Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 14

Tomorrow night, the Boise Hawks open up their season at Salem-Keizer. What this immediately means for the Minor League Wrap is that it will show up much later in the evening. If you're someone who has been reading the Wrap when it normally comes out around 11 pm Chicago time, you're going to have to wait a little longer on nights the Hawks play. It should still be up before the rest of you wake up in the morning, though.

If I get the chance tomorrow, I'll try to do a preview of the Hawks. No promises, however. As a quick preview, I'll say the Hawks have a very exciting young team.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were detonated by the Albuquerque Isotopes (Dodgers), 10-8. Despite the score, the game was played in Des Moines.

Starter Brooks Raley got into trouble early and often tonight. Over 5.1 innings, Raley allowed eight runs on nine hits. Raley walked two and struck out two. His record fell to 2-2.

Center fielder Brett Jackson was 3 for 4 with his league-leading ninth triple in the first inning. Jackson scored twice and knocked two in with that triple. Jackson also stole a base.

First baseman Blake Lalli homered with a man on in the sixth inning. Lalli also had an RBI double in a 2 for 4 night. Lalli now has five home runs for the I-Cubs.

(A quick clarification. The Dodgers claim they will only use the atom for peaceful purposes.)

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies vassalized the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 3-2.

Nick Struck had 5.2 shutout innings today as he collected his seventh win. Struck gave up only four hits, all singles, and didn't walk anyone. Struck fanned three.

Jeffry Antigua had to enter the game with two out in the ninth after Kevin Rhoderick got into trouble. Antigua gave up a two-run double to the first batter he faced, but then got a pop out for his first save.

Third baseman Matt Cerda was 3 for 4 with a crucial insurance solo home run in the eighth inning. It was Cerda's second home run.

First baseman Justin Bour went 2 for 4 with a two-run double in the third inning. Second baseman Logan Watkins was 2 for 4 and scored on Bour's double.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were swept by the Brevard County Manatees (Brewers) losing the game suspended from yesterday 7-3 and dropped the second game, 2-1 in eight innings.

In the first game, Robert Whitenack started yesterday and pitched three innings before the rains came. He gave up three runs, including two on a home run in the 3rd that got blown out by the strong winds of the oncoming storm. The other run he allowed was unearned. Whitenack allowed four hits. He walked one and struck out one.

Frank Del Valle started when play continued today and took the loss when a two-out error opened up a three-run inning. Del Valle pitched 2.2 innings and allowed the three unearned runs on two hits and two walks. He struck out one.

Second baseman Rubi Silva was 1 for 4. He scored one run and batted another in.

In the second game--well, one of you are going to have to explain this one to me. P.J. Francescon started and pitched five shutout innings. He allowed two hits and walked no one. Francescon struck out two.

After Ryan Searle allowed the game tying run in the sixth inning, the game went into extra innings, tied 1-1. Scott Weismann pitched a scoreless seventh, but in the eighth inning he gave up a single, a hit batsman and the run scored on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt. Next,mWeismann got the first out of the inning on a lineout. Then the rains came and after a long delay, the game was called and Brevard County was declared the winner.

So how in the world did Brevard County win when they scored the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth and Daytona never got a chance to bat in the bottom of the inning? And why is Weismann's run listed as earned in the box score? I can understand why the game wasn't suspended, since this was the final game of the first half. But shouldn't this be a tie game and not a loss for Daytona?

The only explanation I have is that it's the last game of the first half, neither team is going to the post-season and no one cares who won.

I still think this should be a tie game.

Weismann pitched 1.1 innings and allowed one run on one hit, one walk and one hit batsman. Weisman struck out one.

Catcher Micah Gibbs provided all the offense for Daytona in game two with his fourth home run of the season in the fourth inning. Gibbs also doubled in a 2 for 3 game.

Daytona's first half is now over. They finished with a 29-36 record.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs lost the race to the Beloit Snappers (Twins), 5-3. The Chiefs were eliminated from winning a first-half post-season berth with the loss.

Kyler Burke had a rough first inning as he allowed three runs on two home runs. After that, he settled down and didn't allow another run. He gave up six hits and two walks over his 6.1 innings of work. Burke struck out four.

Luis Liria got the loss when the Chiefs defense let him down in the eighth inning, committing two errors. (Although one of the errors was his own.) Liria pitched 1.2 innings and allowed two unearned runs on one hit. He walked one batter intentionally and he did not record a strikeout.

Tonight, shortstop Javier Baez put a home run over the scoreboard again, only this time it was the other scoreboard at Pohlman Field in Beloit. He hit it with a man on in the fourth inning, and it was his fourth home run in sixteen games so far this season. He did make the other error in that two-run eighth inning, however.