Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 28

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were prey for the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Astros), 4-3.

Nick Struck saw his record fall to 5-8 after he allowed four run, three earned, over 5.1 innings. He gave up five hits, two of which were home runs. Struck walked two and struck out three.

Chang-Young Lim tossed two scoreless innings in his Iowa debut. He surrendered two hits, but he didn't walk anyone and he struck out three.

Right fielder Ty Wright hit three doubles in a 3 for 4 night. He scored one Iowa run and drove another one home.

DH Edgar Gonzalez was 2 for 4 with a run scored. Catcher Luis Flores was 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Tennessee Smokies

Two more home runs by Javier Baez weren't enough as the Tennessee Smokies were vassalized by the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 8-5.

Eric Jokisch got knocked around today for his tenth loss of the year. Jokisch gave up six runs, five earned, on nine hits over five innings. Jokisch walked three and struck out four.

Jokisch has alternated between months with an ERA over 5.50 (May 6.16, July 5.53) with months with an ERA under two. (April 1.84, June 1.97).

Baez came to the plate five times today. He hit two home runs and struck out the other three times. The first home run came in the bottom of the first with a man on to give Tennessee a 2-1 lead. The other home run came with a man on and two-out in the bottom of the ninth to make it 8-5. Baez now has ten home runs in 20 games in Double-A. He has 27 home runs overall.

Center fielder Matt Szczur was 2 for 5 and scored once. Right fielder Rubi Silva went 2 for 4 with a double. Left fielder John Andreoli was 2 for 4.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs swept the Palm Beach Cardinals, 2-1.

It was C.J. Edwards first appearance with the Cubs and in High-A, and he started with a bang as he struck out the first seven batters he faced, six of them swinging. In five innings, he didn't allow a ball out of the infield. He allowed one hit, a slow-roller to the second baseman. Edwards walked one and struck out eight.

Lendy Castillo got the win after throwing three innings and allowing only one unearned run. Castillo gave up one hit. He walked three and struck out three.

Austin Reed pitched the ninth and got his third save. He allowed a leadoff single, but after a sacrifice bunt he got the next two hitters to fly out to end the game.

All three runs scored in this game were unearned. Left fielder Taiwan Easterling and second baseman Brad Zapenas both scored on an error in the 7th inning. They were both 2 for 4.

First baseman Dustin Geiger was 2 for 4 with a walk. Third baseman Ben Carhart was 2 for 5.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars scratched the Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals), 6-3.

Some big control issues today for starter Juan Paniagua, who exited after pitching two innings and to the first three batters of a third. Paniagua gave up three runs on three hits and five walks. He did not have a strikeout.

Paniagua was bailed out by Nathan Dorris, who stranded two runners and then went on to pitch another inning for the win. Dorris allowed one hit. He struck out two and didn't walk anyone.

Armando Rivero tossed the final two innings without allowing a hit for his first save. Rivero struck out five and walked one.

DH Rock Shoulders came to bat in the third inning with the bases-loaded and emptied them with a three-run double. He later scored in the four-run inning. Shoulders was 2 for 5.

Third baseman Jeimer Candelario was 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored on the Shoulders double and had one RBI.

Second baseman Giuseppe Papaccio was 2 for 5 and scored twice. Center fielder Albert Almora went 2 for 5 and scored once. (I know. I should have that on a macro)

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks shut down the Spokane Indians (Rangers), 3-1.

Dillon Maples has been much better since his demotion to Boise, and tonight he got his second win with five strong innings. Maples allowed one run on five hits. He struck out five and most importantly, didn't walk anyone.

Tyler Bremer entered the game in the top of the ninth and allowed a single, a walk and a single to load the bases with no one out. Then Bremer struck out the next three batters to end the game and collect his fourth save. (Note to Tyler: That's taking being a Cub just a little too far, but nice job on the save.)

Third baseman Kris Bryant drove in all three Boise runs, two of them on his second home run of the season in the fourth inning. He also had a sacrifice fly (that almost went out) in a 1 for 3 night.

Second baseman Danny Lockhart stayed hot, going 2 for 4 and he scored on Bryant's home run.

Right fielder Yasiel Balaguert went 2 for 3 with a walk. DH Jordan Hankins was 2 for 4.

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Diamondbacks, 12-3.