Here I am after driving all day, giving you the Minors recap. That's just how foolish dedicated I am.
I am going to be a bit abbreviated tonight.
Don't forget to catch Josh Vitters and Starlin Castro at the Futures Game tomorrow at 1 pm Central on ESPN2.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs beat the Oklahoma City RedHawks, 8-5.
Jose Ascanio got his second win of the year in Iowa despite allowing four runs over five innings. He gave up five hits and walked two while striking out four.
Blake Parker got his tenth save tonight by tossing 1.1 innings without allowing a run or a hit. He did walk two and got three of the four outs by strikeout.
DH Jason Dubois was 3 for 4 with 4 RBI. He also walked once. Right fielder John-Ford Griffin went 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. Griffin scored three times. Bobby Scales played left field tonight and went 2 for 3 with two walks. He also scored once.
Third baseman Nate Spears has been red-hot in July after a horrible first half of the season. Spears was 2 for 4 with a triple and two RBI. He also scored once.
Tennessee Smokies
The Smokies ate the Montgomery Biscuits, 8-2.
Hung-Wen Chen was great tonight, allowing only two runs on six hits over seven innings. He struck out five and didn't walk anyone.
Third baseman Jonathan Mota went 3 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI. Center fielder James Adduci scored twice in a 2 for 3 with a triple and a walk outing. Left fielder Ty Wright was also 2 for 3 with a walk and scored twice. Wright had one RBI as well.
Daytona Cubs
Daytona lost to the Clearwater Threshers, 5-3.
Starter Rafael Dolis took the loss, giving up three runs in only three innings. Only one of the three runs was earned though. Dolis allowed only one hit. He walked two and struck out two.
Catcher Robinson Chirinos was 3 for 4 with two doubles. He scored twice and had one RBI.
Shortstop Marwin Gonzalez was 2 for 3.
Peoria Chiefs
The Chiefs cooked the Ft. Wayne Tin Caps, 5-3.
Ryan Buchter got the win tonight with two shutout innings of relief. Buchter allowed one hit, one walk and one hit batsman. He struck out two.
Manolin De Leon got his second save by pitching the final three innings of the game without allowing a run. He gave up one hit, didn't walk a batter and struck out two.
Catcher Michael Brenly hit his third home run of the season tonight, a solo shot in the 4th innings, one assumes with the dad in the audience. Brenly was 2 for 3 with three RBI, all of which came with two outs. I don't know if Bob is happier that he got to see the performance or bummed that he won't be able to brag about it on TV tomorrow.
Boise Hawks
Lost to the Vancouver Canadians, 9-0.
Say, did you know that Wilco is doing a tour of East Coast minor league stadiums?
AZL Cubs