Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs scored six runs in the second inning and stopped the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Astros), 7-4.
It was a very strong start for Chris Rusin, who went seven innings and allowed two runs on five hits. Rusin struck out nine and walked only one.
First baseman Chris Valaika hit a two-run home run as part of that six-run second inning. It was his ninth on the season. Valaika was 1 for 2 with two walks.
With Arismendy Alcantara in the majors, Logan Watkins is getting a chance to play every day and tonight he took advantage of the opportunity. Tonight Watkins was 2 for 3 with two doubles and a walk. One of the doubles came with the bases loaded in the second inning, driving in three runs. Watkins scored two runs and also stole a base.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies were burned by the Jacksonville Suns (Marlins), 4-2.
Corey Black had a pretty strong outing, but he took his sixth loss of the season anyway. Black pitched seven innings and allowed two runs on six hits. He struck out eight and didn't walk anyone.
Third baseman Christian Villanueva hit a solo home run in the eighth inning. It was his second home run this season for the Smokies and eighth overall. He was 2 for 4.
Shortstop Addison Russell was 2 for 5 with an RBI single in the third inning. He also stole a base.
First baseman Dustin Geiger went 2 for 3 with a walk.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs were nailed by the Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins), 8-5.
Yao-Lin Wang pitched the first three innings and allowed three runs on five hits. He struck out two and did not walk anyone.
Austin Kirk pitched well in the middle innings. He tossed 3.2 scoreless innings and gave up only one hit. He walekd one and struck out two.
Starling Peralta got the loss after he gave up five runs in the eighth inning, although to be fair, his defense didn't help him any. There was only one error, but there were a couple misplays as well that weren't counted as errors. Peralta allowed five runs, three earned, on four hits over 1.1 innings. Peralta walked one and struck out one.
First baseman Dan Vogelbach was 2 for 5 with a double and a run batted in.
Left fielder Bijan Rademacher was 2 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Second baseman Wes Darvill went 2 for 4 with one RBI.
Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars bit the Beloit Snappers (Athletics), 6-3.
Duane Underwood went six innings and allowed two runs on a pair of solo home runs, one in the fourth inning and one in the fifth. Underwood surrendered five total hits. He struck out eight and walked nobody as he improved his record on the season to 4-2.
The Cougars hit four solo home runs in this game, two of them by second baseman Ben Carhart. One came in the first inning and one in the sixth. Carhart was 2 for 3 with a walk. He now has four home runs on the season.
First baseman Jacob Rogers hit his ninth home run in the fourth inning. Rogers was 1 for 4.
Finally, center fielder Jacob Hannemann homered in the sixth inning for his sixth blast of the season. Hannemann was 2 for 4 with a stolen base. He had two RBI and two runs scored.
With the win, Kane County improved their full-season record to 60-30 and their second-half record to 15-5.
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks topped the Eugene Emeralds (Padres), 5-3.
Starting pitcher Josh Conway went three innings and allowed one run on three hits. He struck out one and did not walk anyone.
David Garner collected his first professional win with 1.1 innings of relief. Garner did allow a run on two hits. He struck out three and didn't walk anyone.
Sam Wilson pitched the final two innings and got his second save. He gave up a two-out single in the ninth, but no other baserunners. He struck out three.
Third baseman Jesse Hodges went 3 for 4 with a double.
AZL Cubs
Carson Sands made his professional debut and tossed a perfect inning, striking out two. The other out was a ground out back to him.