The Boise Hawks started their season tonight! They don't have any of this year's draft picks on the team, but I expect that to change very soon.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs atomized the Albuquerque Isotopes, 6-3
Starter J.R. Mathes got the win by allowing three runs on five hits over 6.1 innings. Mathes did not walk a batter and struck out two.
Brian Schlitter collected his 11th save by striking out the side swinging in the ninth.
Right fielder Brad Snyder was 3 for 4 with a double and a triple. He scored twice. First baseman Micah Hoffpauir was 2 for 4 with a double. He scored once and knocked one in.
Third baseman Matt Camp went 2 for 4 with an RBI triple in the second inning.
Tennessee Smokies
The Smokies snuck past the Mobile Bay Bears, 3-2.
Craig Muschko went 5.1 innings and gave up two runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out five. He did hit two batters.
The bullpen shut down the Bay Bears the rest of the way, and Luke Sommer got the win with two innings of shutout baseball, although he did load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Sommer gave up two hits and a walk while striking out one.
David Cales pitched the ninth inning to pick up his seventh save. He did give up one hit and struck out the final batter to end the game.
Tonight's hero was center fielder Tony Campana, who singled with one out in the ninth inning. The threat of the speedster unnerved the Bay Bears, as Campana was balked to second base, advanced to third on a fly out and then balked in as the eventual winning run. Overall, Campana was 2 for 5.
Left fielder Ty Wright went 3 for 4 with an RBI.
Third baseman Josh Vitters is slowly getting back in the groove. Vitters went 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored. Vitters also walked for the fourth time in five games.
The Smokies magic number to clinch the first half title is now one with two games to play.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs demolished the Dunedin Blue Jays, 12-4.
Starter Brooks Raley got win number three with six shutout innings. Raley surrendered only three hits. He didn't walk anyone (although he hit a batter) and struck out five.
Shortstop DJ LeMaheiu was 4 for 5 with a triple and four RBI. LeMaheiu also stole his ninth bag of the year.
DH Mark Reed went 2 for 4 with a triple and three RBI. First baseman Rebel Ridling was 2 for 5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Center fielder Jose Valdez was 2 for 4 and stole two bases. Valdez scored twice. Between Peoria and Daytona, Valdez has 22 steals this year.
Center fielder Brett Jackson continues to impress, hitting a double and a triple in a 2 for 4 game. Jackson scored three times and batted one in. He also walked once.
How would you ever know that catcher Michael Brenly was 2 for 5 with a solo home run if I didn't tell you? It was Brenly's second home run of the season. He scored twice.
The win kept Dunedin from clinching a first half crown. The D-Cubs were eliminated from contention earlier in the week.
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs arrested the Quad City River Bandits, 7-2.
Starter Ryan Searle went six innings and allowed two runs on three hits. Searle walked one and struck out four. One of the two runs he allowed was unearned. Searle improved his record in Peoria to 3-1.
Second baseman Logan Watkins was 2 for 5 with a stolen base. He scored once and knocked one in. Right fielder Nelson Perez was 2 for 4 with a double. Perez crossed the plate three times.
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks were eaten by the Yakima Bears, 7-0 in their season opener.
Starter John Mincone got rocked for five runs on five hits over 3.1 innings. He did strike out five while walking two. One of the runs Mincone allowed was unearned.
Second baseman Wes Darvill was 2 for 3.
The Hawks got off to a rough start in the field, as they made four errors.