Boy, am I glad I made the decision to spend the day with my family rather than follow the Cubs.
But there is Josh Vitters news tonight. Other guys with hot starts to the season continued to dominate.
Iowa Cubs
Finally. The I-Cubs played someone other than Round Rock or Albuquerque. But the results weren't very good as the Iowa Cubs were silenced by the Nashville Sounds, 6-3.
Jose Ascanio continued to pitch well in the rotation, although he hasn't really been stretched out yet. Ascanio pitched four shutout innings, allowing only two hits and two walks. He struck out four.
Bad news from Jason Waddell for all of those yelling "Bring on the understudy!" Waddell took the loss in relief. He allowed three runs on three hits and two walks over only 1.2 innings. Waddell only struck out one.
It's about time to admit that something special is going on with Jake Fox. The first baseman (well, he stands near first base with a glove on) hit his ninth home run of the year already. Fox was 2 for 3 with a double, the home run and two RBI. He walked once as well. Fox is now hitting .438 with an OBP of .493 and a pretty unbelievable SLG of 1.000.
Tennessee Smokies
The Smokies deep-fried the Carolina Mudcats, 5-0.
Starter Casey Lambert evened his record to 1-1 tonight by allowing only two hits over six innings. He struck out two and didn't walk anyone, although he did hit a batter.
Jeremy Papelbon had two shutout innings of relief. He gave up three hits, didn't walk anyone and struck out one.
Jake Fox may be setting all kinds of records in Iowa, but the guy who has to be moving up the prospect charts is Tony Thomas. The second baseman was 2 for 4 tonight with a double and a run scored. Thomas has an OBP of .438 so far this season, along with four home runs and three steals.
Center fielder Matt Camp was 2 for 4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Third baseman Jonathan Mota was 2 for 4 with and RBI.
Daytona Cubs
The D-Cubs only managed to get seven baserunners tonight, but they made them all count as they scored six runs to frustrate the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 6-3.
Starter James Leverton got the win by allowing only one run over six innings. He was touched for only two hits and allowed only two walks. Leverton fanned four.
David Cales notched his first save with a scoreless ninth. Cales allowed a hit and a walk in the inning and struck out one.
Third baseman Marquez Smith stayed red hot by hitting his fifth home run of the season tonight. Smith was 1 for 2 with a walk, two RBI and two runs scored.
DH Tyler Colvin was 0 for 1, but had an RBI on a sac fly and stole two bases after being hit by a pitch.
Peoria Chiefs
The Chiefs shucked the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 6-5.
Starter Marcus Hatley didn't pitch well, but got the win anyway. Hatley pitched five innings and allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk. Hatley struck out two.
Mike Perconte threw 1.2 innings of shutout relief. He gave up two hits, walked no one and struck out three. Ryan Buchter retired the final batter to get his second save of the year.
Third baseman Josh Vitters hit his first home run of the year tonight, a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Vitters was 1 for 4 on the evening.
Right fielder Nelson Perez hit his second home run of the year, also in the fourth inning. Perez was 1 for 3 with one RBI.
Outfielder Kyler Burke is starting to heat up. Burke was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored twice and knocked one in. Burke has gotten his batting average up to .297 and his OBP up to .381.
DH Josh Harrison was 2 for 4 with a stolen base and a run scored.