Bad news throughout the system tonight, except a big comeback for the I-Cubs.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs plated five runs in the bottom of the ninth to stun the Albuquerque Isotopes, 7-5.
Mitch Atkins struggled with the gopher ball tonight. He allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings. Two of the hits were home runs, which accounted for three of the four runs scored. Atkins did strike out five.
Greg Reinhard continues to not be scored upon this season. He pitched two innings of scoreless relief tonight, allowing two hits and striking out two. Chad Fox was the beneficiary of the ninth inning explosion, picking up his first win of the year. Fox allowed a run on a hit and a walk in one inning pitched.
Left fielder Jason Dubois didn't start the game, but he ended the game tonight with a huge, three-run walk-off home run. It was his third home run of the season. He was 1 for 2 total on the night.
First baseman Jake Fox got back in the groove tonight with his eighth home run of the season. Fox was 3 for 4 with the one RBI.
Second baseman Bobby Scales had a 2 for 4 evening with a triple. He scored twice. Right fielder Brad Snyder was 2 for 3.
This game was interrupted for an hour by thunderstorms.
Tennessee Smokies
The Smokies got smashed by the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, 9-2.
Jay Jackson continues to have problems in AA as his record fell to 0-3 tonight. Jackson was hit hard for six runs in only 4.1 innings. He gave up six runs on nine hits, two of which were home runs. Jackson walked three and struck out only two.
Alex Maestri struggled in relief as well, giving up two runs over 2.1 innings. Both runs scored on a two-run home run. Maestri gave up three hits and walked one. The good news was that he struck out three.
Catcher Welingon Castillo his his first home run tonight in a 1 for 4 effort. It was a solo home run in the fifth. Right fielder Ty Wright was 2 for 3 with a triple and a walk. Wright scored once.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs were grounded by the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 5-1.
Starter Rafael Dolis took the loss. He allowed two runs on only two hits over five innings. He struck out five and walked nobody, although he did hit two batters, one of whom scored when the other guy got hit in the fifth inning.
Shortstop Starlin Castro was 2 for 3 with a run scored. Center fielder Marwin Gonzalez was 2 for 4.
Peoria Chiefs
The Chiefs lost the "Border Battle" to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 5-3.
Starter Aaron Shafer took his first loss of the year. Shafer allowed four runs on nine hits over five innings. On the positives, he struck out five batters and walked none.
Shortstop Ryan Flaherty was 2 for 3 with two doubles and two walks. Flaherty also stole third base and scored a run.
Hopefully we'll get some better reports from people who were at the game