I wrote the draft recap this afternoon while listening to Pat and Keith call the Cub game over the internet. Since Saturday night is such a low traffic night, I'll post it tomorrow night after the recap. You can all have at it first thing Monday morning.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs split a double-header with the Round Rock Express (Rangers). They lost the completion of Thursday's suspended game 11-2 and won the regularly scheduled game 3-2.
In the suspended game, Alberto Cabrera got hammered for eight runs on eight hits over 3.2 innings on Thursday. He walked four and struck out three.
DH Welington Castillo was 1 for 4 with an RBI double.
In the second game, Marco Carrillo started and went 4.2 innings and allowed two runs, both scoring on a home run by Chad Tracy. Carrillo allowed three total hits. He walked one and struck out three.
Esmailin Caridad got the win when Iowa broke the tie in the bottom of the seventh. Caridad did not allow a baserunner over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.
The I-Cubs won when Jeff Baker led off the bottom of the seventh with a double and went to third on a wild pitch. He scored after two intentional walks allowed Bobby Scales to single him home. Baker went 2 for 4 tonight.
Reed Johnson was hit in the head with a pitch in the fifth inning tonight. He was taken to the hospital in Des Moines. Iowa manager Bill Dancy said that "so far [he] looks good." He does have cuts on his face.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies cooked the Carolina Mudcats (Reds), 5-2.
Chris Rusin started and collected his third win. He pitched five innings and allowed two runs on seven hits. Rusin walked one and struck out three.
Rafael Dolis got his sixth save. He pitched the ninth and allowed an infield single, but no other damage. He did not have a strikeout.
First baseman Josh Vitters was 3 for 4 with two doubles. Catcher Steve Clevenger was 2 for 4 with two doubles. Clevenger scored twice. Right fielder Matt Spencer went 2 for 4 with two doubles and two RBI. Spencer scored once.
The Smokies now have a four-game lead in the Southern League North Division with seven games to play. Their magic number to clinch their fourth straight half-division title is four.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs trailed 6-0 after two and a half innings, but roared back to beat the Clearwater Threshers (Phillies), 9-6.
Jeffrey Lorick had a bad start tonight. He gave up six runs on eight hits and two walks over two innings. He faced the first five batters of the third inning and failed to retire any of them.
Juan Serrano got the win by pitching four shutout innings in relief of Lorick. Serrano gave up two hits and walked one while striking out three.
Marcus Hatley pitched the ninth and got his second save. He allowed a single and a walk, but escaped without allowing a run. Hatley did not have a strikeout.
DH Justin Bour hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, his 16th jack on the season. Bour was 2 for 4 with three RBI.
Shorstop Logan Watkins started the comeback for Daytona with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third. It was his first home run this season. Watkins was 1 for 3. He was also hit by a pitch and stole a base.
Left fielder Evan Crawford was 2 for 4 with a walk. He knocked two in and scored twice. Third baseman Matt Cerda went 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. Cerda scored once and had one RBI.
Center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha was 3 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored once and batted one in. Second baseman David Macias had a double in a 2 for 4 game. He scored twice.
Last but not least, catcher Michael Brenly was 2 for 4 with a double. He scored once.
The D-Cubs also reduced their magic number to clinch a first-half title to four.
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs stopped the South Bend Silver Hawks (Diamondbacks), 11-6.
Hayden Simpson had a rough start. He allowed five runs on seven hits over four innings. Simpson walked two and struck out one.
Robinson Lopez picked up the win with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief. He surrendered two hits but no walks. He did not record a strikeout.
Center fielder Matt Szczur hit home run number four tonight. It was a two-run blast in the fourth inning. Szczur was 2 for 5.
DH Richard Jones also hit a two-run home run in the second inning. It was his tenth home run this season. Jones went 1 for 3 with a walk. He scored twice.
Second baseman Pierre LePage was 3 for 5 with a stolen base. He scored once. Left fielder Greg Rohan went 3 for 4 with a walk. He scored twice.
Third baseman Brandon May had two doubles in a 3 for 5 game. May scored once and had two RBI. Shortstop Elliot Soto was 2 for 4 with a double. Soto scored twice.