Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 21

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were buzzed by the Salt Lake Bees (Angels), 12-8.

Tsuyoshi Wada was given a 7-2 lead after an inning and a half, but he and the bullpen couldn't hold it. Wada's final line was five runs allowed on nine hits in only three innings. Wada struck out three and walked one.

Armando Rivero relieved Wada in the fourth inning and ended up taking the loss. Rivero allowed five runs over only two innings, but an error by third baseman Christian Villanueva meant that four of the five runs Rivero allowed were unearned. Rivero surrendered three hits, including a three-run home run after the error in the fourth, and he walked three. He struck out one.

Villanueva and Mike Olt went back-to-back with home runs in the first inning. Villanueva's home run also scored Matt Szczur and was his 17th of the season. Olt's was his eighth. Villanueva was 2 for 5 and Olt was 2 for 4 with a walk.

In the second inning, shortstop Javier Baez connected for a three-run home run, his 12th of the season. Baez was 2 for 5 with four RBI. He scored twice.

Center fielder John Andreoli was 2 for 5 with a run scored. Catcher Taylor Teagarden went 3 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies prevailed over the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 7-6 in 12 innings in game one of a doubleheader. Because no one wanted to start game two at 10:30 at night, it was postponed until tomorrow.

Starter Ryan Williams allowed all six runs on seven hits over 5.2 innings. He walked two and struck out four.

Over the next 6.1 innings, the Smokies bullpen allowed no runs and only three hits. Matt Brazis tossed 2.1 innings and gave up just one hit and one walk. He struck out three. Then Starling Peralta pitched the final four innings, giving up just two hits and one walk. Peralta struck out two. (I suspect that Peralta was left in the game so long because manager Buddy Bailey expected to have to play a second game and he wanted to preserve his bullpen. But it worked out great.)

In the bottom of the tenth, Albert Almora came to the plate with runners on the corners and one out. He struck out and then Bijan Rademacher grounded out to end the threat. But Almora got a chance at redemption as he came to the plate again in the bottom of the 12th with runners on second and third and one out. This time, Almora hit a hard grounder up the middle past the pulled-in infield for a walk-off RBI single.

Almora was 2 for 7 with a double. He also scored once. Rademacher was 2 for 5 with a walk and a stolen base.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning and the Smokies trailing 6-5, Willson Contreras hit his seventh home run of the season over the left-center field wall to tie the game and send it to extras. Contreras went 2 for 5 with a walk.

First baseman Anthony Giansanti was 3 for 5. He scored once and had one RBI. Second baseman Ryan Dent had a pair of doubles in a 2 for 6 game. He also had one RBI and one run scored.

Third baseman Jeimer Candelario was 2 for 6 with a double. He scored twice.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were unlocked by the Frederick Keys (Orioles), 4-3.

Starter Jeremy Null gave up home runs in the second and fourth innings and took the loss. Null allowed four runs on eight hits over five innings. He struck out three and walked no one.

DH Ben Carhart was 2 for 3 with an RBI. Center fielder Trey Martin was 2 for 2.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were capped by the Ft. Wayne TinCaps (Padres), 6-2.

Starter James Norwood took the loss after he allowed four runs on eight hits over five innings. Norwood struck out two and walked one.

South Bend managed four hits in this game, all singles. First baseman Matt Rose was 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds topped the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants), 7-6.

Starter Ryan Kellogg allowed only pitched 1.2 innings and he allowed two runs on one hit. One of the runs was unearned. Kellogg struck out one and walked one.

Adbert Alzolay got the win. He pitched 4.1 innings and allowed four runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out one.

The best Ems pitcher of the night was Scott Effross, who pitched the final three innings without allowing a run. He allowed just one baserunner, a two-out double in the eighth inning. Effross struck out two.

The Ems banged out 13 hits tonight and 12 of them were singles. Shortstop Andrew Ely was a perfect 4 for 4 with a walk. Ely scored twice and drove one run in.

Center fielder Donnie Dewees was 3 for 5 with three stolen bases. Dewees scored once and had one RBI. Left fiedler Eloy Jimenez was 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored. He also had a sacrifice fly.

Catcher Ian Rice was 2 for 4 with an RBI. He was also hit by a pitch.

AZL Cubs

Off day.