There was a total of 5 games on the Minor League Slate tonight, with the Kane County Cougars playing a double header. It was actually nice being able to listen to the Cougars game they were rained/snowed out in 4 of their last 5 days. Daytona’s Pitching staff had a rough day giving up 27 hits and 15 runs to Clearwater. Both Tennessee and Iowa scored 4 runs and had solid pitching in their wins tonight.

Kane County Earns A Comeback Win In Game 1 of Double Header: 4-3

After Jose Arias gave up 3 unearned runs in the first inning, he and Jeffry Antigua shut the Clearwater Threshers out in this 7 inning game. Arias had a solid final line of: 4 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, as he figured in the no decision. Antigua gave up 2 hits in 3 innings while striking out 3 and walking 1, and was credited with the win. The Cougars scored their first runs of the game on a Jeimer Candelario RBI double in the top of the 6th inning. Marco Hernandez tacked on another RBI double in the inning, with his only hit of the game. Kane Country manufactured to runs in the Top of the 7th when Trey Martin was hit by a pitch, and then stole 2nd base. Oliver Zapata followed with a bunt single, that moved Martin to third. Dan Vogelbach then singled up the middle to score Martin and moved Zapata to third. Zapata scored on a sac fly off the bat of Jeimer Candelario, which was his 2nd RBI of the game. That proved to be the winning run and the 4-3 win improved Kane County’s record to 4-6.

Other Performance of Note-

Second Base prospect Gioskar Amaya went 2-3 on the game with a run scored and a walk. Hopefully this is the game that gets him out of his early slump after the 2 hits he is now hitting .244 on the year.

Kane County Drops Second Game of the Double Header 8-3:

The Kane County Cougars fell to 4-7 on the young season after losing the second game of their double header against the Beloit Snappers. It was a tale of one bad inning as Starting Pitcher Michael Heesch and the Cougars allowed 7 runs in the 2nd inning. Heesch only last 1 2/3 innings giving up 6 runs only 2 of them earned though and striking out 2. Brian Smith relieved Heesch and went 2 1/3 innings giving up 3 hits, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2K. Relief Pitcher Nathan Dorris continues to pitch well this season in relief. After an inning of work, Dorris now has outstanding ERA of 1.23. He has pitched 7.1 innings this year giving up only 1 ER, giving up 4 hits, striking out 8, issuing 2 walks, and hitter are only hitting .160 off him on the year. Marco Hernandez led the Cougar offense going 2-4 with a double and 2 runs scored, while also committing his 5th error of the season. Wes Darvill who played Left Field in this game had the lone Cougar RBI after going 2-3 on the day, and is now hitting .348 on the season.

Clearwater Threshers Rout Daytona Cubs 15-6:

Where do I start with this game? The good or the bad? I always like hearing the bad news first so here’s the bad: Clearwater Threshers scored in every inning they came to bat in this game and pounded out 27 hits, no that’s not a typo they actually had 27 hits. Ryan Searle took the brunt of this offensive explosion to the tune of giving up 15 hits in 4 2/3 innings, while giving up 7 earned runs. The bullpen didn’t fare much better as Hunter Cervenka gave up 3 earned runs in 2 innings. Luis Liria only managed to get 1 out before surrendering 4 earned runs. Catcher yes Catcher Taylor Davis came in and pitched 1 inning giving up 4 hits and 1 earned run. The good news? Stephen Bruno keeps up his torrid pace of 2 hits game with 4 games in a row now. Bruno was 2-2 with 2 BBs, a run scored and is now hitting .422 on the season.  Javier Baez hit his 2nd home run of the season in the 3rd inning, but he also struck out 3 times. Another Cubs player that is staying hot at the plate is Dustin Geiger who extended his hit streak to 9 games after a 2 hit, 1 RBI game.  John Andreoli was another Daytona player who added 2 hits to the box score, and also chipped in with a RBI, and a Run.

 

Tennessee Uses The Long Ball To Beat Huntsville 4-3: 

The Tennessee Smokies improved their record to 6-6 on the season after solo home runs in three consecutive innings propelled them to a 4-3 win over the Huntsville Stars. Justin Bour led off the home run parade with a solo shot in the 2nd inning for his 2nd HR of the season. Matt Szczur followed up that home run with one of his own in the 3rd inning, it was his first home run of the season and he is now hitting .304 after a 2 hit game. The final solo home run of the game for the Smokies came in the 4th inning off the bat of Rubi Silva, which was his 2nd home run in as many days. Silva a left-handed hitter now has 3 home runs on the season with 8 RBI, and his hitting .405 on the season. Alberto Cabrera threw 6 strong innings and earned his 2nd win of the season. Cabrera gave up 7 hits, 2 ER, 2 BB, and 5 K, in his 6 innings of work. A.J. Morris threw 2 innings of perfect baseball in relief striking out 3 batters. Frank Batista recorded his 2nd save of the season while giving up 1 earned run in his inning of work.

 

Iowa Cubs Receive Quality Start From Raley En-Route To A 4-1 Win: 

The Iowa Cubs earned their 4th win of the season with a 4-1 win over the Nashville Sounds. Starting Pitcher Brooks Raley earned his 1st win of the season hurling 6 innings of shut out baseball, he did give up 6 hits but struck out 7 batters. Reliever Yoanner Negrin has yet to give up an earned run this season after his 2 innings of solid relief. Hitters are only batting .171 off of him and he has struck out 13 in 9 2/3 innings. The I-Cubs only had 3 hits on the game so there isn’t much to report offensively. J.C. Boscan had a 2 run double in the fourth inning for his only hit of the game. Ryan Sweeney might play himself into Chicago with another hit today. He had a triple and a RBI, he is now hitting .382 on the year with a .447 OBP, and a 1.212 OPS. He is a quality left handed bat who profiles as a 4th or 5th outfielder in the Majors.