Iowa Cubs (70-65)
The Iowa Cubs made it four in a row tonight with a 7-4 thumping of the Oklahoma City RedHawks.
Casey Fossum improved his record to 6-4 by allowing only one run on two hits over five innings. Fossum walked four and hit two batters. He struck out nine.
Blake Parker pitched the ninth inning and picked up his 20th save. Parker allowed one hit and didn't walk anyone. He struck out two.
First baseman Micah Hoffpauir went 2 for 4 with three RBI and a run scored. Third baseman Andres Blanco was 2 for 5 with two runs scored. Shortstop Darwin Barney was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Tennessee Smokies (34-28)
Ryno's Boys stayed tied for first place by beating the Moblie Bay Bears, 7-4.
Starter Jeremy Papelbon gave up two home runs in his five-inning start, but got the win anyway. Papelbon allowed four runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out one.
Brian Schlitter got save number twenty-one. He pitched the final 1.1 innings, allowing no runs on one hit. He didn't walk a batter and struck out two.
Right fielder Tyler Colvin hit a bases-loaded triple and a solo home run for four RBI tonight. Colvin was 2 for 4 and scored twice.
Third baseman Marquez Smith was 2 for 4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Shortstop Starlin Castro went 2 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored. Castro also stole his third base for Tennessee.
Daytona Cubs (27-34)
The D-Cubs were thrashed by the Clearwater Threshers, 6-2.
Rafael Dolis started and only went three innings. He gave up two runs on three hits, although one of the two runs was unearned. Dolis walked four and struck out three as his record dropped to 3-9. His ERA is a respectable 3.54 though.
Left fielder Marwin Gonzalez hit his second home run, a solo home run in the fifth inning. Gonzalez was 1 for 3.
DH Brandon Guyer was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Second baseman Jake Opitz was 2 for 3 wih a walk.
Peoria Chiefs (38-23)
The Chiefs shucked the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 11-1.
Austin Bibens-Dirkx continues to dominate the Midwest League. Tonight he improved his record to 7-1, tossing 6.2 innings and allowing only one run on five hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out six. The Chiefs expect Bibens-Dirkx to start the playoffs for them, but I really think he needs to get a September call-up. Please?
It was a six RBI night for right fielder Kyler Burke, including a triple and a grand slam. It was Burke's 14th homer this year. Burke was 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored twice.
DH Ryan Flaherty was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored twice and had two RBI. First baseman Rebel Ridling was 2 for 5 with an RBI and three runs scored.
Center fielder Jose Valdez made his Midwest League debut a successful one. He was 2 for 5 with two runs scored.
Boise Hawks (30-38)
The Hawks lost their sixth game in a row as they were messed up by the Tri-City Dust Devils 3-1.
Starter Robert Hernandez was pretty good tonight. He went five innings and allowed only one run on four hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out five.
Eduardo Figueroa got the loss in relief. He gave up two runs, one earned, over his 1.2 inning relief stint.
Shortstp Hak-Ju Lee was 2 for 4 with a run scored.