A Big Z sighting down in Peoria tonight. It's all good.
Iowa Cubs (64-61)
The Iowa Cubs trapped the Portland Beavers, 3-1.
J.R. Mathes went eight strong innings to improve his record to 12-6. He allowed only one unearned run on five hits. He walked one and struck out three.
Blake Parker notched his 17th save with a perfect ninth. He struck out two.
Left fielder John-Ford Griffin was 2 for 3 with two RBI. He also walked once. Catcher Steve Clevenger was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.
Tennessee Smokies (28-26)
The Smokies gave up six runs in the ninth inning and lost to the Chattanooga Lookouts, 8-6.
Starter Hung-Wen Chen pitched well tonight, going 5.1 innings and allowing two runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out nine. Chen has greatly increased his K/IP ratio since the All-Star Break.
When Brian Schlitter blows a save, he blows a save. Tonight he entered the game in the ninth after Jayson Ruhlman allowed three runs without retiring a batter and gave up three runs on three hits and two walks while only getting one out.
Right fielder Tyler Colvin hit home run #11 tonight. Even more impressively, he walked twice. Colvin was 1 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Shortstop Starlin Castro went 3 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored one run and batted two in. Center fielder James Adduci was 2 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. First baseman Blake Lalli was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Daytona Cubs (22-30)
The Daytona Cubs were shipwrecked by the Brevard County Manatees, 10-2.
Starter James Leverton allowed six runs on four hits over 5.1 innings to take the loss. Three of the runs were unearned, so his defense didn't help him any. Neither did the four walks he issued. Leverton struck out one.
Josh Vitters had one of the D-Cubs four hits, if that makes anyone feel any better.
Peoria Chiefs (32-20)
The Chiefs are running away with the second-half division title as tonight they won their fourth in a row by shutting out the Clinton LumberKings, 3-0.
Starter Carlos Zambrano went five innings tonight and the overmatched Clinton hitters only got four hits. Even better, Zambrano struck out five and didn't walk anyone.
Chris Huseby picked up his 17th save tonight. He allowed one hit in the one inning he pitched. He didn't walk anyone and struck out one.
Center fielder Brett Jackson and second baseman Ryan Flaherty both went 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Flaherty also had one RBI.
Shortstop DJ LeMahieu was 2 for 4.
Boise Hawks (28-31)
The Hawks thumped the Yakima Bears, 9-3.
Kenneth McNutt tossed 3.2 innings of shutout relief to pick up the win. He gave up only one hit and one walk. He struck out two.
Right fielder Jae-Hoon Ha had two doubles and four RBI tonight. He went 2 for 5 and scored once. Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee was 3 for 5 with two doubles and a stolen base. Lee scored twice and had one RBI.
Center fielder Jose Valdez was 3 for 4.
AZL Cubs