Iowa Cubs 1 @ Nashville Sound 3
The I-Cubs have lost 3 straight in Nashville, and have scored a grand total of 5 runs in doing so. Hard to believe that an offense that bats Dave Sappelt third is struggling to score runs, but there you have it.
Brian Bogusevic had the best day, going 2-3 with a walk and a SB. Logan Watkins, doing Logan Watkins Things, was 1-3 with a walk and a strikeout. Ian Stewart went 1-4 with a double and is now hitting a robust .145 on the season. Brett Jackson had a single pinch hit AB and was 0-1.
Yoanner Negrin took the loss despite pitching alright, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits over 6 innings, with 2 Ks, a BB, and 11 groundouts. He retired 15 of his first 16, lost a bit of command, gave up 2 runs in the 7th and the tepid offense couldn't pick him up.
This I-Cubs team is about as exciting as a baked potato.
Tennesee Smokies 3 @ Birmingham Barons 11
The Smokies had a bit more life in their offense yesterday to not much effect, as the Barons scored in every inning except the 1st and 8th, and Erik Johnson was fairly dominant, throwing a 10 hit, 3 run, 6 K complete game. Christian Villanueva continues to hit well, going 3-4 with a double. Arismendy Alcantara and Rubi Silva both went 2-4 with a K, with one of Silva's going for a double. Rafael Lopez was 1-4 with a double and a strikeout. Matt Szczur was 0-4 and grounded into 2 double plays. Ronald Torreyes got the day off.
Eric Jokisch got knocked around for 7 runs (6 earned) on 10 hits in 5 innings. He did strike out 6, with 3 walks. Hunter Cervenka got tagged just as hard, giving up 4 runs on 5 hits in 2 innings, including a 2-run HR in the 6th. He's got an 18.00 ERA this year. Insert your own joke about being ready for the Cubs bullpen. Kevin Rhoderick worked a scoreless ninth, giving up 2 hits and striking out 2.
The Barons' win extended their divisional lead over the Smokies to 5 1/2 games.
Daytona Cubs 9 at Brevard County Manatees 10
Oh hey, another loss. At least this one took 10 innings. The D-Cubs jumped out to an early lead, grabbing 3 runs in the top of the first and leading 8-5 after 6. The bullpen gave up 2 runs in both the 7th and 8th to fall behind, and needed a bases loaded groundout RBI from Jorge Soler just to get it to extras.
Soler had a solid all around day, going 2-4 with 2 BBs and a SB. I like to think Javier Baez made somebody angry last night, as he mixed 2 HBPs into a 1-3 night with a walk and a strikeout. That's one way to get the OBP up, Javy. Dustin Geiger mashed a 3-run bomb in the first that got his 2-5, 1 BB, 1 K night off to a good start. Wes Darvill was 2-4 with a walk and a strikeout. Zeke DeVoss was 0-2 but walked three times. Tim Saunders also had 3 BBs, but added a single to go 1-3. Ben Carhart was 1-4. Chad Krist was 1-5. Taiwan Easterling went 0-5 with a walk and a strikeout. 12 walks from a Cubs offense is definitely a change of pace, and definitely nice to see, especially against only 4 team strikeouts.
Kyler Burke went 5 innings, giving up 3 runs on six hits with 2 BBs and 6 Ks. He gave up 2 longballs but managed to do so with the bases empty. Eduardo Figueroa and Jeffrey Lorick had identical lines, giving up 3 hits on 2 runs with a BB and a K in their respective innings. Larry Suarez blew the save, giving up another 2 runs on 1 hit, 2 Ks and 4 walks. Frank Del Valle threw an inning and a third, walking one and striking out 2 while giving up three hits, including the walkoff double to Barons' CF Mitch Haniger.
Cedar Rapids 5 @ Kane County 2
Frankly, the biggest achievement in this game might be keeping Byron Buxton to a 1-5 day.
Albert Almora was 0-5 with 2 Ks, cooling his average down to a tepid .438. Needs a day off. Dan Vogelbach was 1-5. Jeimer Candelario was 1-4. Rock Shoulders was 0-2 with a strikeout, but added 2 walks. Gioskar Amaya was 1-3 with a walk and a K. Reggie Golden had the roster's best day, going 2-4 with a double and a K. Marco Hernandez was 1-4 with a double.
Jose Rosario was pretty not great, giving up 5 runs on 10 hits with a walk and only 3 strikeouts in 5 innings. Eddie Orozco pitched a perfect sixth inning with a strikeout. Brian Smith finished the final 3, giving up only one hit with 3 Ks.
Hey, somebody in the organization won.