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Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs detonated the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Rockies), 12-3.
It's hard to believe with all the great hitting performances today, but the player of the game was starting pitcher Eric Jokisch. Jokisch was removed in the ninth inning only when Arismendy Alcantara dropped a popup. That run would later score when Frank Batista gave up a pretty meaningless two-run home run. In the 8.1 innings Jokisch threw, he allowed two runs, one earned, on only three hits. He struck out four and walked only one. At the plate, Virginia, Illinois native went 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored one run and had two RBI.
Shortstop Javier Baez continued his hot streak, going 3 for 4 with two doubles and a stolen base. One of those doubles just missed being a home run. Baez had three RBI and two runs scored. He now has an 11 game hitting streak.
Alcantara may have clanked a popup with an 11 run lead, but at the plate he was a perfect 4 for 4 with a double, a triple and a walk. He also stole a base. Alcantara scored four times and had two RBI.
First baseman Chris Valaika also went 4 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored. Center fielder Matt Szczur went 2 for 5 with a double and two runs scored.
Manny Ramirez was 0 for 0 as he's still in Mesa.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies failed to reach the Huntsville Stars (Brewers), 5-4.
Joel Pineiro started for the Smokies and he allowed three runs over the first 6.1 innings. Pineiro surrendered eight hits, two of which were home runs. He walked one and struck out two.
The Smokies took the lead in the top of the ninth, but P.J. Francescon couldn't hold it and took the loss. He gave up two runs on two hits over two-thirds of an inning. He walked one and did not have a strikeout.
Most of the offense came from third baseman Kris Bryant, who hit his 14th home run of the season with the bases empty in the first inning. Bryant was 2 for 3 with a walk.
The Smokies took the lead on a pinch-hit RBI single by catcher Rafael Lopez in the top of the ninth.
The Smokies lost despite Huntsville handing them three unearned runs on four errors.
Daytona Cubs
Off day.
Kane County Cougars
Third baseman Jordan Hankins hit a walkoff home run in the bottom of the 11th inning as the Kane County Cougars demoted the Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals), 5-4.
Starter Justin Amlung allowed one run on four hits (mainly a solo home run) over five innings. Amlung struck out four and walked one.
Jose Arias allowed a run in the top of the 11th, but collected the win when the Cougars came back in the bottom of the inning. Arias pitched 1.2 innings and allowed one run on one hit, a leadoff double in the 11th. He walked one and struck out one.
The Cougars trailed 3-1 going into the bottom of the ninth and 4-3 heading to the bottom of the 11th, but came back both times. In the ninth, they tied the score on four singles and David Bote forcing in the tying run by getting hit by a pitch. In the 11th, Cael Brockmeyer led off the inning with a double and would come around to score on a Bote sacrifice fly before the Hankins home run. Bote was 0 for 3 with two RBI.
It was Hankins' second home run if the season and it came in the only at-bat he had in the game.
Former Peoria Chief Jacob Rogers gave the Cougars an early 1-0 lead with his fourth home run of the year in the second inning. Rogers went 2 for 5 with two RBI.