The Cubs made some moves today as RHP Ty'Relle Harris was promoted to Tennessee to take the place of Trey McNutt, who went on the 7-day DL with his blister. OF Ty Wright was demoted to AA from Iowa and catcher Mario Mercedes was demoted from Tennessee to Daytona. Jake Opitz, who had only played one game for Daytona, got demoted to Boise, which means a trip to Extended Spring Training for now.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs topped the Albuquerque Isotopes, 10-6.
Robert Coello started and gutted out a win by lasting five innings and giving up four runs on eight hits. Coello walked two and fanned four. Coello was also 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored.
Chris Carpenter tossed two shutout innings of relief. Carpenter allowed two hits but didn't walk anyone. He fanned two.
Left fielder Lou Montanez hit his first home run of the year in the fourth inning. It was a two-run home run. Overall, Montanez was 3 for 5 with three RBI and two runs scored.
Second baseman Bobby Scales had five RBI on two doubles in a 2 for 5 afternoon. He scored once. Center fielder Fernando Perez went 1 for 2 with three walks and a stolen base. He scored three times.
Tennessee Smokies
The Smokies offensive barrage continued tonight as they greased the Montgomery Biscuits, 11-2.
Rafael Dolis got his first win of the season as he pitched six innings and gave up only one run on four hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out five. A pretty strong start for Dolis.
The Smokies faced former Smokies pitcher (and top Cub prospect) Chris Archer tonight and while they did most of their damage off the Biscuit bullpen, they hit Archer pretty well too, as he allowed three runs over 4.2 innings.
Every Smokies hitter had at least one hit. The big blow tonight was by first baseman Rebel Ridling, who hit a grand slam in the sixth inning. It was his second home run this season. Ridling went 2 for 4 with a walk. On top of the four RBI, he scored twice.
Third baseman Josh Vitters was 2 for 4 with two doubles and a walk. He had one RBI and scored once. Catcher Steve Clevenger was 2 for 4 and scored once. Right fielder Matt Spencer went 2 for 5 with an RBI double.
Second baseman D.J. LeMahieu entered the game in the fifth inning after Brett Jackson was ejected for throwing his helmet when he was called out in an attempt to steal third base. LeMahieu went 2 for 2 with two RBI and a run scored.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs lost their second game in a row as they were shot down by the Lakeland Flying Tigers (Tigers), 4-3.
Aaron Kurcz had a rough start tonight, lasting only 3.2 innings and allowing three runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out three.
Jeffrey Beliveau pitched the seventh and eighth innings allowing only one hit, but he got into trouble in the ninth when he hit the first two batters he faced. After a sacrifice and an intentional walk to load the bases, Beliveau exited and took the loss when Frank Batista walked in the winning run with two out. Beliveau went 2.1 innings and surrendered one run on one hit and one intentional walk. Beliveau struck out three.
Third baseman Matt Cerda was 2 for 3 with a walk. Right fielder Michael Burgess was 2 for 4 with a double.
Peoria Chiefs
The Chiefs were swarmed by the Burlington Bees, 5-2.
Chiefs starter Dallas Beeler left the game after getting touched for five runs in the second inning. Only two of the five runs were earned, however. Beeler gave up three hits and two walks in his two innings. He struck out one.
Robinson Lopez relieved Beeler and threw five shutout innings. He surrendered four hits and one walk while striking out three.
The Chiefs were no-hit through the first 7.1 innings by Athletics hurler A.J. Griffin. Catcher Sergio Burrell broke up the no-no with a single. Second baseman Pierre LePage had a double in the ninth inning and scored the lone Chief run. He was 1 for 3 with a walk.