Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 26

The big and nearly tragic news in the Cubs system tonight was that Smokies outfielder Jae-Hoon Ha was seriously injured when he collided at full speed with a concrete ledge in foul territory in RF. He was down for 17 minutes and had to be carried off the field on a stretcher.

I've now seen the collision on the archived game. (I had the game playing on my computer when it happened, but I had stepped away to deal with a family issue when it happened.) It looks like Ha was running full on and upright when the lower part of his face crashed into a concrete railing on top of a padded wall. The post-game reports are that while there were some severe lacerations to his face, he was responsive and alert. It did not look like he lost consciousness after the play. Smokies manager Buddy Bailey said in his post-game interview that they probably won't know the full extent of the injury until tomorrow.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs scored two runs in the top of the tenth, only to give three runs back in the bottom of the inning to drop their eighth straight game, losing to the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Astros) 6-5.

It was a good start for Casey Coleman, who allowed three runs on seven hits over 5.2 innings. Coleman struck out five and walked no one.

Michael Bowden pitched a scoreless ninth, but when he went out for the tenth with a two-run lead, he walked a batter, allowed a double and then walked another batter to load the bases with no outs. After a pop up and a strike out, it looked like Bowden was going to get out of it. But he then allowed a single to left field that Jim Adduci overran, allowing all three runners to score and giving Oklahoma City the win.

The final line on Bowden was 1.2 innings pitched and he allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on three hits. He walked three and struck out one.

Before that error, Adduci was having a great night, going 4 for 5 with a double and a solo home run in the second inning. It was his first Iowa home run of the year and sixth overall. One of Adduci's two RBI was the go-ahead double in the tenth inning.

First baseman Josh Vitters was 3 for 4 with a double, a triple and a walk. He had one RBI and he scored on that Adduci double.

Tennessee Smokies

Back to the actual game, the Tennessee Smokies lost to the Jacksonville Suns (Marlins), 6-4.

Dallas Beeler pitched the first five innings and he gave up four runs on eight hits. One of the four runs was unearned. Beeler walked three and struck out eight.

Tony Zych took the loss in relief of Beeler, when he allowed two runs in the sixth. Zych pitched two innings and gave up the two runs on five hits. He struck out four and didn't walk anyone.

First baseman Justin Bour was 2 for 5 with a solo home run in the fourth inning. It was Bour's tenth home run. He had two total RBI.

Left fielder Greg Rohan also hit a solo home run in the sixth inning, his third for Tennessee and fifteenth overall. Rohan was 1 for 4.

Shortstop Junior Lake was 3 for 5 with a double and two stolen bases. He scored one run and batted one in. Third baseman Nate Samson went 3 for 4.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs stopped the Bradenton Marauders (Pirates), 9-7.

Austin Kirk pitched the first six innings and got the win after surrendering four runs on six hits. Kirk walked five and struck out three.

Ryan Searle's first save of the year was the old-fashioned three-inning kind. He did give up a three-run home run in the ninth inning to make it close, but he struck out the next batter and ended the game. Searle's final line was three innings, allowing three runs on two hits. He walked three and fanned two.

Catcher Rafael Lopez was 3 for 4 with two doubles. Lopez had three runs batted in and scored once.

Center fielder Matt Szczur was 2 for 4 with a walk and two RBI. DH John Andreoli was 2 for 3 with a triple and a walk. The triple just missed being his first professional home run. Andreoli scored four runs and had two runs batted in. He also stole a base.

Right fielder Elieser Bonne had a double in a 2 for 4 game. He scored once and batted two in. Left fielder Rubi Silva was 2 for 4.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs crushed the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Angels), 7-2.

Good start tonight for Michael Jensen, who improved his record to 9-3. Jensen pitched six innings and allowed two runs on four hits. He struck out six and didn't walk anyone. He did hit one batter.

Shortstop Javier Baez was 2 for 2 with a sacrifice fly and a hit by pitch. Baez scored twice and batted two in.

Second baseman Zeke DeVoss was 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored twice and batted one in. DH Yaniel Cabezas went 2 for 4 and scored one run.

In an administrative note, Taiwan Easterling went on the disabled list today.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks were shut out by the Yakima Bears (Diamondbacks), 1-0.

It was a strong start for Jose Arias, but he got the loss anyway. Arias threw six shutout innings and then came out to start the seventh inning. He hit the first batter he faced in retaliation for his catcher, Willson Contreras, being hit twice by a pitch. Arias was immediately ejected and the runner on first would eventually come around to score. Arias's final line was 6+ innings, allowing one run on three hits. He walked two and struck out three.

Arias wasn't the only Hawk ejected. Contreras was ejected after a collision at the plate in the seventh inning and Hawks manager Mark Johnson was ejected along with Arias.

Shorstop Marco Hernandez was 2 for 4.

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Rangers, 5-4 in ten innings.

Garrett Schlecht had his first professional home run. Jorge Soler had a hit and a walk and Albert Almora had a double.