Believe it or not, the D-Cubs threw another no-hitter tonight, less than two weeks after the last one. It was another one of the seven-inning no-nos.
Generally good news from the farm tonight, although Brett Jackson went on the DL with a sore right wrist.
Iowa Cubs (69-65)
The Iowa Cubs moved into second place with a 4-2 victory over the Oklahoma City RedHawks.
Jeff Samardzija dominated tonight for six shutout innings tonight. He gave up only three singles and one walk. The Shark struck out six.
Jeff Stevens threw two perfect innings of relief, striking out three.
The I-Cubs were paced tonight by a pair of solo home runs. The first as a third-inning shot by right fielder Brad Snyder, his 14th on the season. Snyder was 1 for 3 with a walk overall. The second one was an insurance run in the eighth inning by DH Matt Craig. It was his fourth home run for Iowa, seventh in the PCL and 11th overall. Craig was 2 for 4 on the night with two runs scored.
Shortstop Darwin Barney was 2 for 3 with two stolen bases. Barney had one RBI and scored once. Left fielder John-Ford Griffin was 2 for 3 with a walk.
The Iowa Cubs are two games behind the Memphis Redbirds in the standings with ten games to play. They have no games left with Memphis, however.
Tennessee Smokies (33-28)
The Smokies late-inning heroics just keep on coming. They scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to stun the Mobile Bay Bears, 3-2 and move back into a tie for first place.
Starter Chris Carpenter allowed one run on five hits in his six inning start. He didn't walk a batter and struck out two.
David Cales got the win with two innings of relief. Cales gave up two hits and a walk, but didn't allow any runs. He did not strike anyone out.
Right fielder Tyler Colvin had the big blow, an RBI double that tied the score in the two-run ninth. He later scored the winning run on Doug Deeds' pinch-hit single. Colvin was 1 for 4.
Center fielder James Adduci was 2 for 4. Catcher Welington Castillo went 2 for 3.
Daytona Cubs (27-33)
The Daytona Cubs split a double-header tonight, losing the first game, 3-2 in nine innings and winning the second game, 3-0 as the D-Cubs staff tossed their second seven-inning no-hitter in less than two weeks.
In the first game, Ryan Searle started and allowed two runs on six hits over 5.2 innings. Searle walked one and struck out six.
Chris Siegfried pitched the ninth inning and took the loss, allowing a run on two hits. He struck out one.
Shortstop Marwin Gonzalez was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. First baseman Jake Opitz and center fielder Tony Campana were both 2 for 4.
The no-hitter was in the second game, as starter Oswaldo Martinez pitched the first four innings, walking two and striking out one. Martinez has now pitched in four games since signing out of the Mexican League: two of those games were no-hitters. He pitched two-thirds of an inning in his Cub debut on August 15.
Mike Perconte finished the no-no and got the win since Martinez didn't go five innings. Perconte walked one and fanned three.
Jake Opitz was the DH for the second game and was 2 for 4 with two RBI.
Peoria Chiefs (37-23)The Peoria Chiefs were knocked on their ears by the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 8-3.
Justin Bristow started but only lasted two innings. He allowed three runs on four hits. Bristow walked four and struck out two.
Jeff Beliveau pitched much better in relief, but got the loss anyway. Beliveau allowed one run over his four innings of relief. He surrendered five hits. He didn't walk anyone and he struck out four.
Center fielder David Macias had a two-run double in a 1 for 4 game. The Chiefs did not have a hit after the second inning tonight.
Boise Hawks (30-37)
The Hawks were officially eliminated from the playoffs tonight with a 7-2 loss to the Spokane Indians.
Chris Rusin started and took the loss. He went four innings and gave up four runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out three.
Right fielder Jae-Hoon Ha hit his second home run in the second inning. The solo shot was his only hit in a 1 for 4 game. Shortstop George Matheus went 2 for 5 with a double.
AZL Cubs (13-15, 29-27 overall)
The rookie league team's season is now over.