Down on the Farm: Addison Russell hits two home runs

Addison Russell hit two home runs, including a grand slam to lift the Tennessee Smokies to a win, Javier Baez extended his hitting streak to 13 games, and the Boise Hawks loss the first-half division title.

Iowa Cubs
Round Rock Express (Rangers) 4, Iowa 3 in 12 innings

Starter Chris Rusin showed why he has mentioned as a potential starter in Chicago as he surrendered two runs on 10 hits, striking out five and walking one over seven innings.

Marcus Hatley took the ball with a 3-2 lead in the 11th and gave up a solo home run before he gave up another run for the loss in 12 innings. Hatley allowed two runs on hits, striking out two and walking none over one and one-third innings.

Baez extended his hitting streak to 13 games and went 3-for-6 at the plate. Lars Anderson went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and run scored. Chris Valaika was 2-for-5, including a double and a run scored.

Tennessee Smokies
Tennessee 10, Huntsville Stars (Brewers) 3

Russell hit a two-run homer in the first and launched a grand slam to break a 2-2 tie in the fifth as the Smokies cruised past Huntsville 10-3.

The homers were Russell’s second and third in the Cubs organization and fourth overall this season, he went 2-for-4 with a walk and six RBIs.

Jeffry Antigua allowed two runs on three hits, striking out one and walking two in four innings. P.J. Francescon took the win in relief after allowing one run on three hits over two and one-third innings.

Christian Villanueva joined in on the long ball parade with a two-run homer in the seventh. It was Villanueva’s 10th of the season and fourth for the Smokies. He was 1-for-4 with a walk.

Emilio Bonifacio played a complete game at second base and went 4-for-5 at the plate and Jae-Hoon Ha manned center field and was 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

Daytona Cubs
Daytona 9, Palm Beach Cardinals 1

Felix Peña started with a 3-0 lead in the first and dominated through seven innings, allowing one run on four hits. Peña allowed a solo home run in the third and struck out seven and walked only one.

Kyle Schwarber showed his versatility going 2-for-5 with a two-run bloop single in the seven and one run scored and he even stole a base. Marco Hernandez and Rock Shoulders were also 2-for-5 with a double and scored a run. Hernandez also had two RBIs.

Kane County Cougars
Great Lake Loons (Dodgers) 9, Kane County 5

The Loons jumped on Tyler Skulina for five runs on eight hits in only two and two-third innings for a 9-5 win. Skulina struck out three and walked one.

Michael Heesch entered in relief for Skulina and stranded two runners and allowed only one hit over three, striking out six and walking none over three and one-third scoreless innings.

Jacob Rogers hit a two-run homer, his 10th on the season, in the first for a 3-0 Cougars lead. Rogers was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Cale Brockmeyer went 2-for-4 with a double and RBI single in the ninth.

Boise Hawks
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants) 6, Boise 1

Tyler Ihrig pitched five scoreless innings before he allowed five runs in the seventh for the Volcanoes to burn the Hawks 6-1.

The Hawks’ loss and a win by Hillsboro gave the Hops the first-half division title. Rashad Crawford went 0-for-4 to snap his 19 game hitting streak. However, Crawford did score the Hawks’ lone run in the ninth after reaching on a fielder’s choice.

Ihrig gave up six runs, four earned, on nine hits over seven innings. He struck out one and walked one.

Boise was held to just one hit before they got a run on two hits in the bottom of the ninth. Danny Canela was 1-for-3 with a walk and the lone RBI on the night.

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