Some exciting come-from-behind wins by a couple of farm teams tonight. Except Daytona, who is just clobbering everything in the Florida State League.
A special above-the-jump alert for Jessica tonight. Pierre LePage made an incredible no-look glove flip to start a double play for Peoria tonight in their game. Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus was at the game with a scout who told him "You don't see that kind of play in the Midwest League very often."
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs caught the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals) 4-3.
Ramon Ortiz got the start tonight and got into trouble early, allowing three runs on two home runs in the first inning. After that, he settled down and didn't allow another run through the six innings he pitched tonight. Ortiz ended up allowing nine hits but no walks and he struck out five.
Scott Maine tossed two perfect innings of relief and got the win when the I-Cubs came back in the ninth. Maine struck out two.
The winning blow tonight was a three-run home run in the top of the ninth by third baseman Marquez Smith. Smith was 1 for 4 on the night.
Center fielder Tony Campana was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.
Tennessee Smokies
The Smokies rode a six-run seventh inning to a 10-6 comeback win over the Carolina Mudcats (Reds).
Starting pitcher Brooks Raley put the Cubs in a hole early on when he allowed five runs on six hits over 4.2 innings. Raley walked four and struck out one.
Give Ty'Relle Harris some credit. He relieved Raley with two on and two out in the fifth and got a ground out to end the inning. He then pitched the next inning for 1.1 total innings. He allowed one hit. He didn't walk anyone and struck out two.
Ryan Buchter got the win with a perfect inning of relief. He struck out one.
Every Smokie position player in the starting lineup had at least two hits except for Josh Vitters, and even he was 1 for 4 with a double and a walk, so he's excused. (At least with the bat. The two errors don't look so good.)
That six-run inning was keyed by second baseman Ryan Flaherty who had a solo home run to start that inning and ended the scoring with an RBI single. Flaherty was 2 for 5. The home run was his sixth this year.
First baseman Blake Lalli hit a two-run home run in the second inning, his second this year. Lalli was 2 for 4 with a walk.
Catcher Steve Clevenger had a big two-run triple in that six-run inning. Clevenger went 3 for 5 and scored twice. Left fielder James Adduci was 3 for 5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. He also stole a base. Right fielder Matt Spencer went 2 for 5 with a steal a run scored.
Shortstop Marwin Gonzalez was 2 for 4 with a walk and a double. He scored once. Center fielder Brett Jackson was 2 for 6 with a run scored and an RBI.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs improved their record to 15-6 with an 8-2 triumph over the Tampa Yankees.
Starter Zachary Rosscup had a no-hitter through four innings, but he had to settle for just picking up the win tonight Rosscup allowed one run on two hits over six innings. He walked four (three in the first inning) and struck out eight.
First baseman Justin Bour hit a three-run opposite field home run in the first inning to give the Cubs a lead they would never relinquish. It was Bour's fifth home run this year. Bour was 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored tonight.
DH Nelson Perez was 2 for 4 with a double. He scored twice. Right fielder Michael Burgess also went 2 for 4 with a double. Burgess had two RBI and scored once.
Peoria Chiefs
The Chiefs were the one low note tonight as they lost a finger to the Beloit Snappers, 7-2.
Starter Cam Greathouse had trouble keeping the ball in the park as he gave up a pair of two-run home runs to put the Chiefs in a hole. Greathouse threw five innings and allowed six runs (four earned) on five hits. He walked three and struck out seven.
Third baseman Arismendy Alcantara was 2 for 4. Right fielder Matt Szczur was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.