Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 7

This is a new one for me, and apparently a new one by Northwest League Commissioner Bob Richmond. The Boise Hawks forfeited tonight's game at the Everett Aqua Sox. Manager Jody Davis felt the playing field was unsafe after an 80 minute rain delay and a Hawk player slipping in the outfield. After a thirty-minute discussion, the umpires and the league commissioner disagreed, and ordered the Hawks to take the field. When Davis ordered his team to stay in the dugout, the game was ruled a forfeit.

I think that the Hawks should have realized there was going to be a problem. The name "Aqua Sox" is a dead giveaway.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs nailed down their fourth win in a row, beating the Tacoma Raniers, 7-3.

Austin Bibens-Dirkx improved his record in the PCL to 4-0, pitching six innings and allowing three runs. He gave up five hits, including two solo home runs. Bibens-Dirkx walked one and fanned five.

Tonight's match-up between Austin Bibens-Dirkx and Ryan Rowland-Smith was the matchup with the two longest hyphenated names in PCL history. OK, I'm just guessing. I really have no idea.

Shortstop Darwin Barney was 3 for 5 with a triple. He scored once and had two RBI. Third baseman Matt Camp was 3 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Center fielder Sam Fuld was 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored twice and stole his 17th base of the year.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies scored six runs in the first and then coasted to a 9-2 win over the Huntsville Stars.

Chris Carpenter threw six shutout innings tonight. He gave up only three hits. Carpenter walked two and struck out eight on his way to his eighth win of the year. He also helped his own cause by going 2 for 3 with 2 RBI.

Center fielder Brett Jackson was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. Jackson scored once and had one RBI. Third baseman Russell Canzler was also 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. Canzler also scored once (no RBI though.)

Second baseman Tony Thomas went 2 for 3 with a double. He scored twice and knocked two in. Catcher Robinson Chirinos was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. Chirinos crossed the plate once.

Left fielder Tony Campana was 2 for 5 with a stolen base. He scored once and had one ribbie.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs lost to the Jupiter Hammerheads, 4-2.

Brooks Raley had a strong start tonight, giving up only one run over 6.2 innings. He allowed five hits. He walked one and struck out six.

Reliever Oswaldo Martinez allowed a two-run homer in the eighth inning to take the loss. Martinez pitched two-thirds of an inning. The homer was the only hit Martinez allowed, but he did walk two. One of the two runs he allowed was unearned.

Catcher Mark Reed hit a two-run home run of his own in the seventh inning. It was his second of the year. Reed was 2 for 4.

Second baseman DJ LeMahieu went 2 for 4.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs were robbed by the Quad City River Bandits, 9-8.

Brett Wallach is not off to a good start with the Cubs. Tonight he only lasted 3.1 innings and allowed seven runs. He gave up only three hits, but one of them was a two-run home run. The big problem was that Wallach walked four River Bandits. He struck out three, and even one of those guys reached base on a wild pitch. Only four of the seven runs he allowed were earned.

Here's where I tell everyone not to overreact to two starts. Heck, don't overreact to the whole rest of the season on Wallach. He's a long-term project.

Yohan Gonzalez got the loss in relief by allowing the other two runs. He pitched 2.1 innings and allowed the two runs on five hits. He did not record a walk or a strikeout.

Right fielder Jae-Hoon Ha was 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored two runs and batted two in. Catcher Mario Mercedes was also 2 for 4 with a walk. Mercedes had two RBI as well.

Second baseman Logan Watkins was 2 for 4 with a run scored and a stolen base, his 18th of the season.

AZL Cubs

Are currently losing in a suspended game to the Brewers 2-1. There are two outs in the ninth inning and the Cubs have a man on third. As far as I know, no one has threatened to forfeit this one.

Reggie Golden is 0 for 3 with three strikeouts.