Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 23

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs blanked the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals), 2-0.

Dominating start for Kyle Hendricks, who went seven innings and allowed only four hits. Hendricks walked one and struck out three.

Eduardo Sanchez pitched the ninth and got his second save. He hit a batter with two outs, but that was his only baserunner. Sanchez struck out one.

Memphis and Iowa combined for eight hits tonight, four apiece. Luckily for Iowa, three of their four hits came in the fourth inning, resulting in the only two runs of the game. Second baseman Edgar Gonzalez had an RBI single in the fourth. He was 1 for 3.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were mauled by the Mobile BayBears (Diamondbacks), 3-2.

Eduardo Figueroa was cruising along, but then he allowed three runs in the sixth inning and took the loss. Figueroa allowed the three runs on eight hits over six innings. He walked one and struck out three.

Shortstop Javier Baez crushed a solo home run to right-center field in the third inning. It was his 34th home run of the season and 17th with the Smokies. Baez was 2 for 4.

Outfielder Rubi Silva was 2 for 4 with a triple and his 14th home run of the season, a solo home run in the sixth.

The good news for the Smokies is that both Birmingham and Jackson lost, which cuts their magic number to 2. Technically, it's 3 over Birmingham, but since Birmingham won the first half, the Smokies would qualify as the second team if Birmingham won both halves.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs damned the Tampa Yankees, 5-1.

Another good start for C.J. Edwards, who threw four scoreless innings before exiting. Edwards gave up four hits and one walk while fanning eight.

Kyler Burke got his fifth win in relief because Edwards did not go five innings. Burke didn't allow a hit over two innings. He did walk two and struck out one.

Zach Cates got a three-inning save, his first of the season. Cates allowed a run on two hits. He walked two and struck out four.

Daytona got all the runs they would need in the second inning on a three-run home run by catcher Chadd Krist. It was Krist's fourth homer of the season. Krist was 2 for 3.

Left fielder Anthony Giansanti was 2 for 4 and scored on the Krist home run.

With the win, Daytona's magic number drops to eight.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars stepped on the Beloit Snappers (Athletics), 5-2.

It was a fairly successful rehab appearance for Scott Baker. Baker allowed one run on a home run in the second inning, but nothing else. He went four innings and surrendered four hits. Baker walked two and struck out three.

Justin Amlung improved his record to 5-4 with three innings of scoreless relief. Amlung allowed two hits and he issued two walks. Amlung struck out four.

Third baseman Jeimer Candelario broke a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning with a two-run single. Candelario was 1 for 3 with a walk.

The next batter in the seventh was DH Rock Shoulders, and Shoulders put the ball over the left field fence, scoring Candelario. It was his 18th home run this season. Shoulders was 2 for 3.

Left fielder Trevor Gretzky was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks detonated the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants), 8-1.

Paul Blackburn started and got the win after five scoreless innings, allowing only one hit. That would be more impressive if he hadn't walked six men. Blackburn struck out two.

Right fielder Kevin Encarnacion was 5 for 5 with a double and his fifth home run for Boise and sixth overall. The home run was a solo home run in the third inning. Encarnacion scored three runs and had two batted in.

DH Justin Marra hit a three-run home run as part of a five-run Boise first inning. Marra was 1 for 2 with two walks and he was hit by a pitch.

Left fielder Rony Rodriguez went 2 for 5 with two RBI. He scored one run.

AZL Cubs

Off day.