Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 30

ESPN was in Peoria tonight to do a story on Cubs two-sport star Matt Szczur.  Sure enough, he had the first Ofer of his career.  But look for a story on our Szczur on the WWL soon. Don't know if it will be on Baseball Tonight or College Football Live.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning when the rains came in Albuquerque.  The game is suspended and the I-Cubs are still at bat with one out and the bases empty. The game won't be finished until August 31.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies edged the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, 5-4.

Jeremy Papelbon started tonight and gave up three runs over four innings. He gave up six hits and walked three while striking out four.

Jake Muyco relieved Papelbon and collected the win by allowing only one run over three innings. He allowed one hit and one walk. Muyco struck out two.

Marcos Mateo made in interesting in the ninth, allowing two singles after two were out, but got the final out for his third save. Mateo just pitched the one inning and struck out one.

Right fielder Matt Spencer hit a go-ahead solo home run in the bottom of the seventh that was the eventual winning margin. It was Spencer's eleventh home run this year. Spencer went 2 for 3 and scored twice. He was also hit by a pitch.

Third baseman Jonathan Mota was 2 for 3 with a run scored.

Daytona Cubs

The D-Cubs made it 12 wins in a row tonight as they excommunicated the Palm Beach Cardinals, 11-2.

Starter Alberto Cabrera could have had an easy victory tonight, but he earned it anyway by tossing six shutout innings. Cabrera allowed four hits and he walked two. Cabrera fanned eight Cardinals.

Daytona clubbed out 21 hits tonight. They were paced by first baseman Rebel Ridling who had two doubles and went 4 for 5 overall. Ridling had four RBI and scored once.

Right fielder Kyler Burke was 3 for 5 with a double. Burke scored twice and had one RBI. DH Michael Brenly was 3 for 4 with a walk. Brenly scored three times. Brenley has hit .392 since the all-star break with a .449 OBP.

Third baseman Ryan Flaherty hit his fourth homer for Daytona. It was a two-run homer in the sixth inning. Flaherty went 2 for 5 with three total RBI and he scored twice.

David Macias, Greg Rohan, Mark Reed and Junior Lake each had two singles as well.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs won their fifth in a row, slithering past the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 5-2.

Francisco Batista collected his second win by allowing two runs over his five inning start.  Both runs scored on a two-run home run by Cutter Dykstra. (Lenny's kid.). Batista allowed five hits, he walked one and struck out six.

Corey Martin pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save. He allowed one hit. He didn't walk anyone and struck out two.

DH Matt Cerda was 2 for 4 with a walk and a run scored. Left fielder DJ Fitzgerald was 2 for 5 and scored twice. Catcher Mario Mercedes went 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored twice and had one RBI.

Boise Hawks

And then there are the Boise Hawks, who lost their eighth straight game, 3-2 to the Vancouver Canadians.

It wasn't starter Brent Eibinger's fault, as he pitched five shutout innings. He allowed only two hits, didn't walk anyone and struck out seven.

Cameron Greathouse took the loss in relief. Greathouse pitched 2.2 innings and allowed three runs, although only one of those three runs was earned. He allowed four hits, walked one and struck out two.

Arismendy Alcantara had a pinch-hit leadoff triple in the ninth and scored on a double play two batters later to get the Hawks within a run.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Royals, 4-0.