Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 12

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs neutralized the Albuquerque Isotopes (Dodgers), 3-0.

Guillermo Moscoso and Brian Schlitter combined to throw a one-hit shutout. Moscoso took a no-hitter into the eighth, when Damaso Espino doubled with one out to break up the no-hitter. Moscoso finished the inning to give him eight full shutout innings. Moscoso walked two and struck out five.

Schlitter pitched the ninth for his eleventh save. He gave up a two-out walk to Ian Stewart, his only baserunner. Schlitter struck out one.

Right fielder Darnell McDonald broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning with an RBi single that scored Junior Lake. McDonald was 2 for 2 with a walk and a run scored.

Catcher J.C. Boscan hit a two-run double in the seventh inning. Boscan was 1 for 3.

With the win, Iowa evens their record at 48-48. They're still in first place.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies went to extra innings both times, but they swept a doubleheader from the Jackson Generals (Mariners), 2-0 in ten innings and 2-1 in nine innings.

In the first game, starter Austin Kirk tossed six innings, giving up only four hits. He walked one and struck out three.

Frank Batista got the win after he didn't allow a hit over three innings. He did walk two and he struck out two.

Hunter Cervenka got his first save of the year for the Smokies the weird way. After walking the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the tenth, Cervenka got the next hitter to line into a double play. With two outs, an error and a walk brought the winning run to the plate, but Cervenka picked the lead runner off second base to end the game. So he faced five batters, only retired one of them, and still threw a scoreless inning. (To be fair, there was that error in there.) Cervenka has six overall saves, as he had five in Daytona.

Shortstop Javier Baez broke a scoreless tie in the top of the tenth with an RBI single. Baez was 2 for 4.

Second baseman Arismendy Alcantara was 2 for 4 with a walk and scored a run on an error later in the tenth. First baseman Jonathan Mota was 2 for 4 and scored on the Baez single.

The pitching in game two was just as good, as Yeiper Castillo, Marcos Mateo and Kevin Rhoderick combined to toss a two-hitter. Castillo started and made only one mistake, a solo home run in the third inning. That home run would be the only hit Castillo would allow over four innings. He struck out six and didn't walk anyone.

Marcos Mateo came off the DL for the first time since 2011 (He pitched six innings in a rehab assignment in Arizona) and gave up only one hit and two walks over two innings. Mateo struck out two.

Kevin Rhoderick was brilliant in getting his first win of the year. He pitched three perfect innings, retiring all nine batters he faced. Rhoderick struck out two.

First baseman Justin Bour and third baseman Christian Villanueva broke the 1-1 tie in the ninth when they hit back-to-back doubles. Both players were 1 for 4.

Javier Baez provided the other run of the game when he hit his second home run of the year in Tennessee in the sixth inning. Baez went 2 for 4 in game two. He now has 19 overall home runs.

With the win, the Smokies have now won the first five games of this seven game series. The two teams started the series tied for first place, but obviously the Smokies now have a five-game lead.

Daytona Cubs

Rained out. Can you believe it? Double-header tomorrow.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars lost their fifth straight game, 5-4 to the South Bend Silver Hawks (Diamondbacks).

Starter Jose Rosario allowed three runs on six hits over six innings. Two of the three runs allowed were unearned. Rosario walked three and struck out an impressive nine batters.

Justin Amlung took the loss after he gave up a two-run home run in the seventh inning. Amlung allowed two runs on two hits and a walk. He struck out one in the only inning he pitched.

Left fielder Oliver Zapata hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning, his fourth of the season. Zapata was 1 for 4.

Second baseman Gioskar Amaya was 2 for 3 with a triple and a run scored. He also walked once.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks were plucked by the Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays), 8-4.

Starter Paul Blackburn took the loss. He gave up four runs on four hits in only three innings. He walked four and struck out one.

Tyler Skulina threw two scoreless innings to give him six innings to start his professional career without allowing a run. He did give up one hit and a walk. Skulina struck out one.

Center fielder Shawon Dunston continues to impress, as he went 3 for 5 with two doubles. He scored twice and had one RBI.

Second baseman Jordan Hankins was 2 for 4 with a double. he scored the other two Boise runs.

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Reds, 7-0.