Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 24

So I thought I'd have an early night with Boise not playing and while Iowa was on the West Coast, it was a 5 pm start, local time. So naturally, I get a five hour, thirty-one minute game.  I swear, when the minor league season ends I'm going to sleep for a week.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs lost to the Tacoma Raniers (Mariners), 5-4 in 14 innings.

Iowa starter Dallas Beeler was strong for six scoreless innings. Beeler gave up just five hits. He struck out six and walked nobody.

Unfortunately, Beeler was relieved by Marcus Hatley in the seventh inning and Hatley gave up three runs on home runs by Ji-Man Choi and a rehabbing Corey Hart.

The score stayed 3-3 until the 14th inning and Tacoma only got one hit over six innings off of Yoanner Negrin, Carlos Pimentel and Jeffry Antigua. But after Iowa scored in the top of the 14th, closer Blake Parker entered the game and had a lot of trouble throwing strikes. Parker took the loss after he gave up two runs on one hit and three walks over two-thirds of an inning. Parker had one strikeout.

The game started on a good note as third baseman Kris Bryant hit home run number 43 with a man on in the first inning. Bryant was 1 for 6 with a walk.

In the fourth inning, right fielder Jorge Soler hit his 14th home run of the year and seventh for Iowa. Soler also had the go-ahead single in the top of the 14th. He finished the evening 3 for 5 with two walks and two RBI.

First baseman Eli Whiteside was 3 for 6 with two doubles. Center fielder Ryan Kalish went 2 for 7 with a double and a run scored. Catcher Rafael Lopez was 3 for 6 with a walk.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were dissipated by the Jacksonville Suns (Marlins), 9-7.

Felix Doubront made a rehab start and took the loss after he allowed four runs on five hits over 4.1 innings. One of the four runs was unearned. Doubront walked three and struck out five.

It was only 2-1 when Doubront exited in the fifth inning with one out and two men on. But reliever Zach Cates faced five batters and retired none of them. He walked the first three batters he faced (including two wild pitches), hit the fourth batter and then allowed a single before exiting for Tony Zych. It was that six-run inning that put the game out of reach.

Shortstop Addison Russell hit his 12th Smokies home run in the bottom of the ninth with a man on. Russell was 2 for 5 with three total RBI.

Right fielder Pin-Chieh Chen went 4 for 5 with a double and a stolen base. He scored three times.

First baseman Lars Anderson was 3 for 5 with an RBI. Second baseman Stephen Bruno went 2 for 5 with two RBI.

The only good news was that Chattanooga lost, so Tennessee keeps a one-game lead in the division with seven to play. The last five of those will be at Chattanooga.

Daytona Cubs

Kyle Schwarber hit another two home runs as the Daytona Cubs shot down the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 7-1.

Tayler Scott gave up a second-inning solo home run, but that was the only run he gave up over five innings. He allowed four hits. He walked two and struck out three and he won his sixth game of the season.

Left fielder Schwarber has now homered in five straight games and has six home runs over that stretch. His first home run came with a man on in the top of the first inning. He second one was a solo home run in the sixth. Schwarber now has 18 home runs this season including ten with Daytona. He was 2 for 4 with a walk in this game.

Right fielder Billy McKinney went 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored two runs.

In the sixth inning, first baseman Rock Shoulders stole his first base as a professional. OK, there was a wild pitch on the play too. But he got credit for the steal. Shoulders was 1 for 4 with an RBI.

Tampa won, so Daytona's lead in the division stays at 2.5 games with six to play. The final three games of the season are against Tampa in Daytona Beach.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars 13-game winning streak came to an end with a 2-1 loss to the Burlington Bees (Angels).

Starter Daury Torrez allowed only two hits, but two unearned runs in the fifth inning stuck him with the loss. Torrez pitched five innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Shortstop Carlos Penalver doubled home Danny Lockhart with two out in the top of the ninth, but after a Jeffrey Baez walk put the go-ahead run on first base, Shawon Dunston flew out to end the game.

Penalver was 2 for 4.

Boise Hawks

Off-day as they head home from Canada.

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Angels, 5-1.