Looks like Murderer's Row is off to a good start in Iowa.
We've got one All-Star Game left to go, and it's the Northwest League. Six Boise Hawks were named to the South Division All-Star Team: Justin Marra and Rashad Crawford were elected starters and Danny Canela and Mark Zagunis are reserves. Trevor Clifton is the lone Hawks pitcher named to the team. Jeffrey Baez was named to the team, but will not participate because he was promoted to Kane County.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs smashed the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins), 11-2.
Eric Jokisch started and got his sixth win. He allowed two runs on ten hits over 5.1 innings. Jokisch struck out five and walked two.
I'm mentioning this because some people around here are going to freak if I don't: Armando Rivero pitched 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing one hit. He walked one and struck out three. That's nice, but that's not what people would freak about me not mentioning. In the sixth inning, Rivero singled and scored. That was his first professional hit.
In the fifth inning, second baseman Javier Baez rocketed one into the parking lot beyond the left field wall for his 17th home run of the season. It came with the bases empty. In the sixth inning, he came up with the bases loaded and hit a two-run single. Baez was 2 for 5 with three RBI.
And we have video.
In the eighth inning, pinch-hitter Josh Vitters hit a two-run home run. It was his eighth this season.
Earlier, in the fourth inning, first baseman Mike Olt came to the plate with the bases loaded and he cleared them with a three-run double. Olt was 2 for 5 and scored twice.
In his Pacific Coast League debut, right fielder Jorge Soler was 1 for 3 with two walks. He scored once.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies burned the Mississippi Braves, 4-2.
Pierce Johnson had a strong start tonight, tossing six scoreless innings and allowing only two hits. He retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced and the one that reached, he picked off first. Johnson walked three and struck out eight.
Frank Batista pitched the final 1.1 innings and did not allow a run. He had one hit. He struck out two and didn't walk anyone as he got his seventh save and sixth for Tennessee.
First baseman Lars Anderson was 2 for 4 with an RBI double in the first inning. He also scored a run.
Shortstop Addison Russell was 2 for 4 and scored twice.
Daytona Cubs
It's almost August, so that means the Daytona Cubs were rained out. They'll try to play two tomorrow.
Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars tarnished the South Bend Silver Hawks (Diamondbacks), 5-3.
Jen-Ho Tseng improved his record to 6-0 by allowing three runs on six hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out four and walked two.
James Pugliese faced four batters and retired them all for his third save. He did not strike anyone out.
First baseman Jacob Rogers hit a solo home run in the eighth inning, his eleventh of the season. Rogers was 3 for 4 with two RBI.
Left fielder Shawon Dunston was 2 for 3 with a stolen base. He scored twice and had one RBI.
Center fielder Trey Martin went 2 for 3 with a stolen base and he scored twice.
Second baseman Ben Carhart went 2 for 4 with two RBI.
After winning the first half, Kane County is 21-11 in the second half and has a three-game lead over second-place Wisconsin.
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks dried out the Everett AquaSox (Mariners), 7-3.
Josh Conway pitched the first two innings and allowed one run on two hits. He struck out two and walked three.
Sam Wilson pitched two innings and got the win because Conway didn't pitch five innings. Wilson hit the first batter he faced and then picked him off first base. Wilson then retired the next five batters in order, striking out four of them.
First baseman Danny Canela hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning, his fourth on the year. Canela was 1 for 4.
Catcher Justin Marra hit a two-run home run of his own in the the eighth inning, his sixth. Marra was 1 for 4 and scored twice.
Second baseman David Bote was 2 for 4 and scored a run.
AZL Cubs