Michael Arias – Picture by Todd Johnson

Tonight started out so well. I got to the ballpark around 10 to 5 and took in a little batting practice. I went and ate supper up in the press box and then did my after supper walk. I was all set for the Michael Arias show to begin from my vantage point in the third base dugout

And for four innings, that’s exactly what it was. A show. At that point, Arias had not given up a run, allowed just two weak hits, and struck out 7. But on a hot and humid night, Arias seemed to run out of juice in the fifth inning as Beloit put a four spot on him and ran him from the game. Beloit would go on to win 5 to 1.

The Cubs only run came on a Kevin Alcantara double in the first driving in Kevin Made..

Web Gem of the Day

Kevin Alcantara needs to get more press about just how good of a fielder he is. What you see in the video below is something that he does every game. He can go get a ball in the gap with great speed.

Pictures of the Day

Let’s just say it was hot and humid and I left early after Arias  did. But I did get some good shots today.

As for the Pelicans, they fell behind early to Charleston. Marino Santy gave up four runs in 3.2 innings as he allowed seven hits, but only walked one while striking out five. The Pelicans only had seven hits on the night, three of them came from Rafeal Morel, while Christian Hernandez had two. Ismael Mena hit his first home run, but nobody on Myrtle Beach had more than one RBI as they lost 7-3..

As for Tennessee… 

They were playing their arch rival, they Chattanooga lookouts, and the Smokies gave up a run in each of the first three innings. Kohl Franklin did not make it through the third inning as he gave up six hits and three walks before he was yanked after 77 pitches. PCA was not in the lineup, and the Pelicans only managed one hit on the night, a double by Nelson Maldonado.

The Wicks Debut

Jordan Wicks’ Triple-A debut did not go as planned as he gave up one run in each in the first two innings and then one more in the fifth before he was pulled after 89 pitches. The box score does not look the best as his ERA for the night was 6.23. Although, he did strike out four and only allowed five hits. It’s a process and hopefully he will do much better than next time he pitches in five days.

When Wicks left the game, it was 3 to 1.

In the top of the sixth, the I-Cubs plated two as Matt Mervis homered, driving in Patrick Wisdom to tie the game. Omaha took the lead in the bottom of the seventh and Iowa stages a big rally in the ninth with Luis Vazquez’ two run single that put the Cubs ahead at 5-4. The Cubs added one more to make it 6-4. Omaha added one run in the ninth pretty quickly to make it 6-5. But that’s where it ended with the only Cubs win on the day.

Debut Dinger and Hitter of the Day

That goes to Luis Vazquez. He alsp went 2-for-4 with 3 RBI

There will be a few transitions made tomorrow that I’ve known about for a couple of days. However, I’ve been sworn to secrecy and if I let you know, they’ll know it’s me.