Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 18

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs lost to the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins), 4-3 in 16 innings.

Starter Kyle Hendricks was long gone by the time this one ended, but he was solid over seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, including a solo home run. Hendricks struck out seven and didn't walk anyone.

After that, Marcos Mateo tossed one scoreless inning, Brian Schlitter and Eduardo Sanchez two apiece and Marcus Hatley pitched three scoreless before Jeffry Antigua took the mound to start the bottom of the 16th. After a leadoff walk, the next batter reached on a bunt single. After a failed pop-up bunt, the Zephyrs' pitcher Rett Varner loaded the bases with a bloop single over the second baseman's head. With the infield in and the bases loaded, the next Zephyr hitter, Alex Burg, hit a ground ball to short and the runner on third beat the throw home to end the game.

First baseman Brad Nelson hit a two-run home run in the first inning. It was his 18th of the season. Nelson was 1 for 7.

Shortstop Edwin Maysonet was 3 for 7 with a double and a run scored. Left fielder Julio Borbon was 3 for 6 with two walks and he scored one the Nelson home run. He also stole a base.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies scored four times in the top of the ninth and crowned the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 5-2.

Starter Eduardo Figueroa pitched six scoreless innings, allowing only four hits. He struck out five and walked one.

Tony Zych allowed an unearned run in the seventh inning after an error by shortstop Jonathan Mota. But he stayed in the game and pitched a scoreless eighth inning and got his fourth win. Zych allowed one unearned run on one hit over two innings. He didn't have a walk or a strikeout.

Frank Batista made the game interesting in the bottom of the ninth, allowing a run on a single, two walks and a hit batter. The bases were loaded with only one out and the winning run at the plate when he got a strikeout and a groundout to end the game. It was not a save situation.

Most of the Smokies offense came from catcher Rafael Lopez, who broke the game open with a two-out three-run double in the top of the ninth. He earlier had an RBI single in a 2 for 4 game with four total RBI. Lopez scored an insurance run in the ninth when Mota doubled him home. Mota was 2 for 4.

In your nightly Javier Baez watch, Baez was 0 for 4 with two strikeouts and was ejected for arguing the second strikeout.

Second-place Jackson was rained out, so the Smokies increased their lead in the division to 6.5 games.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs beached the Brevard County Manatees (Brewers), 5-3.

It was an encouraging start for Scott Baker who allowed only one run over three innings. He surrendered three hits, including a solo home run in the third inning which accounted for the only run he allowed. Baker did not walk anyone nor strike anyone out.

Pierce Johnson relieved Baker and got his 11th win when Daytona scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh. Johnson pitched four innings and allowed two runs on three hits. He walked three and struck out six.

Austin Reed pitched a scoreless ninth for his fourth save. He put two runners on with a two-out double and a hit batter, but got his only strikeout to end the game.

Every Cubs hitter in the lineup had one hit, except for center fielder Zeke DeVoss, who was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Fortunately, the only hits of the game for DH Daniel Vogelbach and third baseman Kris Bryant were back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning. Vogelbach's came with a man on and was his 19th home run this year and second for the D-Cubs. Bryant's was his seventh home run and third for Daytona. Vogelbach was 1 for 4 and Bryant was 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base.

Lakeland also lost, which increased Daytona's lead in the division to five games.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars were sawed in two by the Clinton LumberKings, 4-2.

Tayler Scott was the victim of non-support as he got the loss after allowing only one run on three hits over five innings. He walked two and struck out three.

It looked like the Cougars were going to be shut out until left fielder Jose Dore hit a two-run double with two-outs in the ninth, but then Gioskar Amaya struck out as the potential tying run to end the game. Dore was 3 for 4.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks got buried by the Tri-City Dust Devils (Rockies), 10-2.

Paul Blackburn had a rough three-inning start. He gave up four runs on seven hits, including back-to-back solo home runs in the third inning. Blackburn walked three and struck out three.

Lance Rymel entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning and was 2 for 2 with a double.

Salem-Keizer won so Boise fell two games out of first place.

AZL Cubs

Off day