Strong pitching tonight led to lots of wins.
For those who are interested in these things, the good news this year is that Gameday is available for AA games on milb.com. It was available last year for AAA games, but this year they've set it up for AA games as well.
Iowa Cubs
The I-Cubs rode five strong innings from Esmailin Caridad and stopped the Round Rock Express, 6-1.
Caridad got the start tonight and shut the Express down for five innings. He allowed no runs on five hits (all singles) while walking one and striking out six.
The big bat for the I-Cubs tonight belonged to Jake Fox. Fox was 3 for 5 with a triple and three RBI. He also scored once.
Bobby Scales had a chance to play third tonight and wasn't very successful, making two errors on the hot corner. He did go 1 for 3 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI at the plate.
Tennessee Smokies
The Smokies blotted out the Jacksonville Suns, 6-2.
The Smokies got another strong starting pitching performance, this time from Casey Coleman. Coleman's line was almost identical to Caridad's: He went five innings, allowed five singles and a walk while striking out six. The only difference is that the Suns managed to string some of those hits together for one run.
Jeremy Papelbon had a good relief outing. He tossed 2.2 innings of shutout baseball. He allowed three hits, no walks and struck out three. Brian Schlitter got the save. Schlitter pitched 1.1 innings and allowed one run in the ninth inning.
First baseman Blake Lalli hit his first home run of the season in a 2 for 4 night. Lalli had one RBI and scored twice. Right fielder James Adducci was 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Daytona Cubs
The strong starting pitching continued down in Florida as Dan McDaniel and the Daytona Cubs blanked the Brevard County Manatees, 4-0.
McDaniel was dominating for six shutout innings, allowing only one hit and one walk. McDaniel struck out three. Stephen Vento, Dustin Sasser and Jake Muyco each threw a shutout inning of relief.
First Baseman Russ Canzler did the most damage for the D-Cubs, going 2 for 3 with an RBI. The Manatees finally slowed down shortstop Starlin Castro tonight, holding him to an 0 for 2 with a walk and a run scored.
Peoria Chiefs
The Chiefs were the only affiliate to lose again tonight, falling to the Kane County Cougars, 3-2 in ten innings.
Chiefs starter Chris Archer threw three innings and left the game without allowing a hit or a run. He did walk four, however, to go with five strikeouts.
Josh Whitlock threw two shutout innings of relief, allowing one hit and striking out two. Erik Hamren pitched the tenth inning and got the loss after allowing one run on one hit and a walk.
Everyone's favorite Rebel Ridling had both RBI for the Chiefs tonight with a third inning double. He was 1 for 2 with two walks.
Shortstop Ryan Flaherty was 2 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.