New Jersey Independent Baseball League

The Cubs lost to the BlueSox 12-3, but the game was much closer than that.  Both teams knew their spots in the playoffs going into the game and decided to make sure they went into the playoffs healthy.  The Cubs gave starter Rob Maerten some much deserved rest and gave some other guys some time on the mound.  Salmon started the game letting up 2 singles and a walk to load the bases with no out.  The Cubs escaped unscathed after a popup and a flyout to left where Donny Smith made an excellent throw to gun down the tagging runner.  The second inning didn't go as well as the Cubs let up 2 runs, but they followed up with two runs of their own.  The BlueSox tacked on 2 more in the 4th and 1 more in the 5th to end Salmon's outing.  Donny Smith took the mound for the second time this season and had a stellar first inning after hitting the first batter with his first pitch.  The second inning for relievers was the tough one as the BlueSox got two runs on Smith in his second inning of work. The Cubs would score one more in the bottom of the 7th when three two out singles by Rossi, Smith and Kovach.  Chris Jones then took the mound for the first time this year and struggle to knock the rust off walking the first batter.  But then settled in to get the next 3 batters.  But that second inning for relievers was especially tough on Jones as single after single dropped in and 5 runs had scored when the smoke cleared in the top of the 9th.  BlueSox pitcher Brian Kulak finished his complete game 6 hit, 4 walk, 4 strikeout effort with a line out double play to the first baseman.

Donny Smith was 1-4 with a SB, 2 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 2 ER threw out a tagging runner at home from left field and even flashed some leather at shortstop.