The Cubs released Shane Victorino, who had been playing for Iowa. Rob Zastryzny was promoted to Iowa. Zastryzny was 3-2 with a 4.28 ERA in nine starts in Tennessee. Pelicans first baseman Yasiel Balaguert was named Carolina League Player of the Week and South Bend Cubs outfielder Eloy Jimenez was named Midwest League Player of the Week.
And I cut my finger making dinner, making it very difficult to type. I think I may need a trip to the DL, including getting sent to Myrtle Beach for a rehab assignment.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs lost their eighth straight game when they were bitten by the El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres), 6-1.
Stephen Fife came off the disabled list to start tonight's game, but he may be headed right back as he exited the game after four innings in the company of the trainer. The final line on Fife was four innings pitched, allowing no runs on just two hits. Fife struck out five and walked no one.
Jean Machi relieved Fife and took the loss. He pitched 2+ innings and allowed three runs on three hits, including two home runs. Machi struck out three and walked nobody.
Iowa's sole run came on a solo home run by catcher Willson Contreras in the bottom of the first inning. Contreras was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Second baseman Arismendy Alcantara was 2 for 4.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies outlasted the Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers), 3-2 win 12 innings.
Brad Markey started tonight and was pretty good. The final line on Markey was six innings, allowing two runs on five hits. Markey walked two and struck out four.
Starling Peralta then pitched three scoreless innings of relief and then Miguel Mejia pitched two innings of relief as no one scored after the fifth inning until the 12th. Michael Jensen then got the win after pitching a scoreless top of the 12th inning. Jensen did walk two in the inning, but he allowed no hits and he struck out one.
The Smokies loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth when right fielder Billy McKinney connected for a walk-off single to center field. McKinney was 2 for 6 tonight.
Second baseman Chesny Young went 3 for 6 with a double and scored twice. Third baseman Jeimer Candelario was 3 for 6 with one RBI.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans put the Lynchburg Hillcats (Indians) out for the night, 3-1.
Zach Hedges was impressive tonight as he collected his fourth win. Hedges went seven innings and allowed just one run on a solo home run in the third inning. He gave up just five hits total. Hedges struck out three and walked one.
Tommy Thorpe was perfect over the final two innings for his first save of the year. Thorpe struck out three.
Center fielder Rashad Crawford had a big night, going 2 for 4 with a triple and a solo home run in the eighth inning, his second of the season. It was his first home run that actually cleared the fences. Crawford scored twice and had two RBI.
Highlights:
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs won their fourth straight game by boarding the Lake County Captains (Indians), 6-3.
Carson Sands improved his record on the year to 5-0 after pitching seven innings and allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out three and walked two.
Casey Bloomquist threw a scoreless final two innings for his fourth save. He gave up one hit. He walked no one and struck out one.
First baseman Tyler Alamo hit his first career home run in the sixth inning with a man on to tie the game up at 3-3. Alamo was 1 for 4.
Left fielder Eloy Jimenez went 3 for 4 with a RBI double in the seventh inning to give the Cubs the lead. He also walked once.
Catcher P.J. Higgins was 2 for 3 with a double and two walks. Higgins scored on the Jimenez double. Second baseman Andrew Ely was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored twice.