Tennessee wins on a walk-off pinch hit by Albert Almora. Boise loses and epic pitchers duel.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were hit with the death ray of the Las Vegas 51s (Mets), 6-4.
Chris Rusin started and took the loss. He allowed five runs on six hits over seven innings. He struck out five and walked three.
First baseman Mike Olt led off the bottom of the second inning with his sixth home run for Iowa this year and fourth in his last five games. Olt was 2 for 3 with a walk.
Center fielder Matt Szczur went 2 for 5 with an RBI. Left fielder Josh Vitters went 2 for 3 with a walk.
Omaha won, so the two teams are now tied for first.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies clouded over the Huntsville Stars (Brewers), 6-5.
In all honesty, Corey Blackdidn't pitch well tonight, but he was able to get the pitch he needed to get out of jams. Black pitched five innings and allowed one run on three hits. That sounds good, but he walked six and struck out six.
Zach Cates relieved Black in the sixth inning and immediately coughed up a 5-1 lead. Cates pitched two-thirds of an inning and allowed four runs on three hits and two walks. He struck out one.
P.J. Francescon pitched the final 1.1 innings and got the win when Tennessee scored in the bottom of the ninth. Francescon gave up one hit but no runs. He struck out one and walked one. Francescon now has ten wins this season, all in relief.
Pinch-hitter Albert Almora hit a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the ninth, scoring Stephen Bruno, who had reached on an error. Bruno was 1 for 4 with a double and two runs scored.
Center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha went 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI. Left fielder Lars Anderson was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored once and had one RBI.
Daytona Cubs
Off day.
Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars sent the Quad Cities River Bandits (Astros) up the river, 6-3.
Paul Blackburn pitched the first four innings and allowed three runs on five hits, including a solo home run. Blackburn struck out two and walked one.
Michael Heesch was fantastic tonight, facing nine batters and retiring all nine as he got his third win. He struck out four.
Francisco Carrillo got a two-inning save. He allowed one hit but no runs. He struck out three and walked no one.
Catcher Ben Carhart hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. He was 2 for 4. After the game, Carhart was promoted to Daytona.
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks lost to the Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks), 1-0 in ten innings. Boise did not have a hit until the tenth inning and Hillsboro only had two hits, one in the fifth and one in the tenth.
Starter Josh Conway pitched the first three innings without allowing a hit. He walked one and struck out three.
Ryan Williams allowed a one-out single in the fifth inning, which was the only hit in the game in the first nine innings. Williams pitched four innings. He struck out six and did not walk anyone.
James Farris did not allow a hit over the two innings he pitched. He struck out four and walked one.
Corbin Hoffner came in to pitch the bottom of the tenth, but he allowed a hit and three walks to take the loss. Hoffner only retired one batter.
David Bote hit a double in the top of the tenth to break up Hillsboro's no-hitter.
AZL Cubs