After ten hours on the road, here I am in Boise bringing you the recap of tonight's exciting minor league action.
But you'll have to forgive me if it's somewhat incoherent, After driving for ten hours, I'm seeing two computer screens and two keyboards.
Some guy named Ramirez played for Peoria.
Oh, Ryne Sandberg had an interesting night too.
Iowa Cubs
The I-Cubs blasted the Oklahoma City RedHawks, 7-1.
Angel Guzman started and faced six batters and threw 25 pitches, 15 for strikes. He allowed a hit and a walk in 1.1 innings and struck out one.
Casey Fossum made his Cub organizational debut after that and picked up the win, going 4.2 innings and allowing one run on four hits and two walks. The run scored on a solo home run. Fossum struck out five for a pretty impressive I-Cub debut.
See, that's how you get a starting pitcher the win despite not going five innings. Have a rehabbing reliever pitch the first inning.
Third baseman Nate Spears had 3 hits in 4 ABs tonight. Spears scored once and had one RBI.
Second baseman Luis Rivas had a double in a 2 for 4 game. Rivas had two RBI and scored once. Shortstop Darwin Barney was 2 for 4 with a run scored. Catcher Steve Clevenger was 2 for 5 with a stolen base.
I didn't even notice that first baseman Matt Craig rejoined the Cub organization a couple of days ago. Craig was 2 for 5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored. Craig had been playing for the Marlins this season after spending seven seasons in the Cub organization.
Tennessee Smokies
The Smokies eclipsed the Huntsville Stars, 5-3.
After a horrible start to the season, Marcos Mateo is starting to right the ship in Tennessee with his third straight start allowing only one run. Tonight he pitched six innings and surrendered only the one run on three hits and a walk. Mateo fanned five.
The ninth inning was when things got interesting. Brian Schlitter came in for the save and walked four while grabbing only two outs. But Ryno didn't think the calls were very good and asked the umpire where the pitches were. After his questions were ignored, Sandberg went ballistic and bumped the home plate umpire in a heated argument. This was Sandberg's third ejection in the past seven games and his sixth of the season. Sandberg is certain to be suspended for this one as contact was made with the umpire "multiple times" according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.
Jayson Ruhlman walked in another run in the ninth but got the final out and the save after that.
Third baseman Marquez Smith was 2 for 4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Center fielder James Adduci was 2 for 4 with a run scored and a stolen base. Shortstop Nate Samson, recently promoted from Daytona to replace Darwin Barney, was 2 for 5 with a stolen base.
Daytona Cubs
The D-Cubs lost to the Brevard County Manatees, 4-2.
James Leverton, who was taken in the draft last season one round before Jay Jackson, saw his record fall to 5-8 by allowing three runs on five hits in only three innings. Leverton walked one and struck out one.
Second baseman Jake Opitz was 2 for 2 with a triple and two walks. Opitz scored once and had one RBI.
Josh Vitters had a rough night: 0 for 4 with two errors. He did have an RBI on a ground out though.
Right fielder Brandon Guyer was 2 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base. Guyer also scored once.
Peoria Chiefs
The Chiefs hunted down the Kane County Cougars, 7-1.
Jeff Beliveau has got to be opening some eyes down in Peoria this season. Tonight he allowed only one run on three hits over five innings. He walked only one and struck out six. So far this season, he's struck out 78 batters in 58 innings. He's walked 28, which while that's not good, it's acceptable for someone who has struck out so many and has held opposing hitters to a .207 average. He's also only allowed two home runs so far, and that's excellent.
Aramis Ramirez started his rehab and went 1 for 2 with a double and a walk. He scored twice and had two RBI. He played four innings of third base before exiting the game.
Right fielder Kyler Burke was 2 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored twice and had two RBI. First baseman Rebel Ridling went 2 for 5 with a double and three RBI.
Boise Hawks
Lost to the Tri-City Dust Devils, 12-0.
The less said about this game, the better.
AZL Cubs