Archive for the ‘Minor League Baseball’ Category

Game two of the Mariners versus the Cubs.  Jake the Great Arriet is still looking for his 13th win and first win this month.  He would be taking on Wade Miley who is also looking for his first win in July in what would turn to out to be a pitchers duel.  

There would be only one batter to reach first base but it wouldn’t be on a hit.  In the 1st inning, Jake would strike out Leonys Martin but throws a wild pitch that allows him to reach.  Miley would strikeout the side in the bottom half of the 1st. 

Jake would allow two singles and walk but does not allow a run to cross the plate.  In the bottom half of the inning Kris Bryant would reach on a fielding error but Miley would pick him off and both teams would remain scoreless.  Neither pitcher again would not allow a base runner in the 5th and 6th innings.  

Jake continues to hold the M’s retiring his ninth batter in a row.  Miley would start the bottom half off by walking Dexter Fowler and would advance to second on Bryant’s single center.  Both runners would advance on Ben Zobrist’s sac bunt.  Javier Baez steps in the box and sends a ground ball to short, the throw is to home base and on the tag, he would be called out.  The Cubs would challenge the call and it out be overturned for the first run of the game.  Addison Russell strikes out for the second out of the game.  With Jason Heyward at the plate, Miley tries to pick off Baez and Bryant tries to take home.  Adam Lind would throw home and Bryant would score the second run of the game.  The Mariners would challenge the call and it would be overturned to end the inning and run would be pulled from the board.  

Jake starts the 8th by walking the first two batters and that would be enough for Maddon as he brings in Rondon who gets the first two outs and Maddon would bring Chapman in for the last out.  Leonys Martin would send a fly ball to left center scori two runs putting the Mariners up by 1.  He would then steal third with Cano at the plate and then scores the third run on a wild pitch but Chapman gets Cano to go down swinging and a blown save to go along with that.  Edwin Diaz would replace Miley and gives up a single to Heyward but gets Contreras to line out.  He would walk Miguel Montero but strikes out Rizzo and Fowler to end the inning.  

Travis Wood starts the 9th and immediately gives up a single to Nelson Cruz who is removed for pinch runner Franklin Guiterrez who makes it all the way to third base on two ground outs.  But then scores on Chris Innetta’s single to short that is thrown high for Russell’s first error in 28 games.  Travis would load the bases but gets out of the inning 

Steve Cishek enters the the bottom of the 9th striking out Bryant for the first out of the game.  He gives up a sole to Zo but then strikes out Baez and Russell to end the game and gives the Mariners a W in this series.  

Jake would go the entire month of July with out a win going 0-3.  However this would be the best start of the month for him despite the loss.  

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

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Game 3 of the Crosstown Cup, this time on the Northside at Wrigley Field.  Jason Hammel is seeking  his 10th win of the season and third in a row.  He’s taking on Anthony Ranaudo in his first start for the White Sox since coming over from the Rangers in May.

Hammel would put a base runner per inning for the first three innings.  Ranaudo in turn would walk Fowler and Rizzo in the 1st inning but wouldn’t allow another base runner through three.

Hammel would give up the first extra base hit of the game with a double to Todd Frazier in the 4th.  But it would be the 5th inning when Anthony Ranaudo would get his first base hit of the year launching a line drive to right center for his first home run of the year.

Hammel would make it through a full seven innings, striking out seven while only walking two and giving up the one run on five hits.

Ranaudo makes it all the way to the top of the 6th be for giving up a one out solo home run to Kris Bryant tieing the game at 1.  Ranaudo gets the first two outs in the top of the 7th.  He would then walk Jason Heyward prompting a visit to the mound.  Javier Baez would knock his 11th home run of the season driving in Heyward and putting the Cubs up by two runs.  Robin Ventura decides to bring in Zach Duke who walks Tommy La Stella only to be removed for Carson Fulmer.

Hector Rondon enters the game in the top of the 8th retiring all three batters.

With Fulmer still in, he starts the 8th by hitting Bryant, then gives up  single to Rizzo.  Ben Zobrist smacks his 18th double if the season driving in Bryant with Rizzo ending up at third.  Miguel Montero walks and that is all for Fulmer as Jacob Turner enters the game.  With the bases loaded Addison Russel would launch a grand slam to left center for his 12th home run of the year.  Jason Heyward gets a single but Jacob Turner would get out of the inning.  Cubs up 8-1.

Tonights the night that we’ll get to see Aroldis Chapman in a Cubs uniform.  He starts off by striking out Jose Abreu.  He gets Todd Frazier into a full count and gets him to ground out to Russell.  Avisail Garcia would get called out on strike three, which homer Hawk Harrelson would immediately say “that was not a strike.”  While Chapman didn’t get the save, he looked great and the Cubs won!

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

Game two of the Crosstown Cup.  First I have to add, I can’t stand the name the series, it means nothing, I wish they didn’t play each other just because of the Crosstown Cup.  But it doesn’t matter because it’s on and Kyle Hendricks takes to the mound at the Cell and other the end looking to save himself in the eyes of the White Sox fans, James Shields and his third W with the Sox.

Shields would prove to have his best outing this season and as a White Sox.  He’s lost the last three starts so this is a huge start for him against the first place Cubs.  The Cubs would get five base runners through three innings.  Shields then retires six straight batters in the 4th and 5th.

Hendricks starts his game by walking Adam Eaton, then a single to Tim Anderson.  He gets the first out by popping out Melky Cabrera.  Jose Abreu sends a line drive to center scoring Eaton for the first run in the first inning.  Kyle redeems himself by striking out the sideman the second.  He gives up two singles in the third but doesn’t allow a run.

He seems to catch a grove making the 4th a 1-2-3 inning.  The 5th inning is almost as quick for Kyle but he gives up a one out home run to Adam Eaton for the second run of the game.

The top of the 6th would Addison Russell would reach on a single and moves to second on Jason Heyward’s single to right but Javier Baez pops out to end the inning.  Shields gives up his fourth and last hit of the game to Tommy La Stella but the 7th inning ends on a double play.  He makes it all the way until the top of the 8th getting the first two outs but gives up his fourth walk of the game to be replace by Nate Jones to end the 8th.

Kyle gets the first two outs in the bottom of the 6th but after a single to Todd Frazier, Joel Maddon brings in Travis Wood who walks the bases loaded.  After a visit to the mound, he gives Tyler Saladino an RBI with another walk but gets Adam Eaton to ground out.

Joe Nathan enters the bottom of the 7th doing what he is supposed to, making it a quick 1-2-3 inning.  Pedro Strop enters the bottom of the 8th getting all three batters to ground out being the perfect setup man.

David Robertson enters the top of the 9th getting Heyward to pop out.  Javier Baez goes down swinging.  Miguel Montero is the last hope but grounds out to shortstop making no need for an Aroldis Chapman appearance.  Southsiders 2, Northsiders 0.

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

Wrapping up the series against the Brew Crew, Jon Lester heads to the mound searching for his 11th win of the season.  He will be seeing the Brewers for the first time this season and with the directions both teams are going, this could be a positive for Jon as he takes on Junior Guerra who received a win in May against the Cubs giving up only three runs on five hits but saw Dexter Fowler leading off with a home run.

Lester doesn’t start off great by walking Jonathan Villar, who then steals second and third base and then scores on Hernan Perez’s sac fly to left field.  Lester would then give up three singles in a row to Ryan Braun, Jonathan Lucroy and Chris Carter.  It would be Carter’s single that gives the Brewers their second run of the game.  

The second inning would be peculiar in that Lester strike outs three batters but a passed ball allows Villar to reach first and a wild pitch would allow Braun to reach on their strike outs.  He gets out the second and makes it a quick third by retiring all three batters in a row.  Despite giving up a walk to Jake Elmore in he bottom of the 4th, he gets caught stealing and strikes out the following two batters almost like it did in the bottom of the 3rd.  

Lester would start the 5th off by loading the bases with two walks and a double and that would be enough for Maddon as he brings Justin Grimm into the game and strikes out the first batter he sees for the first out of the inning.  Scooter Gennett would send a ground ball to left field adding two runs to the board scoring Bruan and Perez.  Grimm does get out of the inning without adding any more runs.  

The Cubs would be held to seven base runners through five innings that would not cross home plate.  The top of the 6th would see Kris Bryant leading off with a single and advancing to second on a fielding error by Scooter Gennett allowing Anthony Rizzo to reach first base.  Ben Zobrist sends a ground ball to right scoring Bryant but that would be all the runs for the Cubs.  

The bottom of the 6th would allow us to finally see Joe Nathan since his signing that placed him immediately on the disabled list.  He enters the game giving up a a monstrous triple to Jonathan Villar and then walks Hernan Perez who steals second base.  He gets his first out by striking out Ryan Braun, then Lucroy and Chris Carter.  It started out shaking but he calmed down and took control of the game.  

Junior Guerra would get the first batter of the 7th out but gets pulled from the game for Will Smith who gives up a single to Miguel Montero.  Matt Szczur reaches first on a fielding error by Jake Elmore at third.  Tommy La Stella would send a line drive to right field scoring Montero.  The Brewers then decide to intentionally walk Bryant.  Rizzo steps to the plate and clears the bases with a three RBI double to center.  This prompts the Brewers to change pitchers and bring in Tyler Thornburg.  Zo gets a single driving in Rizzo but is caught stealing second in a strike’em out throw’em out with Wilson Comtreras at the plate to end the inning.  Cubs 6, Brewers 4. 

Travis Wood enters in the bottom of the 7th getting the first out but walks Kirk and gives up a double to Elmore but strikes out Andy Wilkins and gets out of the inning by getting Villar to strike out.  

Pedro Strop enters the bottom of the 8th mowing through the heart of the Brewers line up.  

Blaine Boyer made it a quick top of the 8th.  The top of the 9th would see Szczur leading off with a single but gets caught stealing second.  He walks Fowler but Bryant strikes out for the second out of the inning and Rizzo grounds into a force out to end the inning.  

Hector Rondon comes into the game for the save opportunity and starts off striking out the first batter, gets the second batter to ground out but gives up a home run to Kirk.  Now with one run seperating the two teams Elmore steps into the box.  Rondon is able to catch Jake looking to end the game.  

Dan the Man

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The Cubs head to Milwaukee for the weekend and depending on the whether up there, despite being in a dome, it can be very humid with the roof closed.  Let’s hope Jason Hammel has been eating his potato chips with sea salt as he searches for win number 9 against the Brew Crew.  Jimmy Nelson is looking for his seventh win of the season and his first in three starts against the Cubs.

 Dexter Fowler is back.  He gets into a hitters count and launches a lead off home run and he’s back!  Scooter Gennett would cause an error allowing Kris Bryant to reach first and would steal second.  Wilson Contreras walks but Heyward would ends the inning with a ground out.  Cubs up by 1.

Jimmy Nelson loads the bases in the second by throwing the ball away to allow Addison Russell to reach first.  He walks Miguel Montero and Jason Hammel reaches on a bunt.  With the bases loaded, Fowler is up again this time sends a ground ball to left bringing both Russell and Montero for his third RBI since returning from the DL.  Bryant reaches on a fielder’s choice with Hammel out at home.  Anthony Rizzo sends a fly ball to center scored as a sac fly as Fowler scores.  Cubs 4-0

Jason Hammel flys through the first two innings but gives up a leadoff single to Hernan Perez.  Perez ends up at second after Nelson’s sac bunt and steals third with Jonathan Villar at the plate who ends up walking but is picked off to end the inning.  Hammel has a quick 4th but not before giving up a one out home run to Ryan Braun.  Cubs 4, Brewers 1.  

Hammel leads off the 5th by walking Kirk Nieuwenhuis who scores on Perez’s double to left but he gets out of the inning.  Hammel starts the 6th off giving up a lead off double to Scooter Gennett.  Joel Maddon brings in Carl Edwards, Jr who gets out of the inning quickly.  Cubs 4, Brewers 2.

Travis Wood enters the 7th inning getting the first two outs but a throwing error by Montero puts Ramon Flores on to bring in Justin Grimm who strikes out Will Middlebrooks to end the inning.  

Nelson would also last only 5 innings.  Carlos Torres would enter the game for the Brewers working the 6th and 7th only giving up one hit with two strikeouts.  Corey Knebel enters the game in the top of the 8th and leads off with a walk to Contreras.  Heyward flys out but Russell singles on an infield ground ball.  Montero would drive in Wilson.  Tommy La Stella enters the game but goes down swinging.   

Pedro strop enters the 8th giving up a two out walk to Ryan Braun but gives up no hits or runs.  Despite Folwer’s lead off single in the top of the 9th, the Cubs go down with out adding any more runs.  Hector Rondon enters the 9th striking out Chris Carter but walks Jake Elmore.  He strikes out Perez and gets Flores to flyout to end the game.  Cubs win and Rondon is credited with a Save.

Go Cubs Go! 

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

Jake Arrieta enters tonight’s game searching for lucky number 13.  He would be challenging Noah Syndergaard looking to hit win number 10.

The Cubs would open the game up giving Noah some trouble early on. He is able to hold them at bay.  The third inning would see Rizzo and Zobrist striking out.  With two outs, Wilson Contreras would smack a line drive double to right.  With Jason Heyward at the plate, Noah would throw a wild pitch, Contreras takes advantage taking third base but Rene Rivera’s throws it away allowing Wilson to snag home and the first run of the game.

Jake would help himself in the bottom of the fourth hitting a double to right.  Tommy La Stella would send a line drive t right fielder Michael Conforto, he sends it home but Jake is able to get under the tag scoring the second run of the game.  Terry Collins would challenge the call and it would be over turned in favor of the Mets and the third out of the inning.

Jake would hold the Mets to two singles and a walk through 5 innings.  The top of the 6th, Jose Reyes would send a line drive to right making it all the way to third base for his first triple of the year.  Curtis Granderson would fly out to Heyward but it would be enough for Reyes to score and tie the game at 1.

Jake would make it through 7 full inning giving up 1 run on 5 hits striking out 8.  Pedro Strop would take the 8th inning and make it quick.  Hector Rondon would enter the 9th but would immediately give up a single to James Loney, Neil Walker would force him out. Astrubal Cabrera would single pushing walked to second but with two outs, it would be Rene Rivera’s single to right that drives Walker in for the second run of the game for the Mets.

Jeurys Familia would try to keep the Cubs from winning.  He would have trouble by walking Russell and Montero.  Javier Baez would single to load the bases.   Matt Szczur would send a grounder to first, Loney throws it home for the first out.  Kris Bryant would send a grounder to third but Jose Reyes to Neil Walker to Loney ends the game for the Cubs.

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

The All Star Break was exactly what the Cubs needed as they opened up taking two of three from the Texas Rangers.  Jon Lester needed the break big time and with a 7 – 5 record, and a 3.38 ERA he seemed to need a small break also.   Lester is  seeking his 10th win of the season.  

Lester would go 6 full innings without giving uo a run.  The top of the 7th would see Wilmer Flores leadoff with his ninth home run of the year.  Lester would get the first two outs in the top of the 8th but gives up a single to Curtis Granderson.  That would be enough for Joel Maddon as he brings in Pedro Strop who immediately hits Yoenis Cespedes but Strop would end the inning striking out Neil Walker.  

The Cubs bats would turn it up quickly.  Javier Baez would send a line drive to left for a single and steals second base.  Kris Bryant reaches first getting hit by Steven Matz.  With one out and two men on, Anthony Rizzo steps in the gets into a 2-2 count, Matz serves a fastball belt high and Rizzo takes him to right center for a three-run home run.  

The Cubs grab a couple base runners but it would be Matt Szczur’s double that leads off the top of the 6th that gets Matz pulled from the game for Seth Lugo.  Almora would push Matt to third and it would be David Ross’s fly ball to center that scores Matt putting the Cubs up by 4.  

Seth Lugo would pitch two innings not allowing a base runner.  Erik Goeddel would enter the bottom of the 8th striking out Wilson Contreras and Addison Russell.  Matt Szczur would knock his second double of the game and would be driven in this time by Almora on his single to center but an error by Cespedes would put Almora on third.  Ross ends the inning with a fly ball.  

Carl Edwards Jr would enter the game getting the first out but gives up back to back singles that takes him out of the game for Hector Rondon.  With one out and two men on, Travis d’Arnaud steps into the box grounding into a game ending double play to put another W in the column for the Cubs and a much needed win against the Mets.  

Go Cubs Go!

Dan The Man

<a href=”http://tunein.com/radio/Sports-Time-Radio-p875750/&#8221; target=”_blank”>The Podcast</a> now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

Jason Hammel still seeking out his 8th win of the season will have to take on the best in the AL West, the Texas Rangers and back from the disabled list, Yu Darvish.

Hammel would make it a quick 1st inning but goes into the 2cd giving up a single to Ryan Rua.  With two outs Elvis Andrus would send a routine ground ball to Addison Russell who’s throw pulls Rizzo off of first, Rua never stops, Rizzo’s throw home is out of reach for Montero but bounces back to him, Miguel’s throw to second is perfect getting Andrus out at 2cd to end the inning.

That would be the only run Hammel gives up through 6 innings.  He would only give up one more hit, walks one and strikes seven for a quality start.

Yu would have batter luck through the first two innings but give up a leadoff walk to Montero and a one out single to Tommy LaStella.  With two men on and two outs, Rizzo would send a line drive to right scoring both runners.  Yu would only make it 4 and 1/3 innings but he’d strike out 9 Cubs while walking four.

Shawn Tolleson would replace Yu to finish the 5th but it would be in the bottom of the 6th with two outs and two men on, he’d give up a single to Matt Szczur scoring Jason Heyward putting the Cubs up 3-1.  That would be all the Cubs need to fly the W in Wrigleyville.

Hammel would get the win as Adam Warren and Travis Wood score the hold with Hector Rondon scoring his 15th save of the season.  Two down, one more for the sweep.

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

John Lackey looks to stay above .500 with another win to go into the All Star break on a good note.  Jonathon Niese would get the start for the Pirates and immediately get the ball rolling for the Cubs with singles to lead off man Ben Zobrist, then on one out to Anthony Rizzo and to load the bases Wilson Contreras.  Addison Russell would also smack a single but this one gives him two RBI’s.  Lackey would only give up one single in the bottom half. After the 1st, Cubs 2-0.

Cubs would go down quick in the top of the 2cd but Lackey would allow a solo home run to star off the bottom half to Sean Rodriguez.  Adam Frazier singles and scores on Eric Fryer’s one out double to left.  With two outs, John Jaso sends a line drive to right scoring Fryer.  The Pirates are now up 3-2.  

Kris Bryant stars off the 3rd with a walk and advances to third on Rizzo’s double to right.  Contreras would ground out to first but drives in Bryant to tie the game at 3.  Andrew McCutchen would lead off the bottom half of the 3rd with a solo home run to take the lead.  

The back and forth of leads would stop in the top of the 4th, after Albert Almora, Jr launches his 2cd home run of the season driving in Baez to take the lead, 5-4.  Niese would then give up back to back singles to Bryant and Rizzo prompting his removal for Arquimedes Caminero to end the inning.  

Lackey would make it to the 7th walking Josh Bell and giving up a single to John Jaso.  With no outs, Maddon brings in Pedro Strop.  He gets the first out and the second out from McCutchen but is scored as a sac fly to tie the game at 5.  

Pirates set up man, Tony Watson enters the game and immediately strikes out Almora but gives up a double to Matt Szcuzr.  Zo pops out on a bunt.  With two outs Bryant’s sends a line drive to left scoring Szczur for the Cubs to take the lead again giving Watson a blown save.  

Carl Edwards, Jr and Hector Rondon take the last two innings of the game for the hold and save as Strop is awarded the W with a blown save.  Lackey would go six innings giving up five runs on seven hits but strikes out nine only walking two.  Not the greatest outing but with the bats hitting and the bullpen holding, the Cubs take a game from the Pirates putting their lead at 7 above the second place Cardinals.   
Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!

The Cubs are not starting the month of July very well losing six out of the last seven games and hope to break the streak with a trip to Pittsburgh.  Jake Arrieta takes on the Pirates Ace, Francisco Liriano.

Jake would start off great striking out the first two batters and getting it out of the first 1-2-3 but the not so lucky in the 2cd giving up a lead off home run to David Freese.  Starling Marte would reach on a single and score on Sean Rodriguez’s eighth home run of the season.  Pirates 3-0.

Through 3 innings, the Cubs would have 5 base runners but it’s not until the 4th when Jason Heyward would smack his first triple of the year and scores on Javier Baez’s ground out.  It wouldn’t be until the 6th,when Heyward would reach again on a single.  He would score again but this time on Miguel Montero’s 5th home run of the season to tie the game at 3.  Anthony Rizzo would put the Cubs in the lead in the top of the 7th with his 21st dinger of the year.  Cubs 4-3.

But Jake would tie the game back up in the bottom of the 7th with John Jaso’s single to left scoring Adam Frazier.  Travis Wood enters the game.  Gregory Polanco would send a grounder to Rizzo who throws a wild won to Wood that gets passed him allowing Josh Bell to score and the Bucs to take the lead.  Carl Edwards, Jr would enter the game giving up a single to Andrew McCutchen adding another one to the board.  Starling Marte would add another run scoring Eric Fryer.  Edwards gets out of the inning.   Pirates 7, Cubs 4.

Trevor Cahill enters the 8thand walks the first 2 batters to load them by hitting Andrew McCutchen.  With David Freese at the plate, Cahill throws a wild one allowing Matt Joyce to score.  Pirates 8-4.

A.J. Schugel enters the game to get the first two outs but Bryant reaches on a single and moves to 2cd.  Rizzo would reach on a walk.  With two out and and two on, Wilson Contreras up at the plate to give the Cubs a chance to rally but he’d go down swinging to end the game.

Tonight would be the first time since June 17 for him to go passed 5 innings.  With 6 innings, he gives up 6 earned runs on 9 hits.  He gives up only 1 walk but strikes out 6 for his 4th loss of the year.

Go Cubs Go!

Dan the Man

The Podcast now on Tunein.com, Download the app today and follow us or Apple users can download us in the Podcast app today!