Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were blood on the tracks for the Round Rock Express (Rangers), 14-9.
Aaron Brooks finally made his season debut tonight and he allowed four runs on four hits over three innings. The big blow was a three-run home run in the third inning. Brooks walked three and struck out four.
Alex Sanabia took over for Brooks in the fourth inning and he got hammered for seven runs in the inning, including surrendering a grand slam to Trever Adams. Sanabia stayed in and pitched three more innings and allowed just one more run (a solo home run to Joey Gallo), but that's kind of closing the barn door after the hogs have already stampeded through the streets of Des Moines. The final line on Sanabia was four innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits, including the two home runs. Sanabia walked two, hit one batter and struck out one.
Catcher Willson Contreras extended his hitting streak to 17 games by going 2 for 4 with a double. He scored twice.
First baseman David Freitas was 3 for 5 with two doubles. He had two RBI. Left fielder Mark Zagunis was 2 for 4 with a triple and a walk. He drove in two runs and he scored twice.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies were uncovered by the Chattanooga Lookouts (Twins), 8-1.
Duane Underwood Jr. started and took the loss. He allowed four runs on ten hits over six innings. One bright spot was that he struck out six and walked only one.
Second baseman Chesny Young was 2 for 4 with a double. Right fielder Billy McKinney went 2 for 4.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans tamed the Lynchburg Hillcats (Indians), 2-1.
Zach Hedges turned in a strong performance tonight, allowing just one run on five hits over 7.2 innings. Hedges stuck out four and walked one.
After reliever Tommy Thorpe gave up a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth, Ryan McNeil came on to get a fly out to right field and his fourth save.
Catcher Gioskar Amaya gave the Pelicans a 1-0 lead in the third inning with his second home run of the season. Amaya was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk.
The Pelicans took the lead for good in the seventh inning when third baseman Jason Vosler doubled to lead off the inning and scored two batters later on an error. Vosler was 1 for 4.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs were left breathing fumes by the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays), 7-4.
Starter Casey Bloomquist gave up four unearned runs in the second inning (thanks to a Jesse Hodges error) and one earned run in the third to take the loss. The final line of Bloomquist was five runs, one earned, on four hits over four innings. The good news was that he struck out seven and walked one.
Left fielder Eloy Jimenez had a two-run single in the first inning as part of a four-run first when South Bend scored all of their runs. Jimenez was 2 for 4 with a double. He also scored on a Tyler Alamo sac fly in the first inning.