Rebel Ridling was activated off of the DL and assigned to Daytona. Ryne White, one of the two players acquired for Aaron Heilman, was released.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs swept a double-header from the Round Rock Express, 4-3 and 4-2.
Starter Thomas Diamond was very good over five shutout innings today. Diamond gave up only three hits, all singles. He struck out five and walked only one.
Brian Schlitter and John Gaub got into trouble in the sixth inning. The two of them combined to give up three runs while retiring only one batter. Then Jeff Samardzija came to the rescue. With two on and only one out, the Shark got out of the inning without allowing any more runs and then picked up the win when the Cubs scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Samardzija threw 1.2 innings and allowed only one base runner via a hit by pitch, who was promptly erased by a double play. Samardzija struck out one.
Right fielder Brad Snyder was 2 for 4, including a two-run double that tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. Snyder later scored the winning run on Bryan LaHair's single. Second baseman Matt Camp was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
In the second game, starter Casey Coleman improved his record to 1-2 with a six-inning start. Coleman allowed two runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out two. Mitch Atkins got the save by pitching a scoreless seventh inning. He allowed one single and struck out one.
In game two, third baseman Marquez Smith had two doubles in 3 ABs. Smith had one RBI. Left fielder Bryan LaHair was 2 for 3 with a double. Catcher Welington Castillo went 2 for 3 and scored a run.
Tennessee Smokies
It was a rare setback for the Smokies as they were vassalized by the Birmingham Barons, 5-4.
Starter Hung-Wen Chen went 6.2 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits. Chen walked one and struck out five.
Dustin Sasser got the loss when he gave up two runs in the ninth inning. Sasser threw two innings total and surrendered four hits. Sasser walked one and struck out two.
Shortstop Starlin Castro's three-game "slump" ended as he was 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI. He was caught stealing once.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs tamed the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 3-1.
Starer Alberto Cabrera was very good over 5.2 shutout innings. He allowed six hits, but didn't walk anyone and struck out six.
Mike Perconte got into trouble in the ninth inning and allowed a run before Luke Sommer was called from the bullpen with the tying run at the plate. Sommer got the only batter he faced to ground out to get his first save of the year.
Who needs an appendix? Rebel Ridling sure doesn't, as the DH hit a solo HR in his first game back from appendicitis. Ridling was 1 for 3. First baseman Matt Spencer also hit a solo homer in a 1 for 3 game. It was Spencer's second home run of the year.
The D-Cubs only had three hits tonight and two of them went yard.
Peoria Chiefs
Greg Rohan's solo home run in the bottom of the eighth allowed the Peoria Chiefs to defang the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 5-4.
Starter Trey McNutt put a lot of runners on base tonight, but was able to escape jams and allow only one run over five innings. McNutt allowed five hits and four walks and a wild pitch. He struck out five.
James Leverton came in the game in the eighth inning and he couldn't stop two inherited runners from scoring, but got the win when the Chiefs came back. Leverton threw two innings and allowed one hit and one walk. No runs of his own scored. Leverton walked one.
DH Rohan's second home run of the season was the big blow. Rohan was 1 for 4. Right fielder Francisco Guzman was 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI. Guzman also stole a base.