Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs lost their eighth straight game, 11-6 to the Reno Aces (Diamondbacks).
Starter Dae-Eun Rhee took the loss after he gave up six runs, four earned, on eight hits over five innings. He walked one and struck out nobody.
Right fielder Jorge Soler hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning. It was his 13th home run of the season and sixth for Iowa. Soler was 1 for 4.
Pinch hitter Ryan Kalish hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth to make the game a little closer. It was his sixth home run for Iowa.
Shortstop Elliot Soto was 2 for 4 with two runs scored.
Left fielder Manny Ramirez was 2 for 4.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies were extinguished by the Jacksonville Suns (Marlins), 18-1.
Do you really want a recap of this game? Felix Peña got hammered in this game. He gave up 12 runs on eighth hits and five walks in only 2.2 innings. Peña struck out one.
Peña's ERA for the season went from 4.50 before the game to 8.74 after the game.
Third baseman Christian Villanueva was 1 for 4 with a double and he scored the lone Smokies run.
Chattanooga won to get within two games of Tennessee with eight to play. The final four games of the season for Tennessee will be at Chattanooga.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs shot down the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 10-6.
Juan Paniagua started tonight, but he only pitched two innings. Paniagua allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits and four walks. He struck out one batter.
Yao-Lin Wang pitched the next two innings, retired all six batters he faced and got his fourth win. He had one strikeout.
Daytona won behind a seven-run fourth inning. DH Kyle Schwarber hit a two-run him run in that inning, his 14th of the season and sixth for Daytona. Schwarber also doubled in a 2 for 5 game.
Left fielder Bijan Rademacher had five RBI tonight. He was 3 for 5 with a double. (Two two-run singles and an RBI double)
Third baseman Ben Carhart went 3 for 5 with two doubles. He scored two runs and had one RBI. Center fielder Jacob Hannemann was 2 for 6 with a stolen base. He scored one run and had one RBI.
All nine D-Cubs had at least one hit.
The Cubs were scheduled to play a doubleheader today, but rain caused them to reschedule one game for a doubleheader tomorrow and play a single nine-inning game tonight.
Unfortunately, Tampa won, so Daytona's lead remains at two games and their magic number is eight with nine to play. They play the final three games of the season at home against Tampa.
Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars won their 12th straight game, 9-1 over the Clinton LumberKings (Mariners).
Tyler Ihrig cruised to an easy victory, his fifth of the year and second for Kane County. Ihrig pitched six innings and allowed one run on seven hits. He struck out six and walked no one.
The Cougars put this game away with a six-run third inning with back-to-back home runs by first baseman Jacob Rogers and catcher Cael Brockmeyer. Rogers' home run was a three-run blast and his 16th of the season. Brockmeyer's solo shot was his seventh this year.
Rogers was 1 for 5. Brockmeyer was 2 for 4 with two RBI.
Third baseman Jeimer Candelario was 3 for 5 with a double and a triple. He scored twice and had two RBI.
Second baseman Danny Lockhart went 3 for 4 with and also had a double and a triple. He scored once.
Like Daytona, all nine Cougars hitters had at least one hit.
With the win, the Cougars go 40 games over .500 on the season. Their season record of 85-45 is the best in all of baseball.
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks crushed the Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays), 10-3.
Erick Leal improved his record to 6-2 after he went six innings and allowed only one unearned run. Leal gave up six hits. He walked one and struck out two.
The Boise Hawks pulled off a rare triple-steal in this game. With one out and the bases-loaded in the first inning, Danny Canela wandered too far off first base and the Vancouver pitcher went to first. Instead of returning to first, Canela broke for second base. Seeing the run-down (of sorts), Charcer Burks on third base broke home and beat the throw. Canela made it in safe at second and Kevin Brown cruised into third on the throw.
Was this a planned play where Canela was intentionally trying to draw a throw so Burks could break for home? I couldn't tell you.
Burks was 3 for 6 with two steals. He scored three runs and had one RBI. Canela was 1 for 4 with a walk and two RBI. Brown was 1 for 2 with two walks and two runs scored.
Center fielder Rashad Crawford went 2 for 5 with a triple. He scored two runs and had two RBI.
DH Alex Tomasovich was 3 for 5 with two RBI and one run scored.
Boise has now gotten into a playoff position, even though they are in third place, four games behind Hillsboro and a game and a half behind Salem-Keizer. Hillsboro has won six straight and moved into first place over S-K. Because Hillsboro won the first half, if they win both halves the second playoff spot goes to the team with the second-best overall record on the year. In that event, Boise has a 1.5 game lead over the Volcanoes for second place.
Boise has nine game left, including the final three games of the year against Salem-Keizer at home.
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