Down on the Farm: June 23

Iowa Cubs (AAA): 45-33 Overall
Northern Division 1st Place (+5.0)

Iowa drove in six runs in the second frame and never looked back, beating the Isotopes, 10-8 … the Cubs have outscored Albuquerque, 30-28, in the first three games of the four-game set.

LHP J.R. Mathes (W 5-3, 3.00) 6.0 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

? 3B Casey McGehee was perfect at the plate, collecting a season-high five hits with a double, two runs scored, and a RBI … he has reached base safely in his last 13 games … he is 6-for-12 with two walks, a double, a homer, four runs scored, and four RBI so far this series.
? SS Andres Blanco drove in three runs for the second time this season, going 2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored, and the three RBI.
? Every Iowa starter, besides starter J.R. Mathes, recorded at least one hit and a run scored.

Daytona Cubs (A+): 3-2 Overall
East Division  3rd Place (-1.0)

Gm 1: Daytona threatened late, but fell short, losing to Tampa, 7-6.

RHP Alex Maestri (ND 5-3, 3.69) 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

? 2B Tony Thomas, was 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored, and two RBI, collecting his 24th multi-hit affair of the season.

Gm 2: The Cubs bounced back from their Game One loss by blanking the Yankees, 2-0.

RHP Marcos Mateo (ND 1-1, 4.58) 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

HOMERS – Blake Lalli (6)

? C Blake Lalli belted a two-out solo shot in the fourth frame, extending his hitting streak to 11 games … he is 16-for-42 (.381) with four walks, three doubles, four homers, seven runs scored and nine RBI over the stretch.
? RHP Matt Avery converted his first save since joining Daytona June 17 from Tennessee … he is 1-1 with a 2.08 (1 ER/4.1 IP) in three appearances with the Cubs.

Peoria Chiefs (A-): 0-5 Overall
Western Division 8th Place (-5.0)

Burlington held Peoria scoreless through seven frames and held on for a 4-1 victory.

RHP Audy Santana (L 0-4, 3.72) 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

HOMERS – Josh Donaldson (6)

? C Josh Donaldson plated Peoria’s lone run with his eighth inning solo homer, his sixth of the season, going 2-for-3 with a double, the homer, a run scored, and a RBI … he is hitting .297 (11-for-37) with two doubles, two homers, and three RBI in 10 June contests.
? 2B Marquez Smith, who was 2-for-4, is hitting .379 (25-for-66)  with seven walks, two doubles, five homers, and 15 RBI in June (17 games).
? In his first appearance with the Chiefs, RHP Julio Castillo tossed a scoreless fifth frame, yielding two hits.

Boise Hawks (A-): 3-4 Overall
East Division Tied 3rd Place (-2.0)

Boise rode two big innings, a three-run first and a four-run fifth, to a 7-4 win over Everett.

RHP Josh Whitlock (ND 0-1, 5.40) 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

HOMERS – Andrew Rundle (1)

? 3B Josh Vitters collected a season-high three hits, including a pair of two-baggers … he extended his hitting streak to six games, going 10-for-26 (.385) with two doubles, a triple, four runs scored, and three RBI over the stretch.
? With two outs in the fifth inning, RF Andrew Rundle belted his first grand slam of the season … he ended the day 1-for-5 with the roundtripper, a run scored, and his first four RBI of the year.
? RHP John Muller pitched a perfect ninth frame, converting his second save in as many chances.

Mesa Cubs (R): 0-2 Overall
Arizona League Tied 8th Place (-2.0)

The Mesa Cubs surrendered three runs in the bottom of the eighth, dropping their second game of the season, 7-5, to the Royals.

RHP Chris Huseby (ND 0-0, 0.00) 0 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 0 K

? RHP John Contreras, who was 1-for-4 with a double, is 3-for-8 (.375) over his first two games.
? C Robinson Chirinos was 0-for-1 with three walks and a run scored.