Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 25

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were dropped by the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Astros), 10-8. It was Iowa's seventh straight loss.

Starter Chris Rusin took the loss tonight after he gave up seven runs in five innings. Rusin surrendered ten hits. He walked two and struck out seven.

Left fielder Jim Adduci was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored three runs and drove one home.

Right fielder Dave Sappelt was 2 for 4 with a double. He also stole second and third after a one-out single in the first inning and scored on an error. Sappelt had a sacrifice fly and two total runs.

Second baseman Adrian Cardenas went 2 for 5 and scored once.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies clouded over the Jacksonville Suns (Marlins), 7-5.

Dae-Eun Rhee pitched the first five innings and allowed four runs on nine hits. One of the four runs was unearned. He walked no one and struck out four. Rhee got his seventh win of the year.

Fireman Frank Batista allowed a run in the ninth inning, but that was still good enough for his 18th save. Batista pitched two innings and allowed one run on one hit: a lead-off double in the ninth that scored on two ground outs. Batista had one strikeout.

Shortstop Junior Lake had not one, but two home runs today. He hit the first one in the second inning with a man on and the second one was a solo shot in the sixth. Lake has seven home runs so far this season. Overall, he went 2 for 5 with a walk. Lake scored three runs and had four RBI.

Outfielder Nelson Perez also hit a two run home run in the ninth inning, which ended up being two very important insurance runs. Perez went 2 for 5 and has fifteen home runs on the year, four of which were with the Smokies.

First baseman Justin Bour went 3 for 4 with a double and a sacrifice fly.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were swept in a double-header with the Brevard County Manatees (Brewers), 6-4 and 3-0.

P.J. Francescon had a rough start today, allowing six runs on seven hits over 3.2 innings. Francescon walked four and struck out no one as his record in the Florida State League dropped to 1-5.

Catcher Rafael Lopez hit his first home run of the season in the third inning with a man on. He was 1 for 2 with two walks.

Right fielder Elieser Bonne was a perfect 4 for 4 with two doubles. Third baseman Matt Cerda was 2 for 4. He scored once and had one RBI.

Center fielder Matt Szczur went 0 for 2 with two walks and three stolen bases.

In the nightcap, Frank Del Valle was close to unhittable in the five scoreless innings he worked, allowing only a one-out double in the second inning. He did walk three batters and struck out four.

The game was scoreless going into the seventh, but unfortunately Scott Weismann allowed three runs on three hits and a walk in the top of the seventh. It was the only inning he worked.

Daytona only had three hits in the second game, and Szczur had two of them, going 2 for 3. He also stole one more base, giving him four on the day and 38 on the year. That allowed him to retake the Florida State League lead from his teammate John Andreoli, who had one steal in the first game and 35 on the year.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs harvested the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Angels), 8-6.

Starting pitcher Joe Zeller allowed two runs in the first inning, both of which were unearned. Those were the last two runs he allowed as the knuckleballer pitched six innings, allowing seven hits. He only walked one and he fanned two. It was Zeller's second win of the year.

The Chiefs were outhit 13 to 7, but won in large part because they out-walked the Kernels nine to one. I know that will make some of you happy.

Shorstop Javier Baez was 2 for 5 with a double. He scored one run and knocked one in. Center fielder Pin-Chieh Chen went 1 for 3 with a triple and two walks. Chen also had one run and one RBI.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks had their picnic baskets stolen by the Yakima Bears (Diamondbacks), 10-8.

Rough start for Felix Pena, who allowed six runs on seven hits over four innings. Two of the six runs were unearned. He didn't walk anyone and struck out two.

The Hawks fought back to tie the game up, but Matt Iannazzo allowed two runs in the eighth inning and two in the ninth to take the loss. Iannazzo's final line was 1.1 innings pitched with four runs on seven hits. He didn't walk anyone and he did strike out one batter.

Left fielder Dong-Yub Kim tied the game in the bottom of the eight inning with a tremendous blast over the left field wall. Kim was 2 for 4 and also doubled. He now has four home runs this season.

First baseman Dan Vogelbach was 3 for 5 with a double. He had one RBI and he scored once.

Second baseman Gioskar Amaya went 2 for 4 with a double. He also scored once and had one run batted in. Finally, DH Rock Shoulders was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

AZL Cubs

Day off.