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Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs couldn't catch the Round Rock Express (Rangers), 3-1.
Frankie De La Cruz started and took the loss, giving up three runs over five innings. De La Cruz surrendered five hits. He had some trouble throwing strikes as he walked five and threw a wild pitch while not striking out anyone.
Ryan Rowland-Smith had three shutout innings of relief of De La Cruz. He gave up only two hits and didn't walk anyone. Rowland-Smith struck out two.
DH Juan Apodaca had two doubles in a 2 for 4 game. Third baseman Josh Vitters was 1 for 4, extending his hitting streak to nine games.
This was the final game of eight straight games played between Iowa and Round Rock. The Express won the home-and-home series 5-3.
Tennessee Smokies
The Smokies shot down the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 11-6.
Nick Struck won his league-leading ninth game this season after throwing six innings tonight. He allowed four runs on four hits, but three of the four runs were unearned. Struck walked four and struck out three.
Frank Batista entered the game with the bases-loaded and no outs in the eighth inning after Casey Weathers walked the bases loaded on 12 straight balls. Batista got the first two outs before allowing a two-run single. But that was the only baserunner he allowed in the two innings he pitched tonight. Batista struck out three while picking up his twelfth save.
Right fielder Mike Burgess cracked two home runs tonight giving him eight on the year. The first one was with a man on in the second inning and the second one was with the bases empty in the sixth. Burgess was 3 for 3 with a walk and he scored four runs.
Catcher Mike Brenly was 3 for 4 with a double and a home run, his second this season. Brenly's home run came was back-to-back with Burgess's in the sixth. Brenly scored three runs and batted two in.
The Smokies had one more home run tonight, as center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning. It was his third of the season. Ha was 2 for 5.
Second baseman Logan Watkins was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He had two RBI. First baseman Justin Bour went 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored. Left fielder Jim Adduci was 2 for 4 with a double and scored once.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs were toppled by the St. Lucie Mets, 4-3 in 12 innings.
P.J. Francescon started and allowed two runs on seven hits over six innings. He walked three and struck out three.
Ryan Searle gave up two two-out singles in the bottom of the twelfth to take the loss. Searle went 2.2 innings and allowed the one run on four hits. He walked two and hit a batter in the twelfth, who eventually scored the winning run. Searle struck out one.
Right fielder Eliser Bonne was 3 for 5 with a double and a run scored. DH Rebel Ridling went 2 for 5 with two RBI. Left fielder John Andreoli was 2 for 4 with a walk.
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs usurped the Clinton LumberKings (Mariners), 7-2 in ten innings.
Starter Starling Peralta went seven innings and allowed two runs on eight hits. He didn't issue any walks and he struck out three.
"The Pitcher Formerly Known As The Morristown Masher" Matt Spencer pitched two perfect innings of relief and got his first win when the Chiefs exploded for five in the top of the tenth. Spencer fanned three.
First baseman Paul Hoilman was 2 for 5 with a two-run double in the tenth. Hoilman later scored that inning.
Third baseman Dustin Geiger was 2 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored. Right fielder Oliver Zapata was 2 for 3 and scored twice.
DH Pin-Chieh Chen hit an RBI triple and scored on a throwing error on the play in the sixth inning. In fairness I should report that everyone, including the right fielder but not the two umpires, thought the ball was about five feet foul. Chen was 2 for 3.
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks lost to the Spokane Indians (Rangers), 3-1 on a cold, rainy night in Spokane.
Starter James Pugliese took his second loss after allowing two runs over 4.2 innings. Pugliese gave up three hits. He walked four and struck out three.
The Hawks managed three singles tonight, which equaled the number of errors they made. First baseman Rock Shoulders was 1 for 3 with an RBI.
AZL Cubs
Center fielder Bijan Rademacher hit his first professional home run.