Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 19

I hope some of you caught me on the Boise Hawks pre-game show tonight. It's always fun to talk to Mike Safford and I thank him for having me on. It always impresses my mother-in-law.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were winded by the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins), 3-2.

A second good start for Casey Coleman, who went six innings and allowed only one run on five hits. He walked only one and struck out three.

Zach Rosscup entered the game in the bottom of the eighth with the score tied and put runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs with a single and a walk. After a successful sacrifice bunt, Rosscup intentionally walked the bases loaded and then exited for Marcos Mateo. Mateo induced a groundball to third baseman Mike Olt, who threw to catcher Luis Flores for the second out. However, Flores's throw to first base to try to double-up the batter was wild, and the go-ahead run scored from second on the throwing error. It was Rosscup's first loss for Iowa, although he still hasn't allowed an earned run.

Iowa had four hits, all singles. Dave Sappelt was 1 for 4 with an RBI.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies defenestrated the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 9-2.

Dae-Eun Rhee improved his record with the Smokies to 5-1 after a strong seven-inning start. Rhee allowed two runs on only three hits. One of the hits was a solo home run. Rhee walked one and struck out three.

The Smokies erupted for 17 hits but only one home run, which was a solo home run by second baseman Arismendy Alcantara in the sixth inning. It was Alcantara's 14th home run of the year. He also hit his 31st double in a 2 for 5 game. Alcantara scored twice and had two runs batted in.

Shortstop Javier Baez bounced back from his 0 for 4 yesterday with two doubles in a 3 for 4 game. He also walked once.

Center fielder Rubi Silva was a perfect 3 for 3 with a double, a triple and two walks. Silva had two RBI and scored twice.

Right fielder John Andreoli went 2 for 5 and scored once. Center fielder Matt Szczur was 2 for 6 with a double. Szczur scored twice.

All nine Smokies had at least one hit.

Jackson swept both games of a double-header, so Tennessee's lead dropped to 6 games despite the win. However, their magic number to clinch a second-half title falls to nine.

Daytona Cubs

Scheduled off-day. Really. They're not just saying that because they were rained out. The whole league was off today. Daytona's magic number is 11.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars were sawed in two by the Clinton LumberKings (Mariners), 9-2.

It was a rough start for Starling Peralta, who was hammered for nine runs on nine hits over 4.1 innings. Peralta walked four and struck out one.

The Cougars had five hits. Third baseman Jeimer Candelario was 2 for 4 with his 32nd double. He scored one run.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks were dusted by the Tri-City Dirt Devils (Rockies), 6-3.

Duane Underwood was the victim of poor defense, as the Hawks committed four errors behind him. Underwood allowed three runs, all unearned, on two hits over 4.1 innings. Underwood walked three and only had one strikeout.

Scott Frazier entered the game in the bottom of the eighth and the only batter he retired was on a sacrifice bunt. Over a third of an inning, Frazier allowed three runs on two hits and two walks. They were the first runs Frazier had allowed in over a month.

Boise had five hits, but none after the fourth inning. First baseman Jacob Rogers was 1 for 2 with a walk before he was ejected, along with manager Gary Van Tol, after a strikeout in the sixth inning.

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Athletics, 5-4.