Memorial Day is a day to remember those who gave their lives while serving in America's Armed Forces during wartime. So in case you don't know who that is, I'll remind you who "Harvard Eddie" Grant was, who was the only major leaguer killed in combat during the First World War. Grant was, naturally enough, a Harvard graduate and also a lawyer in the off-season. As a player, he was a good field, no-hit third baseman mostly for the Phillies, Reds and Giants. Captain Grant was killed while leading his battalion in the Argonne Forest in October of 1918.
Also remembered are Elmer Gedeon and Harry O'Neil, both of whom had short cups of coffee in the majors in 1939 before dying in France and on Iwo Jima, respectively.
Only two games today. Daytona had the day off and Peoria was rained out.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were silenced by the Nashville Sounds, 8-0.
Starter Mitch Atkins was good today, however. Atkins tossed six shutout innings, allowing only three hits and two walks. Atkins fanned eight Sounds.
The bullpen let the game get out of hand, however, with an eight-run eighth inning. Scott Maine took the loss, allowing five runs in only a third of an inning. Maine gave up only one hit, but he walked three, although one was intentional. One of the runs was unearned. Blake Parker came in and relieved him and allowed a single and a grand slam to the first two batters he faced.
The I-Cubs only had three hits today and Chad Tracy had two of them, going 2 for 4.
Tennessee Smokies
The Smokies got subjugated by the Birminghan Barons, 10-1.
Alberto Cabrera got rocked for seven runs on seven hits over four innings. Cabrera walked three and struck out six. One of the seven runs was unearned.
Right fielder Brandon Guyer was 3 for 4 with a double.