Minor League Discussion & Boxes 4-25-2007

[CaliforniaRaisin]

SmokiesBaseball.com[/url]"]SMOKIES DROP WILD CONTEST TO BAYBEARS 16-7

 

Sevierville, TN – In a wild and very unorthodox contest at Smokies Park, the Tennessee Smokies lost to the Mobile BayBears by a score of 16-7 this afternoon. A season high crowd of 6,289 fans, mostly 4th graders from Knox County schools, witnessed the Smokies give up 15 runs in the first three innings, and then tack on seven runs of their own in the sixth inning.

 

The BayBears struck early and often of Smokies starter Justin Berg (1-1), who struggled in his 2nd start at Smokies Park. Emilio Bonifacio led off the game with a walk, and advanced to 2nd on a Phil Avlas single. Carlos Gonzalez doubled to bring in Bonafacio, and Avlas came home on a fielder’s choice to make it 2-0 Mobile. A double by Chris Rahl scored Cesar Nicolas to push the lead to 3-0.

 

The floodgates opened on the Smokies in the 2nd inning, as the BayBears tacked on eight additional runs, in which Berg was pulled in favor of reliever Tim Layden. He fared no better against the Mobile batters, and the score was 11-0 after two innings. Mobile plated another four runs in the third inning to push the lead to 15-0 in favor of Mobile. After plating an additional run in the 5th, the score was 16-0.

 

The Smokies finally got on the board in a big way in the 6th inning. Infielder Gary Cates was brought in as a relief pitcher in the top of the 6th in a surprise move, and retired the side in order. Cates then led off the inning with a solo home run over the left field wall to get the rally started. Jake Fox then added a three-run home run three batters later to cut the lead to 16-4. The Smokies scored three more runs, including a two-run double by Joe Simokaitis and were suddenly down 16-7.

 

They would get no closer however, as both teams were held scoreless for the remainder of the game. Fox finished 2-5 with 3 RBI on the day, with Simokaitis 2-4 with an RBI. Cates pitched three scoreless innings in relief, facing the minimum amount of batters and striking out two.

 

DaytonaCubs.com[/url]"]Matulia Leads Cubs to Victory over Cards

Marshall Earns First Rehab Win

Jeanine Jiannetti

 

Daytona (10-9) out-scored Palm Beach (10-8) Wednesday night to take the final game of the three game series at home from the first place Cardinals 7-2. The Cubs are now only a half game out of first place with the help of left-handed pitcher Sean Marshall (1-0) as well as the Beef-O-Brady’s player of the game, Matt Matulia who had three hits on the night.

 

Marshall joined Daytona’s roster Tuesday and made his first rehabilitation start tonight in the win. Marshall looked healthy, pitching six solid innings allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking one.

 

Matulia had a web gem in the first inning, making a diving catch at third base and then came up with the smooth throw to put out Nate Southard for the second out. Matulia covered a lot of ground on the left side tonight switching from third base to shortstop in the ninth inning. At the plate, Matulia produced as well, going three-for- five. Just a homer short of the cycle.

 

Jesus Valdez (1-4) had a triple tonight extending his home hitting streak to ten games. A pitch got away from Cardinals right-hander Jon Milkrut (0-0) pegging Robinson Chirinos (0-3) in the head. Chirinos had to leave the game being replaced on the bases by Chris Amador (.354 OBP), who came around to score. The Cubs seven runs were scored on nine hits with Palm Beach offering up four errors.

 

The Cubs leave for a six-game road trip beginning with the Jupiter Hammerheads (8-11) on Thursday. Slugger Ryan Harvey has been promoted to Daytona and will join the team in Jupiter.