Tonight's wrap may not be up to its usual standards. When it's over 100 degrees outside and inside (my body), it's a little hard to concentrate. I'm so hopped up on medicine that I'm seeing three keyboards but I'll just type on the one in the middle and see if that works.
I do have a superstition question though. I wore my Derrek Lee jersey today to get him out of his slump and of course, it worked. But the Cubs lost. So should I keep wearing it figuring that it will get Lee going, or stop wearing it, blaming it for breaking the Cubs five game winning streak?
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs lost their nectar to the Salt Lake Bees, 7-4.
Esmailin Caridad got pounded for seven runs on six hits in 4.2 innings. Two of the runs were unearned. He had some control problems as he walked five, but struck out six. Two of the hits were home runs.
Third baseman Matt Matulia, right fielder Brad Snyder and shortsop Andres Blanco provided all the offense for the I-Cubs by each going 1 for 4 with a home run. Blanco's homer was with a man on.
Tennessee Smokies
The Smokies didn't see the Chattanooga Lookouts coming, 7-2.
Hung-Wen Chen got hit hard for five runs in only 1.2 innings. Chen gave up seven hits, walked one and struck out three.
Alex Maestri struck out four in 3.1 innings of scoreless relief. Maestri allowed two hits and two walks.
First baseman Russ Canzler and second baseman Tony Thomas each hit solo home runs in 1 for 4 afternoons. It was Thomas' seventh home run on the year and it was Canzler's first in AA and third overall.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs were shut out by the Dunedin Blue Jays, 6-0.
Al already handled Carlos Zambrano's appearance, so I won't repeat him. Thanks Al!
Shortstop Starlin Castro batted in the #2 hole for what I believe is the first time this season. Castro went 2 for 4. Right fielder Dylan Johnston was 2 for 3.
Peoria Chiefs
The Chiefs completed the Cubs' (and my) miserable day by losing to the Beloit Snappers, 9-6.
Aaron Shafer's record fell to 4-2 as he got hammered for seven runs in only 2.1 innings. Shafer allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out two.
Third baseman Josh Vitters hit his fifth home run and his second in as many days in the first inning. Vitters had a big day as he was 3 for 5 with two doubles and the home run. Vitters scored twice and he had two RBI.
Center fielder Kyler Burke was 3 for 4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Burke also stole a base. Second baseman David Macias went 2 for 5 with a run scored.