Cubs Minor League Baseball Blog

Just a day after being no-hit, the Smokies bounced back and ran up the score on Huntsville to take a 2-1 lead in their best of five game series.  Eric Patterson led the way at the plate and he went three for four with a homerun, four RBIs and two runs.  Issmael Salas also had a big game and he went three for five with a triple, a homerun, two RBIs and two runs.

Jeff Samardzija didn’t bring his best stuff and he gave up five runs in six innings.  To his credit, only two of those runs were earned but he gave up nine hits including a homerun.  Matthew Avery picked up the win with an inning of shutout relief.

The Smokies picked up two quick wins in one day as the Smokies beat Huntsville in both of their doubleheader games and it was Mark Holliman that made the headlines.  He threw a seven inning no hitter in which he gave up just one walk with three strikeouts.  Mark Holliman even helped out his own cause by providing the bulk of the offense with a two run homer.

Game two saw a solid pitching performance by the bullpen.  After starter Matthew Avery gave up two runs in three innings, the pen held Huntsville scoreless the rest of the way.  Adalberto Mendez threw two of those scoreless innings and he picked up the win.  Issmael Salas went two for three with two RBIs and Casey McGehee went two for three with two runs.

Nate Spears doubled home Mark Reed in the top of the tenth for the game winner as Daytona topped Jupiter 5-4. Matt Matulia got it done in the earlier innings with a nice day at the plate. He went three for five with a double, a triple, two RBIs and a run.

Jesse Estrada was touched up for four runs in five innings but the pen and the hitters picked him up. Michael Phelps picked up the win with a shutout ninth and Matthew Avery put Jupiter down in the tenth for his fifth save of the season.

Daytona rallied for three runs in the ninth to come back in a 4-3 win over St. Lucie.  Kyle Reynolds doubled, drove in a run and scored while Chris Amador finished with three hits.

Scott Koerber improved to 2-0 with a shutout inning of relief.  Matthew Avery pitched a shutout ninth and he saved his fourth game of the season.