Congratulations to Brian Schlitter and his call-up to Chicago. I hope he actually pitches rather than sit in the bullpen. Schlitter's got a nice slider that could make him an effective set-up man.
It was a runaway vote for the number five prospect in the Cubs system as you chose the slick fielding Korean Hak-Ju Lee. Lee struggled to start the season in Peoria, but since the calendar turned to June, he's been getting on base at a .380 clip. He hasn't show any power yet, but he's blazing fast and he's still only 19 years old.
So coming on to the vote today is right hander Chris Carpenter. Carpenter was a player with first-round talent in college that the Cubs got in the third round because of health concerns, including Tommy John surgery. So far, except for some tendinitis in spring training and in April this year, he's been healthy. Carpenter has a "heavy" 92-93 mph four-seamer that gets lots of ground ball outs. He's also got a good slurve and a solid changeup. Oh yeah, and he's got the name of a pitcher too.
So just to recap, the first five prospects as picked by you are: 1. Andrew Cashner, 2. Brett Jackson, 3. Josh Vitters, 4. Jay Jackson, and 5. Hak-Ju Lee.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs went Andrew Jackson on the New Orleans Zephyrs, 13-2.
Mitch Atkins cruised to his fifth win of the season, going seven innings and allowing only two runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out five. He was also 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored.
Third baseman Marquez Smith was 4 for 4 with a two-run home run, his third of the season. Smith had three RBI total and scored twice. He also got hit by a pitch once and stole a base.
Right fielder Brad Snyder hit his tenth home run with a three-run dinger in the fourth inning. Snyder went 2 for 5 and scored three times.
Left fielder Jason Dubois' three-run homer in the eighth inning was his 11th on the year and his 67th for the Iowa Cubs. He's now 13 shy of the record. Dubois was 3 for 5 with two doubles and the homer. That gave him five RBI on the game. He also scored three times.
Shorstop Darwin Barney was 2 for 6 with a double. Barney scored twice.
Tennessee SmokiesThe Smokies came from behind to hook the Carolina Mudcats, 7-6.
Hung-Wen Chen put the Smokies in the hole early, giving up six runs through the first six innings. Chen allowed nine hits, including two home runs. He walked two and struck out two.
But the bullpen kept the Smokies in the game and Jake Muyco got the win with two shutout innings. He allowed one hit. He neither walked nor struck out anyone.
Luke Sommer collected his fourth save by pitching the ninth. He gave up one hit. He didn't have a walk or a strikeout either.
A two-run home run by right fielder Matt Spencer in the bottom of the eighth gave the Smokies the lead for good. It was Spencer's eighth home run this year. Spencer was 2 for 4 with three RBI.
Catcher Robinson Chirinos went 3 for 4 with a double and two runs scored.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs grounded the Dunedin Blue Jays, 8-6.
Starter Chris Rusin allowed three runs on five hits over five innings. One of the three runs was unearned. Rusin walked only one and struck out six.
Mike Perconte tossed two shutout innings of relief to collect the win. Perconte gave up one hit. He walked one and struck out two. Aaron Shafer went 1.2 innings for his fifth save. He gave up no runs but one hit. Shafer struck out one and may have walked a batter. (The boxscore doesn't list a walk as I write this, but the PBP account has Shafer with a walk.)
Center fielder Brett Jackson is fine. One day after leaving the game after being hit by a pitch, Jackson went 3 for 3 with three doubles. Jackson scored three runs. He was intentionally walked once (why would they do that?) and was hit by a pitch again. No, I don't know why he's still in Daytona. They're probably having trouble deciding how to make room for him.
Shortstop DJ LeMaheiu had a good game too, going 3 for 3 with a sac bunt and a sac fly. LeMaheiu had three RBI.
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs were wished into a cornfield by the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 5-0. It's a good life.
Starter Su-Min Jung did his part, throwing five shutout innings. Jung gave up six hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out one.
Ronny Moria gave up a run on a hit and two walks during the one inning he pitched. He did strike out two. Moria's record fell to 1-2.
The Chiefs managed only three singles, and DH Greg Rohan had two of them, going 2 for 3 with a walk.
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks turned green against the Eugene Emeralds, 9-1.
Starting pitcher Austin Kirk got knocked around for five runs on six hits over only three innings. Kirk walked one and struck out three.
Right fielder Runey Davis hit a solo home run in the second inning. Davis was 1 for 4. Center fielder Kyung-Min Na was 2 for 4.
AZL Cubs
Did not play.