Just two more days left of the regular minor league season.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs shut out the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Astros), 3-0.
Dallas Beeler started and allowed only four hits over seven innings. Beeler walked three and struck out four. It was Beeler's ninth win of the year.
Blake Parker came into the game in the top of the ninth and allowed a single and a walk to the first two batters he faced. But then Parker retired the next three batters, two on strikes, to collect his 25th save. That tied the Iowa Cubs franchise record for saves in a season.
First baseman Jonathan Mota hit a solo home run in the fifth inning to open up the scoring. It was Mota's fourth home run of the year and third for Iowa. Mota was 2 for 2.
In the bottom of the eighth, left fielder Ryan Kalish hit his seventh home run of the year with a man on. Kalish was 1 for 4.
Unfortunately, earlier in the day the Colorado Springs Sky Sox blew a 7-2 lead and lost to the Omaha Storm Chasers, 10-9. The win by Omaha ended Iowa's chances at the postseason.
Tennessee Smokies
Rained out. That means they're going to play a doubleheader tomorrow in Chattanooga. If either team wins both games, they'll be the second-half champions. If they split, it will come down to the final game of the year on Monday.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs lost to the Tampa Yankees, 3-1. Who cares? Daytona clinched the second-half title yesterday.
Starter Yao-Lin Wang took the loss. Wang allowed three runs on six hits over three innings. Wang struck out two and walked one.
Shortstop Marco Hernandez was 1 for 4 with a double.
Daytona's regular season ends tomorrow. They start the playoffs against Dunedin on Tuesday.
Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars had the hoses turned on them by the Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals), 4-2. It was the first time the Cougars lost at home since July 28.
Daury Torrez didn't pitch poorly, but he got the loss after he surrendered two runs on four hits over five innings. He struck out three and did not walk anyone. He did hit one batter.
Right fielder Yasiel Balaguert was 3 for 3 with a double and a walk. He had one run batted in.
Second baseman Danny Lockhart was 2 for 4 with a double. He singled and scored in the bottom of the ninth. First baseman Jacob Rogers was 2 for 4.
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks hung on to quell the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants), 9-8. With the win, the Hawks qualified for the playoffs for the fourth straight season.
Trevor Graham started and allowed four runs on nine hits over five innings. One of the four runs Graham allowed was unearned. Graham struck out five and didn't walk anyone.
Ryan Williams got his first professional save. Williams pitched two scoreless innings and allowed just one hit. He struck out one and did not walk anyone.
The Hawks jumped out to an 8-1 lead after three innings in this game and then hung on for the win. In the middle of this game, a storm blew in and the wind started blowing out at 30 to 40 mph. This le d to James Norwood, who had never allowed a home run as a professional, giving up three home runs in the two innings he worked.
The one Hawk able to take advantage of this windstream was second baseman Gleyber Torres. Torres hit his second home run and first for Iowa in the fifth inning with the bases empty to make the score 9-4. Torres was 2 for 4 and also doubled and scored twice.
Hawks DH Justin Marra clubbed a home run before the winds came, his ninth home run of the season. It was a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. Marra was 1 for 3 with two walks.
Right fielder Charcer Burks went 2 for 3 with two walks. He scored two runs and had one RBI.
Left fielder Kevin Brown was 2 for 5 with a triple. He scored twice and had one RBI. Catcher Danny Canela was 2 for 5 with three RBI.
Apparently the Hawks staff threw ice cream sandwiches into the stands tonight as a fan giveaway.
Boise will take on Hillsboro in a best-of-three series starting on Tuesday in Boise.