Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 26

If you haven't noticed the fanshot, Josh Vitters is likely out for the season with a broken finger.  If you want some good Smokies news, Chris Archer was named Southern League Pitcher of the Week.

Wow. If I change the Autotag feature from MLB to NCAA Football, it picks up on Matt Szczur.  Of course, it also gets some false positives too. I'll do it just for tonight, but they're going to have to make that change next season.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs blew a ninth inning lead and were left behind by the Round Rock Express, 6-5.

Jeff Samardzija got into trouble in the first inning when he walked four batters and allowed two runs, despite not allowing a hit. After that, he settled down and pitched really well. The Shark went six innings and allowed three runs on two hits, but only one of the three runs was earned. (There was an error in-between all those walks in the first inning.) He walked five, which means only one after the first inning, and struck out seven.

At the plate, Samardzija was 2 for 3 with a two-run home run.

David Cales blew the save in the ninth inning, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk. He only retired one batter.

Left fielder Bryan LaHair hit a three-run shot in the sixth inning. LaHair was 1 for 4. It was his 14th homer of the season.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies finished off the Mississippi Braves, 10-5.

Starter Rafael Dolis only went three innings and allowed only one run on two hits. Dolis walked three and struck out two.

Oswaldo Martinez entered the game with the score 7-1 collected the win since Dolis didn't go five.  Martinez allowed two unearned runs on four hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out two.

Second baseman Tony Thomas hit his eighth home run of the season and his second in two games tonight. It was a three-run homer in the third inning. Thomas was 1 for 5 with four RBI.

Left fielder Brandon Guyer was 3 for 5 with a double and a stolen base. Guyer scored once and batted one in. Shortstop Marwin Gonzalez went 2 for 5 with a double. He also scored once and had one RBI.

Center fielder Brett Jackson had two steals in a 1 for 4 game. Jackson scored twice and walked once.

Daytona Cubs

Normally teams love a day off, but when you've won eight in row, maybe the D-Cubs wished there was another game today.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs won their second in a row by keelhauling the Lake County Captains, 6-5.

Starter Nick Struck made one mistake over five innings, a two-run home run.  He allowed only three hits and a walk total en route to his fifth win. He did not have a strike out.

Daniel Keefe pitched the ninth and collected his first save. He walked one batter but struck out the other three hitters he faced.

Second baseman Matt Cerda was tonight's hero, going 3 for 5 with three RBI.

Right fielder Nelson Perez hit a solo home run, his sixth for the Chiefs. Perez was 1 for 5.

DH DJ Fitzgerald was 2 for 4 with a triple and a walk. He scored once.

Boise Hawks

The Hawks dropped their fifth in a row, losing to the Yakima Bears, 4-3.

Starting pitcher Matthew Loosen pitched 4.1 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out two.

Austin Kirk finished out the game and got tagged with the loss. Kirk allowed one run on four hits over 3.2 innings. He walked one and struck out four.

Right fielder Alvaro Ramirez was 2 for 3 with a run scored and a hit-by-pitch. Second baseman Pierre LePage was 2 for 4 and scored twice. First baseman Richard Jones was 2 for 4.

DH Matt Szczur kept his hitting streak alive by going 1 for 3 with a double and two RBI.

The Chiefs were officially eliminated from the first half title chase.

AZL Cubs

Took the day