Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 25

How in the world did our grandparents live without the internet?  Oh yeah, that was me the first 25 years of my life.

After all the confusion and waiting, my internet is back and I'm back on the beat.  It always seems like a burden every night when I do this, but I never realized how much I'd miss it when I couldn't do it.

So the Minor League Wrap is back and thanks to Ryan (Ryno G), Jessica and CA Cubs fan for filling in a few days. My absence took longer than I expected.

 I almost forgot fellow babies:  Booger!

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs lost to the Omaha Royals, 2-0 in 11 innings.

Mitch Atkins started and pitched the first six innings. He gave up only two hits, but he did walk five. Atkins also struck out five.

Jeff Stevens allowed a two-run home run with two out in the bottom of the 11th inning to take the loss. Stevens pitched two-thirds of an inning and allowed a walk and the home run. He did strike out one.

First baseman Bryan LaHair went 3 for 3 with two walks. Right fielder Brad Snyder went 2 for 5 with a double. Center fielder Sam Fuld was 2 for 4 with two walks.

Iowa still has a two-game lead in their division. Their magic number remains at 12.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were axed by the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, 5-4.

Jeremy Papelbon pitched the first three innings and gave up one run on three hits. He walked two and struck out two.

Kyle Smit has been very good since the Cubs got him, but tonight he gave up a run with two out in the bottom of the ninth to take the loss. Smit pitched 2.1 innings total and gave up a run on two hits. (A two-out triple followed by a single.) Smit didn't walk anyone and struck out one.

Center fielder Brett Jackson hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning to tie the game. It was his fifth home run for the Smokies and 11th overall.  Jackson was 1 for 4.

Huntsville won, so the Smokies magic number to clinch the second half title remains at five.

Daytona Cubs

The D-Cubs pushed a run across on a sac fly in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Clearwater Threshers, 2-1.

Robert Whitenack started and pitched the first five innings. He gave up a run on only three hits. Whitenack didn't walk anyone and struck out six.

Jeff Beliveau pitched a perfect top of the ninth and got the win. He had one strikeout.

Third baseman Ryan Flaherty had a double along with two walks in a 1 for 2 night.  Center fielder Evan Crawford went 1 for 3 with a run scored and a stolen base. He also hit the game winning sacrifice fly in the ninth inning.

Daytona is two games back of the Tampa Yankees.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs split a double-header with the Cedar Rapids Kernels, dropping the first 6-3 and winning the second one 10-5.

In the first game, Ryan Searle got clubbed around for six runs on eleven hits over 4.2 innings.  He didn't walk anyone (although he did hit a batter) and struck out two as his record dropped to 6-7.

First baseman Justin Bour went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI.  Left fielder DJ Fitzgerald was also 2 for 3 with a double. He scored once.

In the second game, Jeffrey Lorick made his first start for the Cubs organization and he gave up only one unearned run over two innings. He allowed two hits and he walked two. Lorick struck out three.

Luis Lina pitched for Peoria for the first time and got the win, although it was a little ridiculous. Lina pitched 3+ innings and gave up four runs on four hits and four walks, but he got the win because Lorick didn't go five. In a seven-inning game, that rule is really silly.

The Chiefs scored nine runs in the first inning of game two. Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee had two hits (both in the first inning) in 4 at bats. Lee scored twice and ha two RBI. Second baseman Logan Watkins was 3 for 3 with a double and a walk. Watkins scored three times.

The split puts the Chiefs four game out of a playoff spot.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks vacuumed the Tri-City Dust Devils, 7-6.

Eric Jokisch started and was all threes for four innings: He allowed three runs on three hits and three walks. He also struck out three.

Jordan Latham pitched a perfect bottom of the eighth inning to collect his first win of the season. Latham struck out one.

Steven Grife got the save with a scoreless ninth inning, but not without some drama. After allowing a one-out triple, Grife struck out the final two batters to end the game. In fact, he had three strikeouts in the ninth.

DH Pierre LePage went 3 for 5 with three stolen bases. He scored twice and had one RBI.

Second baseman Arismendy Alcantara was 2 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI.  He "only" stole one base. Shortstop Elliot Soto went 2 for 5 with an RBI and he also stole a base. In fact, Boise stole seven bases in this game.

Catcher Micah Gibbs was 2 for 5 with a double. He scored once and had one RBI.

AZL Cubs

Took the night off.