Minor League Discussion & Boxes 6-16-2007

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IowaCubs.com[/url]"]Rick Ankiel's Three Home Runs Drop Iowa

By Jeff Lantz / http://www.iowacubs.com

 

Memphis centerfielder Rick Ankiel hit three solo home runs to lead the Redbirds past the Iowa Cubs 7-5 Saturday night at Principal Park.

Ankiel, who moved into a tie for the Pacific Coast League lead with 19 home runs, homered in the first, fourth and eighth innings and finished off his four-hit night with a ninth inning single.

 

Scott Moore hit his eighth home run of the year for the Cubs in the second inning.

 

Ronny Cedeno had three hits for the Cubs, while Micah Hoffpauir, Buck Coats and Moore each added a pair of hits.

 

Iowa starter J.R. Mathes was tagged with the loss and fell to 6-4 on the year. Memphis starter Mike Parisi picked up the win for the Redbirds to even his record at 5-5. Brian Falkenborg notched his 15th save of the year.

 

SmokiesBaseball.com[/url]"]Big win for Smokies over West Tenn 5-2

 

Sevierville, TN – From the first batter of the game, you could tell that the Tennessee Smokies meant business on Saturday night, and knew exactly what was at stake. Win two games in a row and put themselves in position to win the first half championship. Lose a game and wait to see what happens in Huntsville. The Smokies scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back in knocking off West Tennessee by the score of 5-2 in front of 5,856 excited fans.

 

Pending the outcome of the Birmingham-Huntsville game, the Smokies would at worst be tied for first place going into Sunday’s game with one game to play in the first half. If the Smokies and Stars finish tied after Sunday’s outcomes, the game on Monday June 18th between the Smokies and Stars would serve as a one-game playoff to decide the first half champion.

 

Tennessee didn’t waste any time getting the offense going against Diamond Jaxx starting pitcher Joseph Woerman (2-4). Three consecutive singles to start off the game by Sam Fuld, Gary Cates, and the Southern League’s leading hitter Josh Kroeger gave the Smokies an early 1-0 advantage before an out was recorded. A sacrifice fly by Matt Craig followed by a Jake Fox RBI single gave the Smokies a 3-0 lead.

 

West Tennessee did not go quietly in this game however. Marshall Hubbard hit a controversial home run over the left field fence that manager Pat Listach did not agree with. After being tossed out of the game, the call stood and the lead was cut to 4-2. The Diamond Jaxx would get no closer, as the Smokies added an insurance run in the seventh to finish the scoring at 5-2.

 

Tennessee never looked back after the first inning. Starting pitcher Donnie Veal (4-4) pitched an impressive five innings without yielding a run on four hits. Veal worked himself out of a few jams, and had some outstanding defensive plays behind him, particularly from shortstop Carlos Rojas. The Smokies bullpen came out for another outstanding relief effort from Matt Avery and Jerry Blevins. Blevins pitched two scoreless innings, fanning three batters, to pick up his 2nd save of the season.

 

DaytonaCubs.com[/url]"]Stars Shine Bright Over Daytona

Cardinals’ Allen Craig Wins MVP

 

By: Jeanine Jiannetti (Daytona All-Stars Photo/Tommy Proctor)

 

[DAYTONA BEACH, FL] The Florida State League All-Star game was held at Jackie Robinson Ballpark Saturday night. The Eastern Division All-Star Team doubled over the Western Division in a 4-8 victory. The Daytona Cubs’ Mitch Atkins, was named the starting pitcher for the East, with four of the five Cubs in the starting lineup.

 

Mitch Atkins went two complete innings allowing two runs on four hits with a walk while striking out three. With a runner on third Atkins struck out Lakeland’s Cameron Mayben for the third out in the first inning.

 

Matt Matulia led off for the East, playing second base. Matulia was 1-for-3 on the night with two runs and an RBI triple that scored St. Lucie’s Drew Butera in the fifth inning. All nine of the East’s batters made a plate appearance in the fifth while scoring five runs. Back-to-back homeruns from Allen Craig, Palm Beach, and Rhyne Hughes, Vero Beach, added three runs to the total.

 

Tyler Colvin and Jesus Valdez commanded the outfield for the first five innings and Chris Amador finished the game in centerfield to top off the Daytona players in the FSL All-Star Game.

 

The East’s Luke Gregerson of Palm Beach won the Star-Pitcher of the game award and teammate Allen Craig was presented as the FSL Star-of-Stars MVP.

 

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