Apparently, "tissue" is the funniest word in the world if you are a three-year old girl.
Except for that embarrassment in Boston, everyone in the Cub system won today!
Iowa Cubs
The I-Cubs scored two in the eighth and three in the bottom of the ninth to defrock the Tucson Padres, 11-10.
Ramon Ortiz put the I-Cubs in an early hole. Ortiz pitched 5.2 innings and gave up nine runs on twelve hits. One of the nine runs was unearned. He did control the strike zone, however, as he struck out nine and walked one. That's one really unusual line.
Blake Parker tossed two shutout innings to keep the I-Cubs in it and Esmailin Caridad pitched a perfect top of the ninth and got the win. Caridad struck out one.
Catcher Steve Clevenger had a huge night, including the walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth. Overall, Clevenger was 4 for 5 with a double and a solo home run in the sixth inning. It was his second home run in seven games in Iowa and fifth overall. Clevenger scored twice and had three RBI.
Clevenger's game-winning single was with two outs after second baseman Scott Moore had tripled home Bobby Scales. Moore was 2 for 3 with a double and the triple. (He did not score a run because Matt Camp pinch-ran for him in the ninth.)
Center fielder Fernando Perez also homered, hitting a two-run home run in the second inning. It was his second home run this season. Perez went 1 for 4.
Right fielder Brad Snyder went 2 for 5 with a double. He scored once and had one RBI. Third baseman Bobby Scales was 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored twice and singled home Tyler Colvin for the first run in the ninth inning.
Shortstop Jonathan Mota was 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored. Lou Montanez pinch hit in the sixth inning and stayed in the game afterwards. He was 2 for 2 with a double and two RBI.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies beat the Mobile Bay Bears, 6-5.
Starter Brooks Raley went 5.2 innings and allowed four runs on five hits. Two of the runs were unearned. Raley walked three and struck out three.
Chris Carpenter relieved Raley with two on in the sixth inning and pitched out of trouble. He got into trouble of his own in the seventh inning and coughed up the lead, but collected the win when Tennessee came back. Carpenter allowed one run on one hit over 1.1 innings. He walked three and had one strikeout.
Rafael Dolis had a shaky outing in the ninth inning, but he escaped without allowing a run . He did give up a hit and a walk in the inning he pitched. He did not have a strikeout. It was his third save.
"The Morristown Masher" Matt Spencer (as they call him on Smokies broadcasts) was most of the Smokies offense as he hit two two-run home runs: one in the first inning and one in the third. He also had the eventual game-winning RBI single in the seventh inning. So he went 3 for 3 with two home runs and five RBI.
After hitting two home runs in his first two at bats, Spencer was hit by a pitch his third time up in the fifth. Smokies manager Brian Harper was ejected protesting when the Mobile pitcher was not ejected.
Catcher Blake Lalli hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to account for the other Smokies run. It was his fourth home run this year. Lalli went 2 for 4.
Shortstop Ryan Flaherty was 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored on both of Spencer's home runs.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs flew past the Palm Beach Cardinals, 3-2 to improve their record to 30-12. They are the first team in all of baseball to reach 30 wins this season.
Starter Nick Struck got his fifth win of the season by allowing only one unearned run over 5.2 innings. Struck gave up only three hits and walked one. Struck struck out four.
Ryan Searle gave up a run in the ninth, but still collected his first save this season. Searle pitched 1.1 innings and gave up the run on two hits and three walks. He struck out one.
Shortstop Junior Lake hit a solo home run in the fourth inning. It was his third home run this season. Lake was 1 for 5.
Peoria Chiefs
The Chiefs dethroned the Clinton LumberKings, 3-1.
Starter Cam Greathouse pitched four no-hit, no-run innings and they took him out of the game anyway. Of course, it might have something to do with the five walks he issued. Greathouse fanned two. But Skip, I'm throwing a no-hitter!
Alvaro Sosa got the win in relief. Sosa allowed one run on three hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out two.
Marcus Hatley got his third save after pitching the ninth. He gave up one hit but no runs and no walks. He struck out two.
Third baseman Greg Rohan went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Left fielder Anthony Giansanti went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.