I'm going to make a quick plug for the website of the Smokies Radio Network. It's updated pretty regularly with game previews and recaps, but what makes it really awesome is all the full color photographs of the Smokies players. So if you're reading the recaps and trying to picture in your mind what the game looked like, this is the place to go.
Plus, listening to Smokies games is a ton more fun than listening to the Chicago Cubs.
At the end of the story, there is a video of last night's Boise forfeit, taken by the radio announcer for the Hawks. You can tell me if you think the field was unplayable.
Jody Davis was suspended for six games for forfeiting. A fan shot is here.
Iowa Cubs
It's five in a row for the I-Cubs as they pelted the Portland Beavers, 9-6.
J.R. Mathes got the start and went six innings, allowing three runs on five hits. Actually, he allowed the three runs on two hits, a two-run home run and a solo home run, but he gave up five hits total. Mathes walked one and struck out three. One of the runs Mathes allowed was unearned.
Mathes didn't get the win, however, because Jeff Grey came in and blew the lead, giving up three runs on five hits in the two innings he pitched. Grey didn't walk anyone and struck out two as he got the win when Iowa came back.
David Cales got his third save with a scoreless ninth. He gave up one hit and didn't walk or strike out anyone.
First baseman Micah Hoffpauir was the big bat today, going 4 for 4 with two doubles and a home run. What's the matter, Micah? Couldn't stretch out one of those doubles to get the cycle? But since Micah had three RBI and scored three times, I think we'll let that pass. Hoffpauir has 20 home runs this season.
Third baseman Matt Camp also homered for the first time this season. It was a solo home run in the second inning. Camp was 1 for 2 with two walks, one intentional.
The Iowa Cubs are starting to run away with their division. With a 67-48 record, they now have a five game lead over Memphis. Is it time to start talking about magic numbers yet?
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies have also won five in a row as they went supernova on the Huntsville Stars, 13-3.
Chris Rusin started and got his first AA win tonight with a solid effort. Rusin pitched six innings and gave up two runs on eight hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out four.
The Smokies scored five runs in the first inning this evening, capped off by left fielder Brandon Guyer's three-run home run. Guyer was 3 for 5 and stole two bases. He scored twice and had the three RBI. Guyer now has nine home runs and 21 steals this season.
Right fielder Brett Jackson is also coming out of his slump in a big way. Today Jackson was 2 for 3 with his fourth home run of the year for the Smokies and his tenth overall. It was a solo home run in the second inning. Jackson also walked twice and scored three times.
The final home run of the game came from second baseman Tony Thomas, who hit a three-run bomb in the eighth inning. Thomas went 2 for 5 with a double and the home run. Thomas has hit nine home runs this season.
The Smokies currently have a three-game lead in their division, but they've already qualified for the post-season as the first half champions. At this point, they're just rubbing it in.
Daytona Cubs
Took today off.
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs shut out the Quad City River Bandits, 4-0.
Ryan Searle evened his record at 6-6 by pitching 6.2 innings and allowing only four hits. He also only walked one batter and struck out eight.
Steven Grife finished the game and got his second save. In the 2.1 innings he threw, he allowed only one hit and no walks. Grife struck out two.
First baseman Justin Bour went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. DH Brandon May had a double in a 2 for 4 game. He also scored once.
Boise Hawks
A day after forfeiting, the Boise Hawks might as well have forfeited, since they got hammered 15-4 by the Everett Aqua Sox.
Dustin Fitzgerald started and allowed six runs in two innings. Eric Jokisch pitched the next two and gave up five more. All five Hawk pitchers allowed at least one run. Do you need to know any more?
Left fielder Ryan Cuneo, who was the guy who slipped in the outfield last night which led to the forfeit, at least got his first Boise home run. He was 1 for 3 with a walk.
AZL Cubs
DH Reggie Golden was 1 for 3 with an RBI. He was removed for a pinch runner, which is never good news but sometimes it's completely meaningless news.
Here's a video of the Hawks forfeit. I really can't tell the condition of the field. Can you?
Boise-Everett Forfeit, 8/7/10 (via msafford34)