Quick note: Today in Baseball Prospectus, Kevin Goldstein wrote ($) "Midwest League scouts are wondering how [Brett] Jackson dropped to the 31st overall pick. . . Jackson's power/speed combination is moving him up prospect lists while others wait to get their pro career even started."
Thought you might want some good news.
Iowa Cubs (63-59)
The Iowa Cubs topped the Tacoma Raniers, 5-3.
Starter Casey Fossum got the win tonight, going five innings and giving up two runs on four hits. Fossum walked one and struck out three.
Blake Parker pitched the ninth inning and gave up a run, but qualified for his sixteenth save anyway. He allowed one hit, which was a solo home run. He didn't walk or strike out anyone.
I guess Andres Blanco is doing well in his "rehab" assignment. Tonight he homered and doubled in a 2 for 4 game. He scored twice and had the one RBI. Blanco also walked once.
Left fielder John-Ford Griffin was 2 for 5. Shortstop Darwin Barney went 2 for 4.
Tennessee Smokies (26-25)
The Smokies blinded the Chattanooga Lookouts, 3-2.
Chris Carpenter went five innings and allowed one run on only two hits. He did walk three batters, but he struck out four.
Dustin Sasser got the win in relief after he allowed the tying run to score in the seventh inning. Brian Schlitter retired all four batters he faced to get his 18th save. He didn't have a strikeout.
First baseman Blake Lalli was 2 for 3 with a two-run double and a walk. Right fielder Tyler Colvin was 2 for 4 with a triple. Shorstop Starlin Castro was 2 for 2 with a walk and a run scored.
Daytona Cubs (21-28)
The Daytona Cubs split a double-header with the Tampa Yankees, 3-2 and 0-13.
Ryan Searle started the first game and allowed only one run over 4.2 innings. He surrendered four hits, walked one and struck out two.
Jose Pina got the win, although he gave up a run over. 1.1 innings of relief. He didn't give up a hit although he walked two. Dan McDaniel got the final two outs for his first save without incident.
Third baseman Josh Vitters went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Left fielder Jonathan Wyatt was also 3 for 4 with a ribbie. First baseman Jake Opitz went 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored.
In the second game, starter Billy Muldowney got rocked for five runs on six hits over 1.2 innings. He walked two and didn't have a strikeout.
Right fielder Brandon Guyer went 2 for 3. Third baseman Josh Vitters was also 2 for 3, so maybe everyone can stop panicking about him.
Peoria Chiefs (30-20)The Chiefs continue to roll as they apprehended the Quad City River Bandits, 7-1.
No one has been a bigger surprise this year than Austin Biebens-Dirkx. Tonight he went six innings and allowed only one unearned run on two hits. ABD walked two and struck out one. Since being signed out of the independent leagues in July, Biebens-Dirkx has gone 5-1 with a 1.93 ERA. His two walks tonight were the most he's allowed in any appearance all season.
For the third straight game, DH Ryan Flaherty homered. The third inning solo shot was his 19th of the season. Flaherty was 3 for 5 and scored twice.
Right fielder Kyler Burke was 2 for 2 with a double and two walks. He scored once and had two RBI.
Boise Hawks (26-30)
The Hawks won their fourth in a row as they stopped the Spokane Indians, 5-1.
Josh Whitlock picked up the win with four innings of shutout relief. The Indians had three hits and a walk off of Whitlock, but he struck out five.
Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee was 2 for 5 with two stolen bases and two runs scored. Second baseman Logan Watkins went 2 for 2 with a walk and two runs scored.
AZL Cubs