Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs lost to the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals) 3-2.
Ramon Ortiz started and took the loss, although he really deserved a better fate. Ortiz went seven innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits. Ortiz walked one and struck out five.
Third baseman Marquez Smith hit his first homer of the season; a solo shot in the fourth inning. Smith was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Shortstop Matt Camp was 3 for 5. Right fielder Brad Snyder went 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies continue to slug their way across the Southern League as they extinguished the Jacksonville Suns (Marlins), 7-3.
Brooks Raley struggled through 4.1 innings, allowing three runs on four hits, including two home runs. Raley walked three and struck out four.
Raley left with the bases loaded and was relieved by Hung-Wen Chen, who promptly got an inning-ending double play. Chen went on to pitch 2.2 innings of shutout baseball, allowing only two hits and one walk while fanning two. Chen got the win because Raley didn't go five but in this case, it was clear that Chen deserved the victory.
The Slugging Smokies cranked out three more home runs tonight. The first one was with a man on in the second inning by second baseman Nate Samson. Overall, Samson was 2 for 4 with three RBI. He scored twice.
Third baseman Josh Vitters matched Samson with a two-run blast an inning later. It was Vitters third home run this year. Vitters was 1 for 4.
The final home run was hit by the Morristown Masher, Matt Spencer, who hit a solo pinch hit home run in the 8th. It was Spencer's second homer this season.
Catcher Blake Lalli had two doubles in a 2 for 4 night. He scored twice. Shortstop Marwin Gonzalez went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI. He also booted an easy double play in the fourth inning that loaded the bases and then made a great play on the next batter to start that inning-ending double play to redeem himself.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs won their fifth straight game by plucking the Dunedin Blue Jays 6-2.
Starter Nick Struck improved his record to 2-1 by pitching 5.1 innings and allowing only two runs on four hits. Struck walked two and struck out seven.
Jeffrey Beliveau got his second save. He pitched 1.1 innings and didn't allow a hit or a run. He walked one and struck out one.
The hero of the game tonight was shortstop Junior Lake, who went 4 for 5 with a double and his first home run of the season. The home run was a two-run home run in the fourth inning that gave the Cubs a 5-0 lead. Lake scored three times and had three RBI. He also stole two bases.
DH Jake Opitz had three doubles in a 3 for 4 effort. Opitz scored once. Center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha was 2 for 5 with an RBI, and he still hasn't walked. Second baseman David Macias was 2 for 3 and he scored twice.
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs split a double header with the Beloit Snappers, losing the first 5-2 and winning the second 3-2.
In the first game, starter Cam Greathouse got let down by his defense, as the Chiefs made four errors, although one of the errors was his own. Greathouse went 4.1 innings and allowed five runs on five hits, but only two on the runs were considered earned. Greathouse walked three and struck out two.
Micah Gibbs was the DH in game one and he was 2 for 3 with a double. Gibbs caught game two and was 1 for 2 with a HBP.
In game two, Graham Hicks started and went 4.2 innings. He allowed two runs on three hits. Hicks walked two and he struck out eight.
Eduardo Figueroa relieved him and was perfect for the final 2.1 innings to get the win. He struck out one batter.
The hero of game two was third baseman Greg Rohan, who came to the plate with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh and stroked a two-run single to center field to win the game. Rohan went 3 for 4 with a double and three RBI in game two. He was 0 for 1 with a walk, a HBP and a sac fly in the first game.
Third baseman Arismendy Alcantara was 2 for 3 and scored a run in game two. He was 1 for 3 in the first game.