Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 2

Congratulations to Daytona Cubs outfielder Evan Crawford, whom you voted as the BCB Minor League Player of the Month! Crawford has been solid all season long with a .325 batting average and a .383 OBP. He's also stolen 27 bases and only been caught five times.

Also, congratulations to my wonderful wife, who has managed to survive 14 years of marriage to me as of today.

Finally, Boise Hawks pitcher Cam Greathouse wants us all to vote for him in MiLB.com's Best Minor League Name contest. While you are there, you can vote for Matt Szczur, Junior Lake and Taiwan Easterling too.

Now it's time to vote on the pitchers. Yes, Peoria got a candidate this time.

Scott Maine: The left-handed reliever was one of the bright spots for the I-Cubs this month. Although he had one bad game at New Orleans, he was not scored upon over his last five appearances in the month. In eight games and 9.2 innings, Maine only allowed two earned runs and one unearned one for a 1.86 ERA. He struck out 14 batters and only walked three.

Ryan Searle: The Australian righty's career has mostly been disappointing, but he's still only 22 and maybe he's figured it out in Tennessee. He moved into the rotation on July 5 and as a starter, he's been 1-2 with a 3.64 ERA. He didn't allow any unearned runs this month either, which I consider important. In 30 innings this month, he struck out 29 batters. That he walked 17 shows that he still does need to work on his control, but his 2-1 groundball ratio lets him get out of a lot of jams with double plays. 

Jeffry Antigua: The left-handed Antigua also moved into the starting rotation for Daytona this month and finished the month with two straight quality starts in which he went at least seven innings. Over 33.1 innings as both a starter and a reliever in High-A, Antigua had a great K/BB ratio of 30 strikeouts and only 6 walks. He was 1-1 with a 2.43 ERA in July and held opposing batters to a .226 average.

Eric Jokisch: The Central Illinois native has thrived in Peoria. The right-handed made five starts in July and had a 1.21 ERA over 29.2 innings (no unearned runs either). His record was only 0-1 because the Chiefs can't hit, but he had an awesome 28 strikeouts to only two walks.

Yao-Ling Wang: A tough call between Wang and Welington Cruz for Boise, but Wang gets the not based on his strong K/BB ration of 32 strikeouts and only eight walks over 29.2 innings. The twenty year-old Taiwanese right-handed was 1-2 with a 2.76 ERA over the month of July.

After the jump, today's games.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were blue against the Memphis Redbirds, 2-1.

A good start tonight by Dave Bush, who gave up only one run on five hits over 5.1 innings. Bush walked one and struck out four.

Robert Coello gave up a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to get the loss. Coello pitched one inning and allowed a hit and a walk. He struck out one.

Center fielder Brett Jackson led off the game with a solo home run, which was the last run the I-Cubs got all game. It was his fourth home run for Iowa, all in the past nine games. Jackson was 2 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies bashed the Birmingham Barons, 10-5.

Starting pitcher Trey McNutt pitched six innings tonight, which was the longest he has gone in over two months. He allowed three runs on nine hits. McNutt struck out five and didn't walk anyone as his record improved to 2-4.

Center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha had a big night with three RBI in a 3 for 4 game. He had one double and scored twice.

Left fielder James Adduci went 4 for 5 with a double. He scored twice.

DH Blake Lalli went 2 for 2 with a double and two walks. He batted three runs in and scored.

Daytona Cubs

Took the day off.

Peoria Chiefs

A walk-off triple by Peoria Chiefs center fielder Rubi Silva stung the Burlington Bees, 4-3.

Eric Jokisch picked up this month where he left off in July with five shutout innings. He allowed two hits and issued three walks. Jokisch struck out four.

Daniel Berlind allowed two inherited runners in the top of the eighth inning to score, but finished out the game to collect the win. He pitched 1.2 innings and did not allow a run of his own. He did give up one hit and walked one. He did not have a strikeout.

Silva was 3 for 5 on the night. He just had that one RBI.

Left fielder Taiwan Easterling  was 2 for 4 with a walk and he scored the winning run on Silva's triple.

DH Anthony Giansanti was 2 for 3 with his tenth home run on the season. Giansanti hit the two-run blast in the sixth inning. He was 2 for 3 with a walk on the evening.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks capped the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, 8-5.

Willengton Cruz pitched five innings and allowed two runs on six hits. One of the two runs was unearned. Cruz walked two and struck out two.

Dustin FItzgerald got the win after allowing a run on one hit and two walks over two innings. He struck out one.

Eight Hawks had one hit tonight. The big blow in the game was a three-run double by right fielder Reggie Golden. Golden was 1 for 4.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Angels, 9-3.