You can learn a lot listening to the minor league games on the internet. For example, I've learned:
- That Casey's General Store is a great place to shop
- Where to find a great apartment in Sevierville, TN
- How to find out more about government services in Volusia County.
Iowa Cubs
Flying home to take on the Omaha Storm Chasers for the first time tomorrow.
Tennessee Smokies
The Smokies big offense disappeared today as they were burned by the Jacksonville Suns, 2-1.
Robert Whitenack has gotten off to a great start this season and that got him promoted to Double-A already. In his first start for the Smokies, he was dominating as he threw six shutout innings. He allowed only three hits and no walks. Whitenack struck out three.
Unfortunately, David Cales blew his first save of the season when he allowed two runs in the ninth. Cales allowed two runs on three hits and two walks. One of the walks was intentional. He only managed to retire one batter, and that was on a bunt attempt.
The Smokies only had four hits today. First baseman Josh Vitters was 1 for 4 and scored a run.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs were damned by the Tampa Yankees, 8-6 in 11 innings.
Daytona fell behind early when starter Brett Ebinger got clubbed for six runs in the fourth inning. Ebinger was credited with 3.2 innings, allowing all six runs on five hits, a walk and a hit by pitch.
After that, the D-Cub pitchers settled down and didn't allow another run until the 11th inning. Even then, it was two unearned runs credited to Ryan Searle that cost Daytona the game. Searle pitched one full inning and allowed a hit and two walks, although one of the walks was intentional. Searle had one strikeout.
The Legend of Jae-Hoon Ha continues to grow down in Florida. Tonight he was just 2 for 5 with a stolen base, but the big news was that he drew his first walk of the year after 76 at-bats. He also had an RBI and scored a run. But seriously, his big contribution was that he threw out another runner at the plate for his sixth outfield assist in only 18 games this season. I'm guessing teams are going to stop running on him.
First baseman Justin Bour hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, his third on the year. Bour was 1 for 4. Left fielder Evan Crawford was 3 for 4 with a walk and two stolen bases. Crawford scored once. Third baseman Matt Cerda was 2 for 5 with a double and a walk. He scored once.
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs splintered the Clinton LumberKings 7-2 for their first three-game sweep at Clinton since 1998.
Dallas Beeler started and pitched three perfect innings before leaving the game with an apparent injury. He struck out two.
Robinson Lopez collected the win. He pitched four innings in relief of Beeler, giving up one run on a solo home run and two hits total. Lopez walked three and struck out one.
Third baseman Greg Rohan slugged two home runs today. The first was a two-run homer in the third inning and he followed that up with a solo blast in the ninth. He now has three home runs this season. Rohan was 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored three times.
Center fielder Matt Szczur was 3 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored twice as his average climbed to .310 and his hitting streak to six games. Not that we ever should have worried about it in the first place, but everyone can stop worrying about his "slow start."
Right fielder Smaily Borges had a double in a 2 for 5 game. Borges had two RBI and scored once.