Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 30

Congratulations to Javier Baez, Arismendy Alcantara, Christian Villanueva, Matt Szczur and Kyle Hendricks who were all named to the Southern League Postseason All-Star team. Also congratulations to Rock Shoulders, who was named to the Midwest League Postseason All-Star team.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were silent against the Nashville Sounds (Brewers), 3-2. The loss, combined with Memphis's win, eliminates the Cubs from postseason play.

Starter Brooks Raley actually had a no-hitter going into the fifth inning until he gave up an RBI single. But that was the only hit and the only run he allowed over five innings. Raley walked two and struck out three.

Marcus Hatley entered the game in the sixth inning with a 2-1 lead and allowed two runs on three hits to take the loss. He struck out two and didn't walk anyone in the one inning he pitched.

First baseman Brad Nelson had both Iowa RBI with a single in the third inning and a solo home run in the fifth. It was Nelson's 20th home run this year. Nelson was 2 for 4.

Third baseman Mike Olt was 3 for 4, getting his batting average over the Mendoza Line.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies destroyed the Chattanooga Lookouts (Dodgers), 12-1.

Eduardo Figueroa started and got the win after he allowed only one hit over six scoreless innings. Figueroa struck out five and walked only one.

First baseman Justin Bour had a three-run home run and a three-run double for six RBI in a 3 for 5 game. The home run came in the first inning and was Bour's 18th of the season, which is impressive when you remember that he missed two full months of the season.

Center fielder Matt Szczur was 2 for 4 with two walks. Szczur scored three runs and he stole his 22nd base of the season.

Left fielder Brett Jackson had a double and a triple in a 2 for 3 game. He also walked once. Jackson scored two runs.

Third baseman Christian Villanueva was 2 for 5 with a double and two RBI.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs hit five home runs and won their tenth straight game, 11-6 over the Brevard County Manatees (Brewers).

Ivan Pineyro allowed four runs on five hits over five innings. Pineyro walked two and struck out five.

Daytona had a 5-1 lead after three innings, but Pineyro and reliever Sheldon McDonald, who allowed two runs in the two innings he worked, blew the lead as the Manatees tied the score in the top of the seventh. But Austin Reed pitched two scoreless innings and got the win when Daytona scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth. Reed struck out one, but the batter reached first on a wild pitch. That was also the only baserunner Reed allowed as he got his third win.

The first of Daytona's five home runs came off the bat of third baseman Kris Bryant, who hit an opposite-field solo homer in the third inning. It was his fifth Daytona home run and ninth overall this year. (Or 40th if you count USD.) Bryant was 1 for 4.

The next Daytona home run came off the bat of first baseman Dustin Geiger with the bases empty in the fifth inning. It was Geiger's 17th home run. Geiger was 2 for 3 with two walks. He scored twice.

The other three D-Cubs homers came in the five-run eighth. Right fielder Bijan Rademacher led off the inning with his fourth home run of the year and second for Daytona. Rademacher was 3 for 4 with two runs batted in.

Two batters later, left fielder Pin-Chieh Chen cranked his second home run of the year with a man on. Chen was 2 for 4. Up next was center fielder Zeke DeVoss, who went back-to-back with Chen for his sixth home run of the year. DeVoss went 2 for 5 with a stolen base. He scored twice.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars were lost in the maize of the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins), 8-2.

Starter Starling Peralta took the loss after he allowed eight runs on eight hits, including three solo home runs, over only four innings. Peralta walked three and struck out three.

Catcher Carlos Escobar was 3 for 4 with a double. Right fielder Reggie Golden was 2 for 4.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks were buried by the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants), 10-6.

Duane Underwood had a rough start, allowing eight runs in only three innings. Four of the eight runs were unearned, however. (Still a bad start) Underwood allowed six hits and walked three while striking out four.

Second baseman Danny Lockhart went 2 for 5 with a run scored. DH Justin Marra was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.

The loss drops Boise a game behind Salem-Keizer for first place. However, Salem-Keizer won the first half title and so Boise qualifies for the playoffs if either they or the Volcanoes finish first. There are a lot of permutations that would allow Boise to make the postseason, but the easiest is to just beat Hillsboro two out of three in Boise this weekend.