May 31, 2011

• Des Moines Register, Triple-A : I-Cubs' quick start leads to win over Round Rock http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110530/SPORTS1402/110530022/1014/SPORTS03/Tripl e-baseball-Cubs-quick-start-leads-win-over-Round-Rock

• Tennessee.Smokies.com, Smokies lose series opener in Huntsville, 4-3 http://tennessee.smokies.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110531&content_id=19815406&vkey=n ews_t553&fext=.jsp&sid=t553

• Peoria Journal Star, Kernels capitalize on Chiefs in eighth http://www.pjstar.com/sports/chiefs/x1293696931/Kernels-capitalize-on-Chiefs-in-eighth

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Des Moines Register Triple-A baseball: I-Cubs' quick start leads to win over Round Rock Written by Register Staff

Round Rock, Texas —The were able to hold on to a 7-0 lead after the fourth inning to beat Round Rock 8-6 on Monday and salvage a series split.

Marquez Smith doubled in a run and Jonathon Mota had a two-run triple in a four-run first inning for Iowa (23-28).

Catcher Welington Castillo went 2-for-5, including a two-run homer in the fourth inning, in his first triple- A game since May 10 after being sent down this weekend from Chicago.

Iowa starter Ramon Ortiz (3-2) won his second straight start, allowing three runs in eight innings on six hits. He pitched five scoreless innings before giving up two sacrifice flies in the sixth inning and a solo homer in the eighth.

The Cubs got 10 of their 11 hits in the first four innings, knocking Round Rock (30-21) starter Seth McClung (2-2) out of the game after scoring three unearned runs.

Iowa opens a four-game set at Nashville starting at 7:05 tonight.

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Tennessee.Smokies.com Smokies lose series opener in Huntsville, 4-3 By Justin Shackil

Huntsville, AL. - Two costly Tennessee errors early in the game proved to be the difference, as the Stars took advantage and downed the Smokies 4-3 on Monday night at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville. With the loss, the Smokies fall to 32-19, and their lead of Jackson in the Southern League North has been cut to two games.

The scoring began in the bottom of the second inning, as LHP Brooks Raley (2-4) gave up two straight singles to Zelous Wheeler and Brandon Jones to begin the frame. Martin Maldonado then pushed a bunt up the third base line to move the runners over, but Josh Vitters threw the ball away after fielding the bunt and both runners scored on the error to put Huntsville ahead 2-0. With one out in the bottom of the third, Sean Halton reached base on a ground ball to third that went right through the legs of Vitters for his second error of the game. A walk and a fielder's choice allowed Halton to advance to third base with two outs, and a Brandon Jones RBI single to center field drove Halton in to put the Stars up 3-0. All three runs charged to Raley were unearned.

The Smokies got on the board in the fifth inning off RHP Wily Peralta (3-5) as Nelson Perez doubled with one out and then came into score on a fielder's choice off the bat of Brooks Raley, his second RBI of the season. The Stars led Tennessee, 3-1 after five innings. Peralta exited after allowing one run on three hits and struck out six in six innings pitched. In the seventh, former Smokies Jim Henderson came on in relief for Huntsville, and he immediately served up a solo to Blake Lalli over the right field wall to cut the Huntsville lead to one. The Stars got the run back in the bottom of the seventh off RHP Kyle Smit, as Sergio Miranda led off the frame with a single to center field. After Miranda stole second base and advanced to third base on a wild pitch, Erik Komatsu's sacrifice fly to left field allowed Miranda to tag up and score, making the score 4-2 in favor of the Stars.

With two outs in the top of the ninth, Blake Lalli his second home run of the game off Robert Wooten, cutting the Huntsville lead to 4-3. However, the next batter, Nelson Perez, grounded out to first base to end the threat and the game. The Smokies were held to just five hits, with Lalli and Perez accounting for four of the five. Brett Jackson was activated from the disabled list and went 0-for-4 with three .

The Smokies and Stars continue their series on Tuesday night at 7:43 PM. RHP Nicholas Sparks (0-0, 0.00) makes his Smokies debut, while Huntsville goes with RHP Michael Fiers (2-1, 4.58). The Smokies return home for a five game series against the Jackson Generals beginning Saturday at 6:15. Tickets can be purchased at www.smokiesbaseball.com or by calling (865) 286-2300.

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Peoria Journal Star Kernels capitalize on Chiefs in eighth By Journal Star staff

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA — The Peoria Chiefs let one get away in the eighth inning on Monday.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to rally and beat the Chiefs 7-5.

Peoria reliever Robinson Lopez issued a leadoff walk, failed to field a would-be sacrifice bunt and then loaded the bases with another walk before Cedar Rapids scored all three runs.

The Chiefs built a 5-2 lead in the middle innings. They scored a run in the third on Greg Rohan’s RBI single, and two runs in the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Arismendy Alcantara and Matt Szczur.

Szczur homered with two outs in the sixth to give the Chiefs a 4-2 lead after Cedar Rapids scored a pair in the fifth.

Ryan Cuneo drove in the Chiefs final run in the top of the seventh.

Cedar Rapids scored two runs in the seventh off reliever Bryce Shafer to close the deficit to one-run before the three-run seventh.

For the record

Winning pitcher — Dakota Robinson (2-0), 12/3 innings, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 .

Losing pitcher — Lopez (3-2), 1 inning, 3 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks.

Save — Dan Tillman (1), 1 inning, 1 hit, 1 walk.

Chiefs — fall to 28-23.

Big sticks

Chiefs — Szczur 2-for-4, solo home run, 2 RBIs, walk; Richard Jones 2-for-5, run scored; Micah Gibbs 2- for-4; Cuneo 4-for-5, RBI; Alcantara 2-for-5, 2 runs scored, triple, RBI.

Kernels — David Harris 2-for-4, 2 runs scored; Ricky Alvarez 3-for-5, , 2 RBIs, run scored; Wes Hatton 3-for-4, double, RBI; Jerod Yakubik 2-for-5, 2 RBIs.

Notable

Rohan extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a second-inning single. … The Chiefs are 3-5 against Cedar Rapids this season. … Peoria starter Cam Greathouse walked six and also struck out six in 22/3 innings of work. … The Chiefs begin a 12-game stretch against the Eastern Divison beginning Tuesday with three games against Lansing.

Tuesday

Peoria (RHP Hayden Simpson, 1-1, 4.05) at Lansing (RHP Daniel Webb 3-4, 7.33), 6:05 p.m., Cooley Law School Stadium, Lansing, Mich.

Internet — www.peoriachiefs.com/listenlive

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