Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs hung on to beat the Omaha Royals, 7-6.
Jeff Samardzija improved his record in Iowa to 11-2 with a 5.2 inning start tonight. Samardzija allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits. He walked four and struck out three.
Jeff Stevens was shaky, but he collected his sixth save. He entered the game with one out in the ninth after Justin Berg had already allowed one run and had two men on. Stevens allowed an inherited run on a single and then walked the bases loaded before getting a foul out and a strikeout with the bases loaded to end the game.
DH Jason Dubois hit a grand slam in the fifth inning. It was his 13th homer on the year. Dubois was 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored twice and had the four RBI.
Third baseman Marquez Smith hit a solo home run in the first inning. It was Smith's 14th home run. Smith was 1 for 5 on the night.
Memphis also won, so Iowa retains a 1.5 game lead in the division. Iowa's magic number is now 11.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies battered the Birmingham Barons, 4-3 in 11 innings.
Chris Archer had another great outing tonight, going seven innings and allowing two runs on five hits. Archer only walked two and struck out nine.
Marco Carillo blew the save in the ninth when he allowed a solo home run, but he stayed in the game and got the win. Carrillo pitched three innings and gave up four hits, including the homer. He walked one and struck out two.
Russ Canzler scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the 11th. (I refuse to call it a "Walk-off wild pitch") Canzler was 1 for 3 with a double and two walks. He had two RBI and scored that winning run.
Huntsville lost, so the Smokies lead in the division increased to eight games. Their magic number is now three and their third straight divisional half-season title looks assured.
Daytona Cubs
The Cubs game against Clearwater was rained out. They'll play a double-header sometime next week.
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs shucked the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 1-0.
Starter Francisco Batista got the Chiefs off to a great start, going six innings and allowing only two hits. He walked one and struck out three.
Daniel Keefe got the win with two innings of relief. He allowed one hit. He walked one and struck out two.
Corey Martin got his fifth save by pitching the ninth. He gave up a leadoff single, who got to third base after a bunt and a wild pitch. But Hak-Ju Lee gunned the runner out at the plate trying to score on a ground ball with one out. Martin did not have a strikeout or issue a walk.
Second baseman Logan Watkins was 2 for 3 with a walk. DH Jae-Hoon Ha was 2 for 3.
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks were blown away by the Tri-City Dust Devils, 6-3.
Juan Yasser Serrano took the loss after getting knocked around for five runs on eight hits over four innings. At least he didn't walk anyone or allow a home run. Serrano struck out three.
First baseman Richard Jones had a double in a 3 for 4 night. He scored once.
AZL Cubs