Bleed Cubbie Blue

Al has mentioned this before, but let me put it out on the front page for everyone to see. The Peoria Chiefs will be in Geneva from Saturday through Tuesday to play the Kane Country Cougars.  I know for many of you, that's a short drive out to see the Cubs of the future.  It is also likely to be your last chance to see Josh Vitters in the Chicago area before he plays in Wrigley.  If I lived in the Chicagoland area, there's no way I wouldn't be there.

I missed this a few days ago, but Tyler Colvin has been promoted to Tennessee.  He's had a few pinch-hitting appearances, but tonight was his first start.  Jericho Jones replaced him on the Daytona roster.

Iowa Cubs

The  power blackout continues for the I-Cubs as they were once again shut out by the Nashville Sounds, 3-0.

Iowa starter J.R. Mathes only pitched two innings today and took the loss by allowing one run on three hits. Mathes walked one and struck out one. There wasn't any indication as to why Mathes was pulled after only two innings.

Mathes was relieved by Vince Perkins, who allowed two runs over 3.1 innings. Perkins surrendered three hits and walked four while fanning three.

The I-Cubs only had four hits. Catcher Steve Clevenger was 2 for 3 with a double.

Tennessee Smokies

The horror.  The horror. The losing streak reached eleven tonight as the Smokies allowed a walk-off home run for the second night in a row in a 4-3 loss to the Carolina Mudcats.

Jeremy Papelbon started tonight and lasted 3.1 innings, allowing two runs on five hits. Papelbon walked two and struck out three.

Jake Muyco had his first good appearance in a while, throwing 3.1 shutout innings of relief. He gave up three hits, but didn't walk anyone and struck out three.

Brian Schlitter saw blew his fourth save of the season in the eighth and lost the game in the ninth inning. Schlitter allowed an inherited runner to score in the eighth and then gave up the game-ending home run in the ninth. He was credited with 1.1 innings and gave up only the one hit while striking out two.

Right fielder Tyler Colvin had his first AA home run tonight in a 2 for 3 evening. Colvin's home run was a solo shot in the seventh inning.

James Adduci went 2 for 4 with a triple and a run scored.

Daytona Cubs

The D-Cubs got boiled alive by the Charlotte Stone Crabs, 8-1.

Dan McDaniel got the start and was hit pretty hard, allowing six runs in only 2.2 innings. McDaniel gave up six hits and walked three.  He struck out four. One of the six runs he allowed was unearned.

The D-Cubs made more errors (three) than they had hits (two).

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs took two from the Beloit Snappers tonight, winning yesterday's suspended game 3-2 and taking the second game 2-1.

Christopher Archer started yesterday and allowed one run on one hit in two innings. He walked four and struck out two, but from our reports on the ground yesterday (see yesterday's comments), he was pitching in a pouring rainstorm and thus we shouldn't put too much stock in his numbers, good or bad.

Alberto Cabrera picked up the game tonight and allowed only one run on a solo home run. He pitched 5.1 innings and surrendered only three hits. He walked one and struck out four.

Mike Perconte relieved Cabrera and got the win. Perconte allowed a hit and struck out a batter in two-thirds of an inning. Just as an aside on Perconte, when I was in college, my buddies and I nicknamed Mike's dad "Sauce" in an obvious Bermanism. Think Mike should inherit that nickname?

Chris Huseby got his third save by pitching a perfect ninth inning.

First baseman Rebel Ridling went 2 for 4 with two RBI in the suspended game.

In the second, regularly scheduled-game,  Marcus Hatley came within one out of a complete game, allowing only one run in the seventh inning. Hatley allowed only four hits and one walk in 6.2 innings. He struck out four to improve his record to 4-3.

Manolin DeLeon got the save by getting the final out twice. He struck out the first batter he faced, but a wild pitch meant he had to get the final out on a ground out with men on first and third.

Ridling went 1 for 3 with two RBI in the second game, making him 3 for 7 with four RBI for the day.