The day after one of the most thrilling days of the season, tonight was probably one of the dullest. Except for Boise.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs beat the Round Rock Express (Rangers), 5-4.
Starter Eric Jokisch allowed four runs, all in the third inning, on six hits over four innings. He struck out four and walked three.
Carlos Pimentel got the win because Jokisch didn't go give innings, but as I often write in such cases, Pimentel deserved the win more. He pitched three scoreless innings, allowing only three hits. Pimentel struck out four and walked two.
Blake Parker got his league-leading 20th save with a perfect ninth. He struck out two.
The I-Cubs scored all five runs in a second inning where they hit three solo home runs, none of which came off the bat of Kris Bryant or Javier Baez. (Baez did have a two-run double in the inning, which accounts for the other two runs.)
First baseman Chris Valaika led off the second inning with his tenth home run of the season. Valaika was 2 for 4.
After the next two batters were retired, catcher Eli Whiteside and shortstop Logan Watkins went back-to-back with solo home runs. It was the fourth home run of the year for both of them and they were both 1 for 4.
Right fielder Brett Jackson was 2 for 5 with a double and he scored on the Baez double in the second inning.
The Iowa Cubs now have a record of 54-46 and a 2.5 game lead over Omaha in the Pacific Coast League American North Division.
Tennessee Smokies
The Smokies were shut out in both ends of a double-header with the Huntsville Stars (Brewers), falling 1-0 and 5-0.
Game one starter Pierce Johnson really didn't deserve to take the loss, as the only run he allowed was an unearned run in the fourth inning after an error by rehabbing center fielder Emilio Bonifacio. Johnson pitched five innings and allowed four hits. He walked two and struck out three.
Second baseman Elliot Soto was 2 for 3. Bonifacio played all seven innings and was 0 for 3.
In game two, starter Eduardo Figueroa surrendered four runs on seven hits over only 3.1 innings. He struck out four and walked three.
Second baseman Stephen Bruno had two of Tennessee's three hits in a 2 for 3 game.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs lost to the Ft. Myers Miracle (Twins), 5-3.
Tayler Scott started and took the loss. He allowed four runs on eight hits over five innings. He struck out two and walked two.
Second baseman Gioskar Amaya was 1 for 2 with two walks and one run scored.
Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars lost to the Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers), 4-2.
Paul Blackburn saw his record drop to 8-3 after he gave up four runs on eight hits over six innings. Blackburn had one strikeout and one walk.
Left fielder Trey Martin was 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks capped the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants), 12-9.
Ben Wells started and got the win. He pitched five innings and allowed two runs on three hits. Wells walked three and struck out one.
Third baseman Jesse Hodges hit a solo home run in the second inning, his fifth of the season. Hodges went 3 for 5 and he scored three runs.
Left fielder Mark Zagunis hit two doubles in a 2 for 5 evening. Zagunis scored once and had one RBI.
Center fielder Rashad Crawford tripled and scored in the fifth inning, extending his hitting streak to 19 games. He was 1 for 5 with one run batted in.
Catcher Justin Marra was 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored three runs and had two RBI. Second baseman Chesny Young was also 2 for 4 with a walk. Young batted two runs in and scored once.
First baseman Danny Canela was 2 for 5 with a double. He scored one run and had one RBI.
Hillsboro won, so Boise remain tied for first place with the Hops with a 21-15 record with two games left to play in the first half. Hillsboro holds the tiebreak over Boise, so Boise will have to pick up one more game over Hillsboro to claim the first-half title.
AZL Cubs