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The Iowa Cubs wanted to be a bit too much like the Chicago Cubs tonight. Unfortunately, they missed the part where they were supposed to win. That's understandable, since they had to quit watching the game in Chicago to start their own game and missed the end.
The Boise Hawks season starts tomorrow. I'll have a preview.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were outlasted by the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Astros), 9-8 in 12 innings.
Starter Nick Struck put the Cubs in a 6-0 hole early. Struck lasted five innings and allowed six runs, five earned, on seven hits. Struck walked four and struck out three.
Hisanori Takahashi didn't allow a hit over 3.2 innings of relief. He walked two and struck out two. Note to Jed: Takahashi is pitching very well lately.
Marcus Hatley gave up the losing run with two out in the bottom of the 12th. He pitched 1.2 innings and allowed two hits and a walk. He struck out two.
Center fielder Dave Sappelt hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning to get Iowa to within a run. It was Sappelt's second homer this year. He was 2 for 6 with a double and four total RBI. Sappelt scored twice.
Catcher Steve Clevenger tied the game in the top of the ninth with a one-out RBI double. But Junior Lake and Brian Bogusevic both failed to get Brett Jackson home from third. Clevenger was 2 for 5 and scored once.
Shortstop Donnie Muphy went 3 for 6 with a two-run single in the seventh inning.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies lost to the Mississippi Braves, 3-2.
Another good start for Alberto Cabrera, who threw seven innings and allowed two runs on five hits, including a solo home run. Cabrera walked only one and struck out seven.
Trey McNutt took the loss in relief. He gave up a run on a double-play after the first two runners in the eighth inning singled. He did not have a strikeout in the inning he pitched.
Center fielder Rubi Silva was 2 for 4 with a double. Left fielder Pin-Chieh Chen was 1 for 2 in his Double-A debut.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs annulled the Ft. Myers Miracle (Twins), 5-1.
Yao-Lin Wang pitched four shutout innings in his first start of the season, assuming you don't count the World Baseball Classic. Wang gave up three hits and issued three walks while fanning four.
Even though Kyler Burke was the only one of six Daytona pitchers to allow a run, he got the win in relief of Wang because he was on the mound when the Cubs took the lead. The run scored after a strikeout and a wild pitch put a runner on first to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt and a steal of third, Burke allowed his only hit and run on a two-out single. He did not walk anyone and he just had the one strikeout.
P.J. Francescon, Jeffrey Lorick, Eduardo Figueroa and Frank Del Valle each had a scoreless inning of relief.
First baseman Dustin Geiger was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Second baseman Tim Saunders was 2 for 3 with a double and a stolen base. He also score a run.
The win kept Daytona a game behind Dunedin with three to play in the first half. This game was also the last game before the FSL All-Star Break.
Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars were sweeter than honey against the Burlington Bees (Angels), 4-1.
Tayler Scott went deep into this game, not exiting until there were two out in the eighth inning. Scott allowed only one run on two hits. He walked three and struck out two.
Steve Perakslis pitched the final 1.1 innings for his second save. He gave up two hits but no runs. Perakslis didn't walk anyone and struck out two.
Center fielder Albert Almora is awesome. Today he went 3 for 4 with a double, a triple and three RBI. He scored one run.
Right fielder Bijan Rademacher went 1 for 2 with two walks. Batting in front of Almora, he scored twice.