Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 15

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs shut out the Tuscon Padres, 4-0.

Chris Rusin held the Padres in check for six innings, allowing four hits. He walked three and struck out four. It was Rusin's eighth win but first since July 15. Rusin was also 2 for 3 at the plate and scored a run.

Blake Parker tossed two perfect innings in a rehab assignment. Parker struck out three.

Outfielder Jeff Frazier was 2 for 4 with a double.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were extinguished by the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 4-2.

The Smokies wasted a great start by Nick Struck, who went 6+ innings and allowed one unearned run on five hits. Struck struck out six and walked only one. He did make two throwing errors.

Struck was did not allow a run before the seventh inning, when the first three batters reached, allowing one run. He exited with one run in, men on second and third and no outs. Brian Schlitter came in and struck out three straight batters to get out of the inning. Unfortunately, Schlitter came out to pitch the eighth and that didn't go so well. Schlitter got the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits over 1.2 innings. He struck out four and walked no one.

Right fielder Matt Szczur was 1 for 4 with a double. He scored once. Catcher Chad Noble went 1 for 3 with an RBI double.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs split a double-header with the Lakeland Flying Tigers, winning game one 3-2 and losing the second one 1-0 in nine innings..

In the first game, P.J. Francescon allowed two runs in the bottom of the first, but then had two 1-2-3 innings before exiting. Francescon allowed two two runs on three hits. He walked one and did not record a strike out.

A.J. Morris threw two perfect innings in the sixth and seventh innings for his fifth win. He had one strikeout.

Second baseman Ronald Torreyes was 2 for 4 with the go-ahead RBI double in the top of the seventh.

In the second game, the D-Cubs wasted a great outing by Frank Del Valle. Del Valle threw six shut out innings and allowed only one hit. He walked three and struck out four.

Eduardo Figueroa got he loss when he allowed a walk-off home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. That was the only hit he allowed over 2.2 innings. Figueroa walked two and struck out one.

Center fielder John Andreoli was 1 for 2 with two walks.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs got swarmed by the Burlington Bees (Athletics), 5-1.

Starter Jeffry Antigua took the loss after he allowed five runs over 3.1 innings. I'd say the four errors the Chiefs made tonight played a role in that as all five of those runs were unearned. Antigua gave up three hits and a walk. He struck out four.

Left fielder Bijan Rademacher was 1 for 3 with a walk and an RBI single that scored first baseman Jacob Rogers. Rogers was 0 for 2 with two walks.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks were buried by the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants), 13-5.

Starting pitcher Ian Dickson allowed four runs on six hits, including two home runs, over five innings. He struck out two and didn't walk a batter.

Hunter Ackerman took the loss after giving up six runs over 2.2 innings of relief. Ackerman surrendered six hits, including two more home runs. Ackerman struck out two and walked two.

Rafael Diplan allowed a two-run home run and three runs overall in the 1.1 innings he pitched. That accounts for all five home runs Boise allowed tonight.

The Hawks did hit a couple of home runs of their own, including center fielder Albert Almora's first Boise home run in his first game. Almora's solo home run came in the fourth inning and was a rocket over the left field wall.. He was 2 for 5. There was a scary moment when he ran into the center field wall trying to make a catch. The ball dropped in for an inside-the-park home run and Almora looked like he hurt his right shoulder or elbow. After he was checked out by the trainer, he did stay in teh game.

The Hawks other home run was a bomb over the right field wall, also in the fourth inning, by first baseman Rock Shoulders. Shoulders home run came with two on and was his eighth of the season. Shoulders was 1 for 4.

Second baseman Gioskar Amaya was 2 for 4.

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Angels, 3-1.