Playoffs: Boise Out

The playoffs are already over for the Boise Hawks. They lost to Tri-City 9-1 on Tuesday night, putting an end to their Northwest League season.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, Daytona dropped a tough one to Dunedin, 4-3 in extra innings. Since the rest of the series with Dunedin is at home, Daytona still has a great shot to win the series and advance.

There were some bright spots in these two games that deserve a mention, despite the two losses. Peoria fans in particular have reason to be excited.

The one run scored by the Hawks on Tuesday night was a solo home run off the bat of Reggie Golden. Golden was the Cubs second round pick in 2010 and is often considered to be one of the better outfield prospects in the Cubs minor league system. He is a long way away from the majors, but he looks like a five tool guy who could force his way into the Cubs outfield in three or four years.

Golden, along with many of his Boise teammates, should find themselves in Peoria to start the 2012 season. The Chiefs struggled for much of the 2011 season, but an influx of players from a Northwest League playoff team should give Peoria fans something to look forward to next season.

The other very encouraging performance for the Hawks was by lefthander Andrew McKirahan. He came out of the bullpen to pitch two and third scoreless innings with three strikeouts. McKirahan was drafted by the Cubs out of Texas this summer and has gotten off to a very good start with the Arizona Rookie League and the Boise Hawks. The Cubs, so far, have shown no sign of converting McKirahan into a starter. If he stays in the pen and pitches next season as well as he has this season, he could find himself on the fast track to Wrigley.

In Daytona, Dae-Eun Rhee pitched six very solid innings for the Cubs, but the usually reliable Daytona bullpen could not hold Dunedin off. Shortstop Elliot Soto had a great night, going 3 for 4 with a double and a run scored, and Justin Bour picked up a couple of hits.

Tonight the Daytona Cubs send lefty Jeffry Antigua to the mound. Opponents are hitting just .225 off Antigua as a starter this year, and he has struck out 48 in 49.