Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 22

I'm not going to lie to you, the Cubs system is going through a rough patch right now. But just as you shouldn't overreact to the hot start that some of the teams got off to, you shouldn't overreact to the struggles over the past ten days or so. I will say it's not jumping to conclusions to say that the offense in Peoria is just plain bad, as is the starting pitching in Iowa.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs lost their fifth straight game, falling to the Nashville Sounds, 5-2.

Dave Bush made his second start for Iowa and got hammered for five runs on seven hits over only 3.1 innings. Bush walked two and struck out one.

A shout-out to John Gaub and Chris Rusin, who threw the rest of the game without allowing a run. Gaub did allow an inherited runner from Bush to score, but that's not bad when you enter the game with the bases loaded and one out. Rusin allowed only one hit and Gaub none. Rusin walked one and struck out three.

The Iowa Cubs had four hits tonight and three of them were by catcher Welington Castillo. Castillo was 3 for 4 with a double and his 14th home run of the year for Iowa. It was a solo home run in the second inning. Castillo scored both Iowa runs.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies fried the Carolina Mudcats, 6-5 in ten innings.

Starter Dallas Beeler only lasted 2.2 innings, getting pulled after allowing four runs on five hits. Only one of the four runs was earned though. Beeler walked two and struck out four.

Rafael Dolis threw two perfect innings to get the win. He had one strike out.

Ty Wright was the big hero tonight, with a game-ending RBI double in the tenth inning that scored Matt Camp from first base. The hit could have been ruled a triple, which would have given Wright the cycle. Wright was 4 for 5 with two doubles and his third home run this season. It was a solo home run that tied the game in the eighth inning. Wright scored twice and had two RBI.

Center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha hit a massive home run off the scoreboard to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Ha was 1 for 4 with a walk.

First baseman Blake Lalli was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Second baseman David Macias went 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Catcher Luis Flores had two doubles in a 2 for 4 night. He scored twice.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were tarred and feathered by the Palm Beach Cardinals, 8-3.

Starter Dae-Eun Rhee pitched the first four innings and allowed five runs on nine hits. He walked two and struck out five.

DH Michael Burgess was 1 for 3 with a two-run home run in the ninth inning. It was Burgess's 13th home run this year. He also walked once.

First baseman Justin Bour was 3 for 4 and scored twice.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs lost to the Dayton Dragons, 2-0.

Eric Jokisch was the hard-luck loser tonight. He pitched the first five innings and allowed two runs on six hits, including a solo home run. He only walked one and struck out seven.

The Chiefs have not scored in 20 innings. Tonight they had three hits. DH Dustin Geiger was 2 for 4.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks baited the Yakima Bears, 3-2 in ten innings, ending a six-game losing streak.

Starting pitcher Willengton Cruz pitched six innings and allowed one run on six hits. He walked two and struck out three.

Bryce Shafer was solid in relief as he picked up the win. He pitched 2.2 innings and allowed only one hit. He didn't walk anyone and struck out four.

Second baseman Zeke DeVoss was 2 for 4 with a walk and he scored the winning run in the bottom of the tenth. He reached on a bunt single, went to second on a wild pitch, stole third base and scored on a two-out RBI single by DH Rafael Lopez. Lopez was 2 for 5.

Catcher Yaniel Cabezas was 2 for 4.

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Reds, 4-2.