Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 18

Big game for a big guy from Cuba tonight. Everyone who actually played tonight won.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs plucked the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals), 3-2.

Ryan Rowland-Smith started and got his third win after he allowed only one run over five innings. He surrendered three hits. Rowland-Smith struck out six batters and only walked one. The one run scored on a solo home run by former Cub Lou Montanez.

Jairo Asencio pitched a perfect ninth inning and collected his third save. He struck out one.

Right fielder Dave Sappelt hit a two-run home run in the third inning that put Iowa up for good. It was Sappelt's sixth home run this year. Sappelt went 2 for 4.

Second baseman Alfredo Amezaga was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk.

Left fielder Jeff Frazier and catcher Brian Esposito were both 2 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies defenestrated the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 2-1 in a game shortened to five innings because of rain.

Austin Kirk threw a five-inning complete game, allowing a run on three hits. He walked three and struck out three for his first Double-A victory.

Center fielder Matt Szczur led off the game with a double and was later doubled home by first baseman Justin Bour. Szczur was 1 for 3 and Bour went 1 for 2 with a walk.

Shortstop Junior Lake doubled twice in a 2 for 3 night. He scored one of the two Smokies runs.

Daytona Cubs

Rained out at home against Tampa. They'll try to play a double-header tomorrow, but there's a 50% chance of more thunderstorms.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs skinned the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 9-2.

Michael Jensen got his tenth win after he allowed two runs, but only one earned, on three hits over five innings. Jensen walked three and struck out seven.

Pete Levitt tossed three scoreless innings and Sheldon McDonald had one to close out Wisconsin.

Right fielder Jorge Soler was 4 for 5 with a double and a home run that he absolutely crushed to dead center field. The home run was a solo homer in the sixth inning and was his second Peoria home run. Soler scored twice and had two runs batted in. He also stole a base.

Catcher Yaniel Cabezas went 3 for 5 with a double. He scored once and knocked one home.

Shortstop Tim Saunders was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He had two RBI and scored one run. First baseman Jacob Rogers went 2 for 4 with a walk. His single in the seventh inning gave him his first two RBI for Peoria. He then scored as part of a five-run inning.

Second baseman Zeke DeVoss went 0 for 2 with four walks and two strikeouts. Yep, he didn't put the ball into play in six trips to the plate, yet was still quite productive. DeVoss scored one run and his walk in the seventh inning forced in that inning's fifth run.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks swept up the Tri-City Dust Devils (Rockies), 8-2.

Starter Jose Arias gave up only one dying quail single over five shutout innings. He walked one and fanned five for his fifth win of the season.

Hayden Simpson threw the final four innings for his second save. Simpson also allowed only one hit, but it was a two-run home run in the ninth inning. The home run followed an error, so only one of the two runs was earned. Simpson only walked one and he struck out five.

First baseman Rock Shoulders crushed a grand slam over the center field batter's eye in the third inning. It was Shoulder's ninth home run of the season and second grand slam. He was 1 for 5.

Third baseman Stephen Bruno was 3 for 4 with a triple and three RBI. He scored one run. Shortstop Marco Hernandez was 2 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored one run.

Second baseman Gioskar Amaya was 1 for 2 with two walks and a steal. He also scored once. He did make two errors in the field, however.

The win gave the Hawks their first sweep on the road since 2004 which allows me to use the "Sweep" and "Dust Devils" pun for the first time. Their second-half record now stands at 17-8 and they have a six-game lead in the East Division. Their magic number for clinching the second half crown is now eight. (Boise's overall record is still under .500 at 30-33, as their first half was pretty miserable.)

AZL Cubs

Apparently they got rained out. The game was definitely postponed.