Clayton Richard has accepted an assignment to Iowa.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were made blue by the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals), 5-3.
Starter Carlos Pimentel pitched five innings and allowed two runs on four hits. Pimentel had some real control problems as he walked five and struck out four.
I take that back. Carl Edwards Jr. had some real control problems. Edwards took the loss after relieving Pimentel to start the sixth inning. After retiring the first two batters he faced with a strikeout and a line out, Edwards then walked the next three batters and then gave up an infield single before exiting the game. But he was still responsible for the three runners on base and two more of them scored on a Tommy Pham single off of Ben Rowen.
Third baseman Christian Villanueva was 3 for 4 with one run batted in and one run scored. First baseman Mike Olt was 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Center fielder Matt Szczur went 2 for 5 and scored once.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies blew smoke in the eyes of the Chattanooga Lookouts (Twins), 8-4.
Ryan Williams didn't have his best start, but he was good enough to improve his record to 9-2 and 5-1 in the Southern League. Williams pitched five innings and allowed two runs on four hits. He walked four and struck out six.
Left fielder Albert Almora hit a solo home run in the third inning, his fourth blast of the season. Almora was 1 for 4 with a sacrifice fly and an RBI groundout for three total RBI.
Center fielder Jacob Hannemann went 4 for 5 with a double and two triples. Hannemann scored three times and drove in two.
Both shortstop Elliot Soto and catcher Willson Contreras went 2 for 4 with a double, a walk and one run scored. Contreras added one run batted in to those totals.
Second baseman Stephen Bruno went 2 for 3 with a walk. Bruno scored once and had one RBI.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were shut out by the Lynchburg Hillcats (Indians), 5-0.
Starter Michael Heesch took his first loss of the season tonight (after seven wins) after giving up four runs in the second inning and another one in the fourth. The final line on Heesch was 3+ innings, allowing five runs on nine hits. Heesch walked two and struck out two.
James Pugliese was impressive with three innings of scoreless relief. Pugliese allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out five.
Second baseman Chesny Young was 1 for 4, so the streak lives.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs calmed the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers), 6-2
Tommy Thorpe got the win after keeping the Whitecaps scoreless through six innings. Thorpe allowed just two hits. He walked three and struck out four.
Corbin Hoffner entered the game with two on and two out in the eighth inning and got a ground out to end the threat and then retired the side in order in the ninth for his fourth save. Hoffner struck out one.
Center fielder Charcer Burks doubled twice in a 2 for 4 game. He also walked once. Burks scored one run and had one RBI as part of a four-run top of the first.
Right fielder Jeffrey Baez was 3 for 5 and scored twice.
Eugene Emeralds
The Eugene Emeralds were sacrificed to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants), 6-5.
Ryan Kellogg started this game and took the loss. Kellogg allowed a run in the first inning and four in the second for a total of five runs in his two innings. Kellogg gave up eight hits. He struck out one and walked no one.
The Ems lost this game despite hitting three home runs. First baseman Matt Rose hit a solo home run in the second inning, his third of the season. Rose was 2 for 5.
The day after he hit his first professional home run, left fielder Donnie Dewees connected for his second professional home run, also a solo home run but in the third inning. Dewees went 1 for 5.
In his very first game with the Ems, DH Alex Bautista connected for a two-run blast in the eighth inning to get Eugene to within a run. Bautista was 1 for 4 and scored twice.
Second baseman Ho-young Son was a perfect 4 for 4 with two doubles.
AZL Cubs
Both Javier Baez and Trey McNutt played in this game.