Ryan Williams was placed on the disabled list today, but the Cubs termed his injury as "not serious." So that's good news.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs tripped up against the Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners), 7-6.
Alex Sanabia started for Iowa and his second start for the I-Cubs went better than the first, but that's only a testament to how bad the first start was. Sanabia allowed six runs on nine hits over 4.1 innings. Sanabia walked two and struck out two.
Giovanni Soto entered the game in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied at six apiece, but he walked two and allowed an infield single to load the bases before giving up a line single to center to end the game. Soto did strike out two.
Iowa was trailing 5-1 when left fielder Juan Perez hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning, his third of the year. Perez was 2 for 4 and scored twice.
Perez's other hit was a double in the sixth inning, and then he scored his second run of the game when first baseman Dan Vogelbach hit his seventh home run of the year. Vogelbach was 1 for 4 with two RBI.
Second baseman Arismendy Alcantara was 2 for 4.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies were trailing Biloxi 7-1 at the seventh inning stretch, but the Smokies came roaring back to beat the Shuckers (Brewers), 10-9.
Starter Duane Underwood Jr. pitched five innings and allowed three runs on four hits. He did have troubles throwing strikes as he walked three and didn't strike anyone out.
David Berg pitched the top of the eighth inning and allowed a run, but he got the win when Tennessee took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Berg allowed two hits and a walk while striking out two.
Miguel Mejia allowed a run in the ninth, but he hung on to get his first save of the year. Mejia gave up two hits. He did not have a strikeout or a walk.
Jeimer Candelario was the big hero tonight as he hit a grand slam in the eighth inning to give Tennessee the lead. It was Candelario's third home run this year. Candelario also had an RBI double in the first inning and an two-run double in the seventh for 7 total RBI tonight, which is a career-high for Candelario. He was 4 for 5.
Chesny Young was 2 for 5 and scored twice. Ben Carhart was 2 for 2 with an RBI and scored twice. Mark Zagunis was 1 for 3 with two walks. He scored three times.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans declawed the Lynchburg Hillcats (Indians), 6-4.
Jake Stinnett started and improved his record to 4-0 by allowing three runs on four hits over six innings. Stinnett struck out six and walked five.
Jose Rosario loaded the bases in the top of the ninth, but got a strikeout to end the game and pick up his fifth save. Rosario pitched 1.2 innings and issued two walks and allowed one single. He struck out the one batter.
DH Jeffrey Baez hit his first home run this year with a man on in the bottom of the first. Baez was 2 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored twice.
Second baseman Ian Happ went 1 for 3 with a walk. He scored once and had one RBI.
Highlights:
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs went into first place all by themselves when the beat the Lake County Captains (Indians), 10-6.
South Bend fell behind early after starter Ryan Kellogg allowed six runs on six hits over five innings. Two of the runs were unearned. He walked four and struck out three.
Scott Effross pitched two scoreless innings and got the win when the SB Cubs struck for three runs in the eighth inning and four in the ninth. Effross gave up one hit. He struck out four and walked no one.
Second baseman Andrew Ely tied up the game 6-6 in the eighth inning with a three-run home run, his second of the season. Ely went 4 for 5 with three runs scored and four RBI.
In the second inning, first baseman Matt Rose connected for his fourth home run of the year with the bases empty. Rose was 3 for 4 with three total RBI and he scored twice.
Catcher P.J. Higgins went 4 for 6 with an RBI double in the ninth inning. Left fielder Donnie Dewees was 2 for 6 with two RBI. Third baseman Jesse Hodges was 2 for 5 and scored twice.