Sorry about last night. I couldn't get any wifi in my hotel room, so I went down and tried to use the computers in the "business center" that had some half-baked semi-internet where I could get onto Twitter but not this site. (My phone is supposed to be able to use Twitter too, but I couldn't manage to get the password right.) But I'm in a different hotel tonight.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs outlasted the Fresno Grizzlies, 13-12.
J.R. Mathes started, pitched six innings and got the win. That's the good news. The bad news was that Mathes allowed six runs on eleven hits. He only walked one and struck out three.
Jeff Stevens pitched the ninth and, despite allowing a run, got his third save. Stevens allowed the run on a hit and two walks. He struck out two.
James Adduci was on fire tonight in Fresno. Adduci hit a grand slam in the fifth inning, which was his third of the year. Adduci also hit a double in his 3 for 6 night. Adduci had seven RBI tonight. That's right, seven.
Micah Hoffpauir started the fireworks tonight with a two-run home run in the top of the first. It was Hoffpauir's 21st home run of the season. Overall, Hoffpauir was 2 for 4 with a double and three RBI. He scored twice.
Catcher Robinson Chirinos hit his first AAA home run tonight as well. It was a sixth inning solo shot. Chirinos was 1 for 3 and got hit by pitches twice. He scored twice.
Right fielder Brad Snyder went 2 for 3 with a double and two walks. He scored twice and stole a base. Third baseman Marquez Smith was 2 for 4 with a double and one walk. Smith scored twice. Finally, shortstop Matt Camp went 2 for 5. He had one RBI and scored twice.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies snuck past the Chattanooga Lookouts, 3-2.
Craig Muschko improved his record to 8-3 tonight with five innings and allowing only two runs on eight hits. Muschko walked two and struck out five.
Aaron Shafer pitched the ninth inning and collected his first AA save. (He had five in Daytona earlier this year.) Shafer allowed a two-out single and that was it. He struck out two.
All the offense tonight for the Smokies came from a three-run home run from Russ Canzler. The sixth inning homer was Canzler's 18th of the year. Canzler was 2 for 4.
The Smokies now have a seven game lead in their division. Their overall record is 74-44. They won the first half title as well and have got to be one of the two favorites to win Baseball America's Minor League Team of the Year award. (Great Lakes Loons in the Midwest League are likely their competition.)
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs split a double-header with the Dunedin Blue Jays, winning the first 2-1 and dropping the second game 4-3.
Brooks Raley started and only pitched one inning, but he was pulled because of the threat of severe weather, not because of any injury. It was a perfect inning and he had one strikeout.
Mike Perconte pitched the next four innings and proved he wasn't scared to get wet. He allowed only one run on five hits. Perconte walked one and struck out five.
Casey Lambert pitched the final two innings and collected his first win for Daytona. Lambert gave up two hits, walked none and struck out two.
DH DJ LeMahieu was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Third baseman Ryan Flaherty was 2 for 4.
Because I missed last night, I missed the Cub debut of Evan Crawford. But I got his first Cub hits tonight as the center fielder was 2 for 3 and scored a run. Second baseman Jake Opitz was 2 for 3.
The second game was started by Robert Whitenack, who lasted five innings and gave up two runs on five hits. Whitenack walked three and struck out five.
Oswaldo Martinez blew the save and took the loss. Martinez pitched two innings and gave up two runs on two hits. He walked one (and hit one batter) while striking out four.
In the second game, shortstop Junior Lake had two doubles in a 2 for 3 game.
Daytona is still a game up in the second half in their division.
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs tamed the Kane County Cougars, 4-3.
Ryan Searle started tonight and pitched five innings. He gave up three runs on eight hits. Searle walked two and struck out five.
Manolin De Leon got the win with two innings of scoreless relief. He allowed two hits. De Leon walked one and struck out two.
Corey Martin pitched the ninth and got his fifth save. Martin gave up a leadoff hit but retired the next three, two of them by strikeouts.
DH Brandon May hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, his first of the year for Peoria. (He hit three in Boise) May was 1 for 3.
Right fielder Nelson Perez was 1 for 2 with two walks and two runs scored.
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks dried out the Everett Aqua Sox, 7-6.
Starter Eric Jokisch pitched four innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits. He walked three and struck out one.
Dustin Fizgerald pitched the next four innings and got the win despite allowing three runs. However, only one of the three runs was earned. Fitzgerald surrendered five hits but didn't walk anyone. He struck out four.
Jordan Latham got the save. He pitched the ninth and allowed an unearned run. He gave up one hit. He didn't walk anyone and struck out one.
Second baseman Arismendy Alcantara led the Hawks attack by going 4 for 4 with a two-run home run in the sixth inning. It was his third of the year. Alcantara scored twice and had the two RBI.
DH Pierre LePage was 2 for 4 with a walk. He had one RBI. Catcher Jeff Vigurs was 2 for 4 with a double. He scored once and batted one in.
AZL Cubs