Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 18

My daughter turned three and a half today.

Congratulations to Robinson Chirinos, who made his major league debut tonight for the Rays. Hit a double too for his first major league hit.

Also, congratulations to Fernando Perez, who signed with the New York Mets and was assigned to their Triple-A team in Buffalo. I told you he wouldn't be unemployed for long.

Wayne Gretzky was in Spokane tonight watching the Hawks play the Indians. Don't know if that means anything, but it is interesting.

Jim Hendry and Tom Ricketts were in Des Moines.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were silenced by the Nashville Sounds, 5-3 in ten innings.

Starter Alberto Cabrera gave up two solo home runs tonight, but those were the only runs he allowed. Cabrera pitched six innings and surrendered five hits. He walked two and struck out six.

Chris Carpenter blew the save and took the loss in the tenth. He pitched two innings and allowed two runs, as well as allowing a runner inherited from John Gaub to score. One of the two runs of his own was unearned, however. Carpenter did not allow a hit, but he walked two and had two wild pitches. He struck out one.

Catcher Welington Castillo hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning. It was his twelfth home run this year for Iowa. Castillo was 1 for 4 with a walk.

Right fielder Tyler Colvin was 2 for 5 with a triple. He scored once and had one RBI. Third baseman Ryan Flaherty went 2 for 4 with a double.

Second baseman DJ LeMahieu was 2 for 5. First baseman Scott Moore was 2 for 3 with two walks.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies split a double-header with the Mississippi Braves, winning the completion of yesterday's game 2-1 in ten innings and dropping the second game 4-1.

In the first game, Trey McNutt started yesterday and pitched the first two innings before the rains came. McNutt allowed one hit but no runs. He struck out two and walked two.

Rafael Dolis earned the win with two shutout innings of relief. Dolis walked one and struck out three.

Marcus Hatley pitched a perfect bottom of the tenth for his first save for the Smokies and eighth overall. He did not have a strikeout.

Ty Wright was 4 for 5 with a double. Steve Clevenger was 2 for 3 with two walks. He scored both runs, including the go-ahead run in the tenth on a Luis Flores pinch-hit single.

In the second game, Austin Bibens-Dirkx made his first start for the Smokies this year and got the loss. He allowed four runs over four innings, but only one of the four runs was earned, all of which scored in the second inning. Bibens-Dirkx  walked one and struck out two.

Right fielder Nelson Perez went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were made to walk the plank by the Bradenton Marauders, 10-5.

Jeffry Antigua pitched the first five innings and the first two batters of the sixth. He allowed three runs on four hits, including two solo home runs. Antigua walked two and struck out three.

Kyle Smit relieved Antigua in the sixth and got knocked around hard. Smit gave up five runs on four hits and was only able to retire two batters as part of a seven run sixth inning for Bradenton. Smit walked three and only struck out one as he got the loss in his first game after being demoted from Tennessee.

The D-Cubs had two solo home runs of their own tonight. First baseman Justin Bour hit his 19th blast in the second inning. Bour was 2 for 4. Right fielder Michael Burgess hit his 12th in the fourth inning and was 1 for 4 on the night.

DH Greg Rohan had a great first day in the Florida State League. He was a perfect 4 for 4. He doubled, scored once and batted one in.

Left fielder Evan Crawford celebrated being named the FSL Player of the Week by going 2 for 5 with a double. He also had one RBI and scored once.

Center fielder Matt Szczur was 2 for 5 with a stolen base.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs lost to the Fort Wayne Tin Caps, 5-3 in ten innings.

Matt Loosen returned from a short promotion to Tennessee and went back to dominating the Midwest League. Tonight he pitched five shutout innings to start the game, allowing but four hits, all singles. He did not walk anyone and he struck out seven.

Frank Del Valle relieved Loosen and got the loss. He pitched 4.1 innings and allowed five runs on seven hits, including a home run in the tenth inning. One of the five runs was unearned. Del Valle walked two and struck out three.

DH Richard Jones was 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI. Shortstop Arismendy Alcantara went 2 for 5 and scored one run.

Third baseman Dustin Geiger was 1 for 4 with a double in his Peoria debut.

Boise Hawks

The Hawks gave up five runs in the bottom of the ninth to lose to the Spokane Indians, 8-7.

Starter Ben Wells lasted five innings and allowed two runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out three.

Colin RIchardson and Bryce Shafer combined to give up the five runs in the ninth. Shafer got the loss after allowing two runs on two hits, a walk and a hit batter. He struck out one, which was the only out he recorded.

Catcher Rafael Lopez was 2 for 4 with a walk and an RBI.

Second baseman Zeke DeVoss was 0 for 1 with two walks, two hit by pitches and five stolen bases. That's one off the NWL record set in 1980. It's a Boise Hawks record though. He scored four times.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Dodgers, 4-3.