You've got to be something special to outperform Ted Freakin' Lilly in the minor leagues.
Iowa Cubs
Ted Lilly and the I-Cubs caged the Memphis Redbirds, 5-2.
Lilly finally made his rehab start tonight and allowed a first inning home run. That was the only hit he allowed in four innings. Lilly walked one and struck out four. After the game he told reporters "I'd like my next start to be there [in Chicago]." Lilly threw 51 pitches, 31 for strikes.
Jay Jackson went the final five innings and pitched as well as Lilly. Jackson allowed only two hits and one run, also on a solo home run. Jackson also walked only one and struck out four.
Second baseman Matt Camp was 2 for 5 with a run scored and a stolen base. Third baseman Bobby Scales was 2 for 3 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies poked out an eye on the Chattanooga Lookouts, 15-2.
It takes a special night to be a bigger story than Ted Lilly. But tonight Andrew Cashner had a no-hitter going through six innings before losing it with a lead-off single in the seventh. He then gave up a run-scoring triple and left the game. For the second start in a row, Cashner struck out ten. His final line was 6+ innings pitched with two runs on two hits. He didn't walk a batter and the only baserunner to reach in the first six innings was by an error.
Cashner was 2 for 2 with an RBI at the plate.
The Smokies bats clubbed out 17 hits and three home runs. Third baseman Jake Opitz probably had the best night, going 3 for 4 with a double and a home run. Opitz had three RBI and scored three times. He also walked once.
Both center fielder Brandon Guyer and catcher Robinson Chirinos also had their first home runs of the season. Guyer was 2 for 5 with one RBI and two runs scored. Chirinos was 1 for 4 with two RBI.
Shortstop Starlin Castro was 2 for 6 with a double. He scored once and had three RBI. He also stole a base. Center fielder Tony Campana was 2 for 5 with a walk. Campana scored twice and had one RBI. He also stole his fifth base of the season.
Second baseman Ryan Flaherty had two hits in three trips to the plate. He scored twice.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs were dusted by the Dunedin Blue Jays, 11-6.
Starter Chris Rusin only lasted a third of an inning tonight. He allowed two runs on four hits. He also had one strikeout. I have to assume that the early hook was due to an injury. I hope we'll know what happened tomorrow morning and that it's nothing serious but tonight, I don't know anything. Rusin took the loss.
Chris Huseby's control problems came back tonight. He walked four in two-thirds of an inning. He gave up one hit and four runs.
Center fielder Brett Jackson had a double in a 3 for 4 night. He also walked and scored three times.
DH Kyler Burke went 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He had two RBI. Marwin Gonzalez was 2 for 5 and scored twice.
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs got outranked by the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 8-4.
Jeffry Antigua pitched the first five innings. He gave up two runs on six hits and two walks. He didn't strike anyone out.
Andres Quezada relieved Antigua and got the loss in relief. He allowed two runs one one hit and two walks. He also failed to strike anyone out.
Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee was 2 for 5 with a double and two RBI. He also stole his first base of the year.
Left fielder Richard Jones had 3 hits in 5 ABs. He scored once. Right fielder Jesus Morelli scored once in a 2 for 5 night. Center fielder Alvaro Ramirez went 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored.