at-bats.

The regularly scheduled game for Wednesday was rained out. The D-Cubs and Lakeland Flying Tigers will play a doubleheader starting at 5 PM eastern Thursday in Lakeland.

Peoria Chiefs (41-23)

The Peoria Chiefs won their fourth in a row by defeating the Kane County Cougars, 3-2, at home.

Aaron Shafer was the winner pitching 6 innings giving up 2 hits and 1 run. He struck out 8 and didn't walk anybody. Kevin Kreier got the save pitching 3 innings allowing 1 run on 1 hit. Kreier struck out 2 and issued 2 walks.

CF Brett Jackson was 1 for 3 with a tie-breaking solo homer in the 7th. DH Nelson Perez was 2 for 3 with 1 double.

Boise Hawks (32-40)

The Boise Hawks got a walk-off 4-3 victory over the Spokane Indians, in Idaho.

Christopher Rusin pitched 5 scoreless innings giving up 4 hits with 2 K's and 2 walks. Josh Lansford followed that up with 2 more scoreless innings in relief striking out 1 and allowing 1 hit. Corey Martin pitched a disastrous 1.2 innings blowing the save giving up 3 runs on 6 hits. He registered 1 strikeout with no bases on balls. Daniel Keefe struck out the only batter he faced in the ninth and ended up being the winner.

CF Burundi Davis was the hero with the game-winning single in the bottom of the 9th. Davis was 1 for 2 and walked twice. 2B Logan Watkins was 2 for 4 with 2 singles.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

Jeff Samardzija

With a playoff birth on the line, granted it is AAA, he puts up a line like that.

He deserves a September callup why? He hasn’t shown a whole lot this year in the majors and has been so so in the minors. A big signing bons shouldnot be your ticket to Wrigley.

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. -- George Santayana (1863-1952)

by cubfred on Sep 3, 2009 2:54 PM CDT reply actions

He is a truly horrid pitcher to be honest

Still the Cubs need to prove he’s a prospect because they invested a lot of money in him.

I have a feeling he will be released in 2011.

Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.

by nji232 on Sep 3, 2009 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Was he horrid last season?

Nope, so to declare him a bust is silly. He demonstarted he can get major league hitters out last season, so the ability is there.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Sep 3, 2009 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Until they figured out he had one pitch

Then bad things happened. After having a lights out August 2008 he had a 5.40 ERA in September.

He has no control, no second pitch, and a big paycheck. I still think he should be brought up and put in the starting rotation the rest of the month. Let him get his brains beat in and either learn from it or the Cubs learn he isn’t good. Major League contract means its time to make this guy earn it.

Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.

by nji232 on Sep 3, 2009 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, putting him in the rotation makes sense ... not!

If he is going to be a big leaguer, he is going to be a relief pitcher. He has a big league fastball now, and he probably can develop a reliable hard breaking pitch, a splitter or a slider, and that would be enough to be a reliable reliever. A starter would require he develop some sort of true change of pace pitch, and that seems highly unlikely.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Sep 5, 2009 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions

9/3: Lakeland 4, Daytona 3 (Game 1)

The Lakeland Flying Tigers walked off with a 4-3 win in game 1 of a doubleheader with the Daytona Cubs Thursday.

James Leverton started and went five innings. He gave up four hits, three runs (only one earned), struck out 6, and walked 2. The loser was Billy Muldowney. He pitched 1.2 innings striking out one, walking none, giving up 3 hits and the game-winning run in the bottom of the 7th.

Two fielding errors by SS Marwin Gonzalez and a “missed catch” error by 1B Jake Opitz led to 2 unearned runs being scored by Lakeland in the 3rd.

None of the six D-Cubs’ hits were for extra bases. 3B Josh Vitters went 2 for 4.

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Sep 3, 2009 6:22 PM CDT reply actions