Marino Santy – Pic by Stephanie Lynn

Today was one of the few times this year where all four teams began play early on a Sunday afternoon. As a result, my evening is now free. 

The Return of Santy and Pichardo Gets the Reliever of the Day

One of the big, breakout players of this summer has been the emergence of Marino Santy as a starting pitcher. He began the year in the bullpen in Myrtle Beach, and flashed a plus curve as soon as he arrived. He brought that with him to the rotation, and the more he pitches, the better he’s seeming to get. 

Today, he did not have his best stuff after missing the past couple of weeks. He did, however go for scoreless innings. He gave up four hits and hit a batter while walking one in striking out to. I would take that after missing some time. He threw 65 pitches, 35 of which were strikes. He was relieved by Starlyn Pichardo who threw three more scoreless frames and struck out 5. 

At that point, the Birds were up 1-0 entering the ninth with the only run coming when Parker Chavers scored on a ground out double-play. Chavers scored on a sac fly again to give the Birds an insurance run heading into the bottom of the ninth. Yovanny Cabrera finished off the Wood Ducks to complete the shutout.

Stevens Raking Some More

It just never ends. I thought he would hit more dingers in the Midwest League and he already has 8 in 37 games at South Bend. He had 13 in 55 in the Carolina League. It is going to be close, but 25 dingers is well within reach for him.

Poll of the Day

What total will the Cubs HR King end up with this year?

The Tennis Match Continued in Iowa

Iowa got off to a 1-0 lead in the first today as 4 guys walked to bring in a run. A David Bote sac fly and a wild pitch brought in two more runs in the fifth to retake the lead from Toledo at 3-2. And like most games this week, this was a tennis match and it was 4-4 after 7. In the 8th, PCA doubled and went to third on a wild pitch. Matt Mervis and Bryce Windham both walked to load the bases with two outs only to have Yonathan Perlaza ground out to end the rally. The Cubs gave up two in the tenth to lose 6-4.

McGeary Goes Yard on Back-to-Back Days

With Walker Powell dealing on the mound, Tennessee needed some runs to break a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth. Owen Caissie walked and then Haydn McGeary went yard for the second time in two days.

The Smokies added on in the fifth when BJ Murray walked with the bases loaded to bring in a third run. Then Owen Caissie walked to make it 4-0 and brought up Haydn McGeary who hit 2 foul balls that had the distance to be home runs, if fair. But McGeary struck out to end the frame.

I can’t count how many times the Smokies have left a pitcher in an inning too long this year. Walker Powell was dominant twice through the order dealing 5 shutout innings. He came out for the sixth and proceeded to give up 3 runs to make it a one run game. After that, Scott Kobos entered the game and got through the inning with just 2 walks. A throwing error in the bottom of the seventh gave the Smokies a little cushion at 5-3 after 7. They would add one more run to make it 6-3 and that’s they way it stayed as Blake Whitney closed it out.

The Opener of the Twin Bill

In the opening game of South Bend’s doubleheader with Wisconsin, Felix Steven’s dinger was the only offense for the Cubs as they lost 5-2.

Starting Pitcher of the Day

In the nightcap, things were a little different as Luis Devers was on the mound and he had it going on. Over the first four innings he allowed 1 hit and struck out 7. In the bottom of the fourth, a Christian Franklin single gave Devers the lead at 1-0. Devers kept rolling in the fifth. He struck out the first guy for K #8. He did not strike out any more but still had the shutout going as he threw 77 pitches, 51 for strikes. Matt Shaw gifted Devers a two run single in the bottom of the fifth to make it 3-0. Yovanny Cruz came on in the sixth to take over for Devers and he got a fly out and two groundouts. Frankie Scalzo came in on the ninth to close it out.

Liam Spence was on base three times with a double and two walks. Matt Shaw went 2-for-3 and Christian Franklin was 2-for-2 with a walks and is just blistering the ball hitting .368 this month.

I will be back in the morning breaking down the playoff chases with 4 to 6 weeks left for the affiliates.