Big crowds turned out to see big names in Des Moines and Geneva. Both teams delivered a victory.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs kept the El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres) on a leash, 8-3.
Starter Kyle Hendricks retired the first 15 batters he faced. He lost the perfect game with a leadoff infield single in the sixth, but he still easily claimed his eighth win. Hendricks allowed one run on three hits over seven innings. He struck out six and did not walk anyone.
Arodys Vizcaino made his Iowa Cubs debut in the ninth and he had a tough time, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk while retiring only one better. That meant that Alberto Cabrera had to enter the game with the bases loaded and one out. Cabrera got a pop up and a strikeout to end the game and collect his first save.
First baseman Logan Watkins hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning. It was his second of the season. Watkins was 1 for 3 with a walk and he scored two runs.
Shortstop Javier Baez was 3 for 4 with a double and four RBI. All three hits were to right field.
Second baseman Arismendy Alcantara went 2 for 4 with two doubles and a walk. He scored two runs.
Center fielder Matt Szczur was 2 for 4 with a double and a stolen base. He had one RBI.
The announced attendance for the game was 14,128, which was the sixth-largest crowd in Principal Park history. While they did have a giveaway of a baseball to the first 2000 fans and the normal Friday night fireworks, I'm guessing most of the fans were there to see Kris Bryant. Bryant was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies clouded the vision of the Chattanooga Lookouts (Dodgers), 5-4 in 11 innings.
Starter Matt Loosen pitched five innings and allowed two runs on three hits, one of which was a two-run home run in the third. Loosen struck out five and walked three.
Jeff Lorick pitched a perfect top of the eleventh inning and got the win when the Smokies scored in the bottom of the inning. All three outs were ground outs.
Jae-Hoon Ha and Stephen Bruno singled with one out in the eleventh and an error put them on second and third with only one out. After Christian Villanueva was intentionally walked, Charles Cutlerunintentionally walked, forcing in Ha as the winning run.
Ha was 1 for 4 with two walks, one intentional. Cutler was 0 for 2 with three walks and two runs scored. Villanueva was 1 for 3 with three walks, one intentional. Bruno was 2 for 6.
Right fielder Rubi Silva and left fielder Jonathan Mota hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning. Silva's came with a man on and was his sixth of the season. It was Mota's second homer this year and first for Tennessee.
Silva was 2 for 5 with a stolen base. Mota was 1 for 4.
The Smokies had seven hits in this game and drew 11 walks, although three were intentional. Still a good number.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs were run aground by the Brevard County Manatees (Brewers), 9-3.
Nathan Dorris started and took the loss. He went five innings and allowed two runs on five hits. He struck out five and walked two.
The game really got out of hand when reliever Jose Rosario surrendered five runs on eight hits in only three innings.
First baseman Dan Vogelbach went 2 for 5 with a double and two RBI. Second baseman Gioskar Amaya was 2 for 4 with a stolen base and a run scored.
Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars shucked the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins), 6-4.
Juan Paniagua pitched the first 5.1 innings and was charged with four runs on six hits, although only two of the four runs were earned. He struck out five and walked two.
Corbin Hoffner allowed two base runners inherited from Paniagua to score and tie the game in the sixth inning, but he stayed in the game, didn't allow any more runs and got the win when the Cougars scored in the bottom of the eighth. Hoffner pitched 2.2 innings and gave up only one hit. He struck out two and walked one.
Tyler Bremer got his ninth save by pitching a perfect ninth inning. He struck out one batter.
Catcher Kyle Schwarber hit his first Midwest League home run with the bases empty in the fifth inning. Schwarber was 2 for 3 with a double and awalk and he scored twice.
For the second straight game, center fielder Jacob Hannemann hit a home run, although this one went over the fence rather than being an inside-the-park one. It was Hannemann's fourth home run this season and he was 1 for 4 on the night.
Second baseman Ben Carhart was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Right fielder Yasiel Balaguert went 2 for 4 and scored one run.
First baseman Jacob Rogers was 2 for 4 and scored twice. Left fielder Trey Martin went 2 for 3.
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks fell to the Eugene Emeralds (Padres), 9-5.
It was a rough start for Erick Leal, who got tagged for eight runs on eight hits in only three innings. That includes a grand slam in the third inning. But hey, two of the eight runs were unearned. Leal struck out three and walked one.
Left fielder Kevin Brown had two doubles in a 2 for 5 game. Brown had three RBI and scored one run.
AZL Cubs
The Arizona Summer League started tonight. The Cubs had the day off.