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There’s still time to vote for the Minor League Player of the Month. I’ll announce the winner in this space tomorrow.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs reached the summit against the Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners), 10-1.
Matt Swarmer gave up a run in the bottom of the first inning and then he and two relievers shut Tacoma down the rest of the way. Swarmer got the win by allowing one run on eight hits over 5.1 innings. He walked two and struck out five.
It’s worth mentioning the performance of Matteo Bocchi, who filled in from Eugene since the Ems are in the All-Star Break and he was nearby. Bocchi tossed 2.2 innings of no-hit relief. He walked two and struck out three.
The I-Cubs hit three home runs today. DH Mark Zagunis hit the first one with a man on in the sixth inning. It was Zagunis’ fifth home run this year. Zagunis went 2 for 5 with a double and three total RBI.
Second baseman Robel Garcia hit his first home run since returning from the majors. It came with the bases empty in the eighth and was his 16th Iowa home run and 26th if you count his time in Tennessee and the majors. Garcia went 2 for 4 with a double, the home run and a walk. He scored twice and had two runs batted in.
The third and final home run was a two-run home run by right fielder Trent Giambrone in the top of the ninth inning. It was his 22nd home run this season. Giambrone went 2 for 5 with a stolen base.
Left fielder Donnie Dewees went 3 for 5 and scored one run. He did not pitch.
Third baseman Phillip Evans and shortstop Addison Russell were both 2 for 5 with a double and two runs scored.
Is it too soon to mention that Iowa’s magic number to clinching their first division title since 2008 is 17?
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies split a doubleheader with the Mississippi Braves, losing the completion of yesterday’s game 3-1 and winning the seven-inning regularly-scheduled game 1-0.
Jake Stinnett started game one on Sunday and went 1.1 innings before the rains came. He was charged with three runs, two earned, on four hits. He walked one and struck out one.
Third baseman Gioskar Amaya went 2 for 3 in game one.
Shortstop Nico Hoerner went 2 for 5 and scored the only run.
In game two, Erick Leal started and got the win with five scoreless innings, allowing four hits. He walked two and struck out four.
Bailey Clark pitched a scoreless sixth inning before Wyatt Short pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the save. Short walked the leadoff hitter, but then erased him in a double play and got a groundout to first base to end the game.
Jared Young singled home Hoerner in the top of the first inning for the only run of the game. Young was 1 for 3 and Hoerner went 0 for 1 with two walks and a stolen base.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Off day.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs quacked up against the Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers), 3-2.
South Bend wasted a terrific start from Peyton Remy, who allowed just one run on two hits over six innings. The one run came on a solo home run in the third inning to James Outman. Remy walked four and struck out five.
With two on and two outs in the top of the ninth inning, Eugenio Palma gave up the lead with a two-run double. The final line on Palma was two runs on four hits over three innings. He walked two and struck out four.
Catcher Marcus Mastrobuoni went 1 for 3 with an RBI double in the third inning. He then scored later in the inning on a Zac Taylor double. Taylor went 1 for 4.
Eugene Emeralds
All-Star Break. Outfielder Fernando Kelli, pitcher Riley McCauley and second baseman Chase Strumpf are on the Northwest League team as they take on the Pioneer League All-Stars in Boise on Tuesday. First baseman Jake Slaughter was also named to the team, but he was promoted to South Bend.
AZL Cubs