Here are the official Boise Hawks game notes for tonight’s 7:45 p.m. (MDT) game at Salem-Keizer…listen live on 1350 KTIK-AM with Mike Safford, beginning at 7:05 p.m. with Hawkstown Tonight, with interviews with reliever Matt Iannazzo and manager Gary Van Tol.

Game Notes for 7/2/13 at Salem-Keizer

A day in the books in the capital city of Oregon – and a huge win for the Boise Hawks, ending the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes eight-game win streak with a 3-2 victory.  The win pushed the Hawks win streak to five – their longest win streak since the end of July last season, when Boise went on to win the then East Division second half pennant.

An outstanding start from James Pugliese was the catalyst, as the righty tossed six innings of one-run ball, needing just 71 pitches, throwing 56 for strikes.  The Hawks are now 4-0 in his four starts.

Jacob Hannemann was not a lucky guy yesterday – hitting two balls on the barrel of the bat, but both finding the glove of the leaping Tyler Hollick at the right field wall to take away extra base hits.  However, the third-round pick was game in the ninth inning, punching a 3-2 pinch into left field to score Danny Lockhart with the eventual winning run.

HAPPY CANADA DAY: It was a great Canada Day for Ethan Elias, as the righty from Alberta picked up a win last night, allowing a run on two hits in two innings of work.  Justin Marra, Jasvir Rakkar, and manager Gary Van Tol all hail from Canada.

THE TRIP: It was an easy seven hour drive to the Willamette Valley – with absolutely clear skies the entire way (outside of a few glimpses of lightning in the distance in Eastern Oregon).  The team had to deal with issues at the team hotel (the Comfort Suites is a great property, just not a great location) – having to hike a distance for food (unless you have a Costco card).

STARTING ON TIME?: I have always been critical of Salem-Keizer over the years (including the lack of any bottles of water or frothy beverages in the managers’ office) – but I give the staff props for their Military Appreciation series.  S-K will be honoring military heroes each night throughout the series – including 11 first-pitches last night.  The only downfalls – first pitch was delayed by 19 minutes last night (grounds crew didn’t line the field until 6:43 for a 6:35 game), and the patriotic uniforms make it almost impossible to read numbers on the back (must be a common theme in the NWL).  It is pretty cool to see 50 American flag adorning the outfield wall.

PRE GAME MEAL REPORT:  We have had 16 pre-game meals this season (missing 2 due to the doubleheaders, where we were not fed)…leading the way is Hamburgers with 5, with Chicken Sandwiches right behind with 4.  We have had hot dogs three times, with Pulled Pork sandwiches twice, and both Philly Cheesesteaks and a PB&J once (that one taken from the clubhouse when we did not receive a meal – actually happened in Boise).  Saw an amazing chicken caesar salad last night here in Salem – but do not believe they’ll give that to the visiting radio guy and his son (though in Vancouver, they do the opposite – saying, “Hey Mike, why not try this…”)

COMINGS AND GOINGS: Former Boise Hawks IF (now catcher) Steve Clevenger has been traded to the Orioles, with former Tri-City Dust Devils SS (now RHP) Pedro Strop heading to Chicago…part of that trade also included starting pitcher Scott Feldman, allowing former Boise Hawks LHP Chris Rusin to get a call up and will start tonight for the Cubs.

Boise Hawks right fielder Yasiel Balaguert was honored today as Northwest League Player of the Week for games played between June 24-30.

The native of Havana, Cuba, went 8-for-23 at the plate with three home runs and nine RBI – with all three of his home runs breaking either a tie or giving the Hawks the lead.  He helped Boise to a 5-2 record during the week, as the team climbed above the .500 mark.

Balaguert currently leads all of the short-season leagues (Northwest, New York-Penn, Appalachian, Pioneer, Gulf Coast, Arizona) with 22 RBI, with his four home runs on the season the second-highest total.  He currently is riding a five-game hit streak.

Here is the audio of a pair of Balaguert’s home runs this season:

Go Ahead Home Run vs. Hillsboro

First Inning HR vs. Eugene

The Boise Hawks, in conjunction with the Chicago Cubs, have announced the addition of pitcher Tyler Skulina to the active roster, prior to tonight’s series opener at Salem-Keizer.

Skulina, a 2013 fourth-round draft pick out of Kent State, had an outstanding career at KSU, going 6-4 with a 3.36 ERA this past season, striking out 66 men in 73 innings of work.  The 6-5, 235 pound right-hander won 11 games during the 2011 season, helping his team to their first College World Series appearance.

He is the third Kent State player to play for the Hawks since 2008 – as both Chris Carpenter and Greg Rohan each played for the Golden Flashes.

The transaction puts the Hawks roster at 30 players, including 16 pitchers, with the club having four of the Top-6 picks in the 2013 draft on the squad.

Here are the official Boise Hawks Game Notes for Saturday night’s game vs. the Eugene Emeralds at Memorial Stadium.  The Hawks will be gunning for their first three-game win streak of the 2013 season at 7:15 p.m. tonight.  Listen live on 1350 KTIK-AM and also online at MILB.com.

Game Notes for 6/29/13

Halfway through the six-game homestand and there have been some interesting things have happened at the yard in three days.  The first rain out in Boise since the 2004 season; a walk-off bunt single (that wasn’t a squeeze bunt); a Life Flight helicopter landing in the outfield (luckily not for an injury); and the beer batter going a perfect 6-for-6 in home games this season.

The rain out was an interesting one – considering the tarp had been on the infield for over 30 minutes prior to the rain squall that enveloped Boise 90 minutes before Tuesday’s scheduled game.  Though the rain was about to halt when the game was postponed, right field had turned into a quagmire (reminiscent to the fiasco in Everett back in 2010) – with the staff doing the right thing and calling the game.

The win in Game 1 of the doubleheader was wild – a hit by pitch, a bunt single, and then the bunt by third-round pick Jacob Hannemann with an errant throw allowing the tying and winning runs to score.  In talking with many “baseball guys” after the game, none had seen a conclusion like that one in many moons.

The helicopter landed as part of a “Strike out Strokes” promotion with St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center and delivered a first pitch participant to the ballpark…it was pretty sweet.

And one must be happy about the beer batter – even though the price has doubled from $1 to $2 (though it is cheaper than the $3 beer batter in Eugene, though that was a micro brew)…as Hawks hitters have given the fans some suds each of the first six games.

BOISE, Idaho – The Boise Hawks, in conjunction with the Chicago Cubs, have announced that outfielder Kevin Encarnacion has been promoted to the Class-A Kane County Cougars.

Encarnacion hit .298 with two home runs, three doubles, and four RBI in 13 games with the Hawks – including an eight-game hitting streak that is the longest in the Northwest League so far this season.

No corresponding roster move has been made.  It marks the first-ever promotion by a Boise player to the new Class-A affiliate of the Cubs.

The Boise Hawks, in conjunction with the Chicago Cubs, have announced a pair of additions to their roster prior to tonight’s doubleheader against the Hillsboro Hops.

Former Hawks LHP Andrew McKirahan and 2013 draft pick Jordan Hankins will join the team this afternoon and will be in uniform for the twinbill tonight.

McKirahan, a 21st-round draft pick in 2011 out of the University of Texas, posted an 0-1 record and a 2.25 ERA in four appearances with the Hawks in 2011.  He began the 2012 season in Peoria, posting a 1.80 ERA in nine appearances, before an injury sidelined him for the season – forcing Tommy John Surgery.  He made two rehab apperances over the weekend in Mesa, allowing a run on four hits, striking out four in two innings of work.

Hankins (above, courtesy of letsgopeay.com) was drafted this year by the Cubs out of Austin Peay State University, where he was a third-team All-American as selected by Louisville Slugger.  The infielder hit .352 with 11 home runs, 14 doubles, and 54 RBI, leading the Governors to a 47-15 record.  He saw action in two games in Mesa, going 1-for-8 with a triple and two RBI.

The additions bring the Hawks roster to 29 players.

Boise Hawks right-hander Paul Blackburn was named Northwest League Pitcher of the Week for games from June 14-23, announced today by MILB.com.

Blackburn did not record a decision in his two starts, however, posted a 0.00 ERA in 10 innings of work. The supplemental first-round pick from the 2012 draft tossed five innings of one-hit ball, striking out eight in his Hawks debut on June 15 at Eugene, followed by a five inning stint in Spokane on Friday, allowing an unearned run on four hits, walking one and striking out four.

He currently leads the NWL in ERA and ranks second in strikeouts.

Salem-Keizer third-baseman Sam Eberle was named NWL Player of the Week.

The Hawks close out their five-game series tonight (weather-permitting) at Spokane, with first pitch schedule for 6:35 p.m. (PDT)