I'm sure most of us around here can remember Sammy Sosa and June of 1998. I'm beginning to get a bizarre sense of déjà vu with Jake Fox this April.
Iowa Cubs
Jake Fox hit another two home runs tonight to lead the Iowa Cubs to a 7-3 victory over the Nashville Sounds.
Starting pitcher Randy Wells improved his record to 3-0 with a definition quality start:
three earned runs over six innings. Wells allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out seven.
Jason Waddell didn't allow a hit in an inning of work. He walked one and struck out nobody. Greg Reinhard allowed a hit and a walk but no runs over 1.1 innings. Reinhard struck out one as well. Reinhard has now not given up a run in 12.1 innings of relief so far this season.
Both of Jake Fox's home runs tonight were solo shots off of Sounds pitcher Nick Green. Fox was 2 for 3 with a walk, the two RBI and three runs scored. And just to prove he's not a one-dimensional slugger (even if he sort of is), Fox stole a base tonight.
Left fielder Doug Deeds also homered tonight in a 2 for 4 evening. Deeds had two RBI and scored twice. Right fielder Brad Snyder put the game out of reach with a three-run home run in the eighth inning. Snyder was 3 for 4 with three RBI.
Shorstop Andres Blanco was 2 for 4 with a double.
Tennessee Smokies
The Smokies got burned by the Carolina Mudcats, 6-4.
Hung-Wen Chen started and allowed four runs on eight hits over five innings. Chen struck out two and didn't walk a batter.
Closer Brian Schlitter entered the game in the ninth with the score tied and got tagged with the loss. Schlitter allowed two runs on two hits and a walk over one inning. One of the runs was unearned and the walk was intentional.
Catcher Steve Clevenger was 3 for 4 with a double and a triple. Clevenger had two RBI. Second baseman Tony Thomas was 2 for 5 with a run scored. Left fielder Ty Wright was 2 for 4 with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base.
The Smokies made four errors tonight, including two by shortstop Darwin Barney.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs shipwrecked the Brevard County Manatees, 4-2.
Ryan Searle had his third straight good start tonight after a rough game to start the season. Searle didn't allow a run over five innings. The Manatees only allowed two hits and a walk off of the Aussie pitcher. Searle struck out two.
David Cales notched his second save on the year. Cales threw a shutout ninth. He didn't allow a hit, walked one and struck out one.
It must be the night for catchers to come a home run short of hitting for the cycle. Catcher Robinson Chirinos was also 3 for 4 with a double and a triple. Chirinos scored once.
Second baseman Nate Samson had a 2 for 4 night. Samson walked once, scored once, had one RBI and stole a base.
Peoria Chiefs
Couldn't get a dome built over O'Brien Field before the rain started.