Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 19

Today, the Iowa Cubs wanted to be like the major leaguers a little too much.

Tonight we're going to lead with the . . .

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs outlasted the Charlotte Stone Crabs, 4-3 in 19 innings.

The winning pitcher in this game was Matt Matulia, who is actually a coach with the Daytona Cubs. Honestly, I didn't even noticed he'd been activated as a player a couple of weeks ago, although he did pitch one inning of mopup work earlier. His playing career appeared to be over after he hit .150 in 26 games as an infielder for Iowa last season.

But tonight, Matulia took the mound in the top of the 15th inning when Daytona manager Buddy Bailey ran out of arms. Matulia pitched five shutout innings, allowing four hits and walking one. Matulia actually struck one Stone Crab batter out. It was Matulia's first career win and he doubled his career innings pitched.

Right fielder Kyler Burke hit an RBI double in the top of the 19th that was the eventual game winner. Burke was 2 for 7 with two doubles and three RBI tonight. The winning run was scored off a Charlotte infielder, also pitching in an emergency role.

Second baseman Ryan Flaherty went 2 for 8 with one RBI. He scored twice, including on Burke's 19th inning double. Shortstop DJ LeMahieu was 2 for 7 with a double and a walk. LeMahieu scored once.

Catcher Michael Brenly was 1 for 4 with a walk and a run scored, extending his hitting streak to 18 games. Thankfully, he was removed for a pinch runner in the 11th inning, so he didn't catch all 19 innings.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were blanked by the Oklahoma City RedHawks, 8-0.

Just like Carlos Silva, Thomas Diamond gave up five runs in the first inning tonight. Unlike Silva, Diamond stayed in the game and allowed eight runs over 4+ innings. Diamond allowed eight hits, he walked five and struck out four.

Brian Schlitter threw two scoreless innings in his rehab assignment. He gave up one hit, walked no one and struck out four.

Micah Hoffpauir's double in the fourth inning was the I-Cubs only hit of the night.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies baked the Montgomery Biscuits, 4-2 in a game that ended because of rain in the sixth inning.

Chris Archer got the win tonight by pitching 5.1 innings and allowing two unearned runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out six.  Archer improved his record to 3-1 and has not allowed an earned run yet in four AA starts.

Luke Sommer got the save when the rains came. He faced three batters, hit the first one and then got the last two outs, although he did allow an inherited runner to score.

Right fielder Brandon Guyer hit a two-run home run, his seventh on the season. Guyer was 1 for 3.

First baseman Matt Spencer was 2 for 3 with a double and two runs scored. Center fielder Tony Campana went 2 for 3 with an RBI. He also stole base number 32.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs hit three home runs today, but that wasn't enough to keep from getting run over by the Bowling Green Hot Rods, 7-5, snapping their five game winning streak.

The Chiefs used a pitching committee on getaway day today: four pitchers threw two innings and one threw one. Sometimes when I throw together all the leftovers from the fridge, it turns out great. Sometimes I have a night like tonight.

Su-Min Jung started. He gave up one run on two hits. Jung fanned four.

Jordan Latham got the loss by giving up three runs in his two innings, but all three runs were unearned.  He gave up three hits and one walk. Latham struck out three.

Right fielder Nelson Perez hit the first home run for the Chiefs: a two-run home run in the sixth inning. Perez was 2 for 5. It was his fourth home run for Peoria. Later in the inning, catcher Luis Flores also hit a two-run shot, his third on the year. Flores went 1 for 3 with a walk.

First baseman Justin Bour made the game closer with a solo shot in the ninth. Bour was 3 for 5 and scored twice.

Shortstop Logan Watkins was 2 for 5 with a stolen base. Center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha was 2 for 5 and scored once.

The Chiefs committed six errors tonight.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks scored three in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat the Spokane Indians, 11-10.

Starter Brent Ebinger put the Hawks in the hole by giving up five runs on six hits over four innings. Ebinger walked one and struck out three.

Andres Quezada grabbed the win with 3.2 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed one hit. Quezada walked three and struck out three.

Second baseman Pierre LePage won the game with a walk-off bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth. LePage went 2 for 5 and scored twice.

First baseman Richard Jones went 3 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI. Shortstop Eliot Soto was 3 for 4 with a walk. Soto scored three times. Third baseman Arismendy Alcantara was 2 for 4 with a walk and three RBI. He also stole a base.

DH Matt Szczur went 2 for 4 with a walk. Szczur scored twice and had one RBI. Matt, did you hear there is going to be a lockout in the NFL in 2011?

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Royals, 2-1.

Jeff Grey started this game and pitched a scoreless inning. He gave up a hit, but erased the runner with a double play. He also had a strikeout.

Oh yeah. Carlos Zambrano relieved Grey. Zambrano threw a perfect inning. He struck out one.