Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 21

Every year, milb.com has a "Moniker Madness" contest where fans vote for who has the best name in minor league baseball. After one round, Tennessee Smokies outfielder Jae-Hoon Ha, Peoria Chiefs outfielder Taiwan Easterling and Boise Hawks first baseman Rock Shoulders are all still in the running. Go vote for them. It will only take a minute.

No good news tonight. At least two teams didn't lose.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were blasted by the Albuquerque Isotopes (Dodgers), 16-3.

Casey Coleman started and got hit hard in the thin New Mexico air. Coleman allowed nine runs on ten hits over only 2.2 innings. Coleman walked four and struck out three.

Third baseman Josh Vitters hit his 14th home run with a man on in the top of the first inning. Vitters was 2 for 4 with all three Iowa RBI.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies game at Chattanooga was suspended with the score tied 8-8 after seven innings. They'll finish it tomorrow. The Smokies had a 7-0 lead in this game off of Dodgers prospect Zach Lee, who got pulled after 3.2 innings, less than ten minutes after Garza exited. It was clear it was a coincidence, but it sure was a fun one.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were bitten by the Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins), 4-2.

It was a solid start tonight for Kyler Burke, but a two-out, two-run home run in the sixth inning after an error was the difference. Burke allowed three runs, one earned, on six hits over six innings. Burke did not walk anyone and walked two.

Left fielder Matt Szczur went 3 for 4 with a run scored. Center fielder Rubi Silva was 2 for 3 with a sacrifice fly.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs were prey for the South Bend Silver Hawks (Diamondbacks), 6-5.

Starter Zach Cates pitched the first three innings and took the loss after allowing six runs on eight hits. Two of the six runs were unearned. Cates did not walk anyone and he struck out three.

Bryce Shafer was playing just an hour away from where he played his college ball at Valparaiso and he had a warm homecoming as he pitched three perfect innings in relief of Cates. Shafer struck out five.

Shortstop Javier Baez went 3 for 4 with a triple and his tenth home run of the season. His home run was a two-run blast to dead center field that cleared the batter's eye in the first inning. Baez also stole his 19th base of the year. Center fielder Pin-Chieh Chen was 2 for 4 with a double and a triple. He scored in the first inning on Baez's home run.

Baez's triple led off the fifth inning. Chen's was with one out in the seventh. Neither one scored after their triple.

Right fielder Bijan Rademacher went 2 for 4 with a double. He scored twice.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks lost to the Eugene Emeralds, 7-4.

Starter Jose Arias didn't make it out of the third inning. He allowed four runs on four hits over 2.1 innings. One of the four runs was unearned. Arias walked three and struck out two.

Second baseman Gioskar Amaya went 2 for 4 with a walk and a triple that led off the game. Amaya scored once and had one RBI.

Center fielder Stephen Bruno was 2 for 4 with a double. He also had one RBI and one run scored.

Catcher Willson Contreras went 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored one run and batted one home. Right fielder Xavier Batista went 2 for 4 with a double.

AZL Cubs

HABOOB!