A major pitcher's duel in Des Moines tonight. And if Randy Wells even finishes in the top three in the ROY voting, I'll feel stupid for leaving him off my top 20 prospects list at the beginning of the season. Of course, everyone else did too.
Almost everyone lost tonight. Only the rookies saved the system.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were outlasted by the Oklahoma City RedHawks, 1-0 in 14 innings.
Jose Ascanio went back to starting and had four great innings, allowing only two hits and two walks while striking out seven.
Ascanio was then followed by, in order, James Russell, Jeff Stevens, Blake Parker and Justin Berg. John Gaub then threw a scoreless inning, but started the next one and had to be removed for an injury. Vince Perkins then walked the batter that Gaub had started on and when he came around to score, Gaub got the loss.
Darwin Barney was 1 for 5 in his AAA debut.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies were downed by the Huntsville Stars, 3-1.
Jeremy Papelbon started and pitched five shutout innings, allowing only three hits and three walks. Papelbon struck out three.
Jake Muyco pitched two innings and took the loss. He gave up two runs on four hits and two walks. He didn't record a strikeout.
Left fielder Tyler Colvin was 2 for 3 with a walk. Shortstop Jonathan Mota went 2 for 3 with a double, a walk and a run scored. Right fielder Doug Deeds went 2 for 5.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs were bitten by the Jupiter Hammerheads, 5-2
Ryan Searle has gone from all-star to the junk heap over the last month. Searle only lasted four innings tonight, allowing four runs on seven hits, two of which were home runs. Searle walked two but did strike out seven.
Center fielder Tony Campana went 2 for 4 with a run scored and two stolen bases. Campana has 23 steals so far this season. Second baseman Marwin Gonzalez scored once in a 2 for 3 game.
Peoria ChiefsThe Chiefs lost to the Kane County Cougars, 3-2.
Starter Justin Bristow took the loss. He allowed three runs on four hits and two walks over three innings. One of the runs was unearned. Bristow struck out one.
Third baseman Jose Made had a triple in a 3 for 4 night. Made had two RBI.
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks were choked and blinded by the Tri-City Dust Devils, 6-4
Starter Robert Hernandez didn't get the loss, but he got knocked around for four runs on four hits over four innings. Two of the hits were home runs. Hernandez walked one and struck out three.
AZL Cubs
The rookie league team salvaged the night and pounded the Indians, 12-3.
Catcher Richard Jones went 3 for 5 with two home runs and five RBI.