Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 8

Iowa Cubs

Kyle Hendricks dominated in his first Triple-A start as the Iowa Cubs trapped the Fresno Grizzlies (Giants), 2-1.

Hendricks retired the first 12 batters he faced before allowing a single to lead off the fifth inning. He finished after seven innings, allowing one unearned run on four hits. He struck out five and walked one as he collected his first win for Iowa. He also walked and scored the first run of the game.

Brian Schlitter threw a perfect ninth inning for his 14th save. He struck out two.

First baseman Brad Nelson hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, his 17th of the season. Nelson was 1 for 3.

Right fielder Jae-Hoon Ha's fourth inning single scored Hendricks and extending his hitting streak to ten games. Ha was 1 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies burned the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 9-8.

Starter Eduardo Figueroa put the Smokies in an early hole when he gave up five runs on six hits over six innings. Three of the six hits were home runs in the third inning. Previously, Figueroa had only allowed one home run all season. Figueroa walked two and struck out one.

Tony Zych entered the game with runners on 1st and 2nd, one out and the Smokies trailing 6-4. He stranded both runners and got his third win when Tennessee scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh. Zych pitched 1.2 innings and only allowed one walk, but he faced the minimum when he erased the baserunner with a double play. He struck out one.

Frank Batista's fifteenth save was about as ugly as you could get. He pitched one inning and allowed two runs on two walks and a hit. But with a runner on first, nobody out and the Smokies lead cut to 9-8, Batista got a double play and a strikeout to end the game.

Center fielder Matt Szczur led off the bottom of the first inning with his third home run and just kept scoring. Szczur went 4 for 5 and he scored four runs. He also stole a base.

Second baseman Arismendy Alcantara returned to the lineup and was 2 for 4 with a walk and stolen base. Alcantara scored once.

Right fielder Rubi Silva hit two doubles in a 2 for 5 game. He scored once and had one RBI. Silva also stole a base.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs harpooned the Clearwater Threshers (Phillies), 11-0.

Daytona's pitchers held Clearwater to only three hits. Pierce Johnson threw the first five innings. He gave up two hits and he walked three while striking out six.

Kyler Burke threw three innings and only allowed one hit and one walk. Burke struck out one.

First baseman Dustin Geiger hit two home runs, a solo home run in the second inning and a three-run home run in the ninth. Geiger went 3 for 4 with a walk. He knocked five runners home and scored three times by himself. Geiger now has 13 home runs.

DH Bijan Rademacher was 2 for 5. He scored twice and had two RBI.

Left fielder Anthony Giansanti was 1 for 1 with an RBI triple and four walks. He scored three times.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars took the honey off the Burlington Bees (Angels), 7-0.

The Cougars pitching staff allowed only two hits. Starting pitcher Starling Peralta had a no-hitter going after five, but allowed a single to leadoff the sixth. That would be the only hit he would allow. Peralta walked five and struck out five over 5.2 innings. It was his second win of the season.

DH Dan Vogelbach crushed his 17th home run of the season in the third inning with two men on. He finished the game 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.

Shortstop Marco Hernandez went 2 for 2.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks beat the Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays), 7-5.

Starter Paul Blackburn pitched the first three innings and he allowed one run on two hits and three walks. He struck out one.

Duane Underwood got the win with his best outing of the season. He didn't allow a hit or a run over three innings. Underwood walked one and struck out two.

The Hawks entered the top of the ninth leading 7-3, but Eddie Orozco got the Hawks into trouble. He allowed two runners to score in the ninth and had runners on first and second with one out when he was relieved by Tyler Bremer. Bremer walked the first batter he faced to load the bases, but he then struck out the next two batters for his fifth save of the season.

Third baseman Kris Bryant gave Boise an early lead when he hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first. It was his fourth home run of the year. Or his 35th if you count the ones in college. Bryan was 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.

Right fielder Yasiel Balaguert gave Boise three well-needed insurance runs when he cracked his sixth home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth. Balaguert went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and the three RBI.

DH Rony Rodriguez was 2 for 4 with an RBI.

AZL Cubs

Off-day.