Peoria Chiefs SP Starling Peralta

Two Midwest League pitchers reached double digits in strikeouts in dominant performances Tuesday.

In Peoria, Chiefs RHP Starling Peralta struck out 14 batters in 7 innings against the Clinton LumberKings. He took a perfect game into the 6th inning before losing it on a two-out homer by Anthony Phillips. He pitched one more inning and gave up only one more hit — a leadoff single by Jamaal Austin — before striking out the next three batters. The Chiefs won 5-3.

Peralta’s 14 strikeouts set a new record for most in a game at Peoria Chiefs Stadium. The Chicago Cubs farmhand is 4-7 with a 3.17 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 71 IP for the Chiefs this season.

At Kane County, Cougars RHP Kyle Smith struck out 12 batters and gave up 3 hits (no runs or walks) in 7 IP against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. He improved to 2-1 with a 3.10 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 40.2 IP for the Cougars, who won Tuesday’s game 5-0.

Elsewhere in the Midwest League — in Beloit, specifically — Wisconsin Timber Rattlers OF Chadwin Stang singled in the 4th inning to extend his hitting streak to 19 games. He later doubled home a run in the 9th inning of Wisconsin’s 10-4 loss to the Snappers.

Jenkins makes MLB debut

Toronto Blue Jays RHP Chad Jenkins pitched well in his major-league debut Tuesday, giving up only two hits and striking out two batters in three innings of work. He pitched for the 2010 Lansing Lugnuts, going 5-4 with a 3.63 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 79.1 IP.

Fiers flirts with perfection

Milwaukee Brewers RHP Mike Fiers took a perfect game into the 7th inning Tuesday. He briefly pitched for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 2009, striking out 8 batters in 6 IP.

The perfect game was broken up by Cincinnati Reds SS Zack Cozart, who doubled to lead off the 7th inning. Cozart played 162 games with the Dayton Dragons in 2007-08, batting .267 with 16 HR and 67 RBI.

Trout sets record on birthday

The list of Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout’s accomplishments grows daily, and you probably don’t need me to tell you he’s having a season likely to net him the American League Rookie of the Year Award and possibly the American League Most Valuable Player Award, too.

Tuesday was Trout’s 21st birthday, and he marked the occasion by hitting a home run that made him the youngest player ever to post a 20-30 (20 home runs, 30 stolen bases) season. (He also is now the youngest player to post a more-common 20-20 season.)

Trout was the Midwest League’s MVP in 2010, when he batted .362 with 6 HR, 39 RBI and 45 SB in 81 games with the Cedar Rapids Kernels before earning a promotion in early July.