Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 31

Rosters expand tomorrow and I have no clue as to who is getting called up, other than Welington Castillo is a pretty safe bet.  But I imagine they won't call up many players as Iowa is fighting for a playoff berth, Tennessee already has one and the Chicago Cubs are not fighting for anything.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs split the Albuquerque Isotopes, losing the suspended game 11-10 and winning the regularly scheduled game 8-6.

Jeff Samardzija had a very rough start in the first game. Samardzija pitched five innings and allowed all 11 runs on nine hits. The Shark walked five and struck out eight. (Technically, Casey Coleman started this game back on July 30, but the game was suspended in the first inning before Coleman threw a pitch. But this will go in the books as a relief appearance for Samardzija.)

Left fielder Ty Wright hit a two-run home run back in July.  He stayed in the game (although he moved from right to left field) and was 2 for 5 for the game.

Bryan LaHair hit a solo home run in the ninth to get the I-Cubs to within a run. LaHair was 1 for 3 with two walks and two RBI.

Marquez Smith replaced Darwin Barney and hit a double and a triple in a 2 for 4 game. Smith scored twice and had one RBI. Bobby Scales played the whole game at second base and went 2 for 4 with a double. Scales also walked once and stole a base. He scored twice and had one RBI.

Hung-Wen Chen started the second game and lasted long enough to get the win. Chen pitched five innings and allowed five runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out five.

Jeff Stevens notched his eight save by pitching a scoreless bottom of the seventh. He allowed a leadoff single, but nothing else. Stevens struck out one.

He didn't do it in one game, but Marquez Smith hit for the cycle tonight with not one but two home runs in the second game. Smith now has 16 home runs for Iowa and 19 overall. Smith was 3 for 4 with four RBI and three runs scored.

Catcher Chris Robinson went 3 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Left fielder Jason Dubois was 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored once and had one RBI. Finally, James Adduci was 2 for 4 with a stolen base. Adduci scored twice and had one RBI.

Memphis finally lost tonight, so Iowa increased their lead in the division to a full game with six to play, four of them against Memphis.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were blinded by the Jacksonville Suns, 5-0.

Chris Archer started and took the loss. Archer pitched five innings and allowed four runs, three of which were earned, on six hits. Arched walked two and struck out four.  He did go 1 for 2 with a double, which was the only extra base hit the Smokies had tonight, and one of only three hits Tennessee had total.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs scored one run in the top of the tenth, but then coughed up two in the bottom of the inning to lose to the Clearwater Threshers, 2-1.

Starter Robert Whitenack pitched well tonight, going six innings and allowing only four hits. He did not walk anyone and struck out three.

Jeff Beliveau took the loss in relief. He pitched two-thirds of an inning and gave up the two runs on two hits. He walked two (one intentionally) and did not have a strikeout.

Left fielder Jose Valdez went 1 for 3 with a walk and an RBI. He stole two bases.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth and one in the tenth to overthrow the Clinton LumberKings, 10-9.

Francisco Batista put the Chiefs in a hole by allowing seven runs over 4.1 innings. All seven runs scored on one of four home runs that Batista allowed. Batista gave up eight total hits. He walked two and struck out three.

Corey Martin got the win with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief. Martin allowed only one hit. He did not walk anyone and struck out two.

Left fielder Nelson Perez hit Peoria's only home run in the second inning. The solo home run was his tenth for Peoria and 11th overall. Perez was 2 for 5 with three RBI, as his single in the ninth scored two and tied the game.

Second baseman Logan Watkins was 3 for 5 with a double and a walk. He scored twice. Right fielder Jae-Hoon Ha was also 3 for 5 with a double. He scored once and had one RBI.

Catcher Luis Flores was 2 for 4 with a walk. He had one RBI and scored once.  Center fielder Anthony Giansanti was 2 for 5 with a double in that five-run ninth. Giansanti scored once.

Kane County lost, so the Chiefs are now 2.5 games out of a wild card spot with six games to play. They play three at Kane County Wednesday through Friday, so it would be nice to seen some of the Cub fans who live in that area to get out and cheer on the Chiefs. They pretty much need to sweep and get some help with Beloit losing to make the post-season.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks lost to the Spokane Indians, 5-3.  The loss mathematically eliminated Boise from the post-season.

Juan Yasser Serrano started and took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits over only three innings. He walked one and struck out two.

Left fielder Cody Shields was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Right fielder Jesus Morelli went 2 for 4. DH Richard Jones was 2 for 5 and scored once.