Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 25

The Cubs signed Emilio Bonifacio to a minor league contract and assigned him to Iowa. Rubi Silva was released.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs split a day-night doubleheader with the Fresno Grizzlies (Astros), winning the day game 3-2 and dropping the nightcap 7-3.

Drake Britton started the first game and allowed two runs on five hits over 4.1 innings. Britton struck out three and walked one.

Because Britton didn't go five innings, the win went the Ryan Buchter, who pitched 1.2 innings without giving up a run or a hit. He walked one and struck out one.

Brian Schlitter pitched the seventh inning and he got in a little trouble as he walked the first two batters of the inning. But after a fly to center and a ground ball double play, Schlitter had his 21st save.

DH Matt Szczur hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning to open up the scoring. It was Szczur's eighth minor league home run. He was 1 for 1 and was hit by a pitch.

The other two Iowa runs came on a two-run single in the fourth by left fielder Mike Baxter. Baxter was 2 for 3 with a triple.

In game two, starter Felipe Paulino took the loss after giving up six runs on seven hits over five innings. Two of the six runs Paulino allowed were unearned. Paulino walked five and struck out two.

First baseman Mike Olt was 2 for 3.

By winning game two, the Grizzlies clinched their first division title since 1998. Not coincidentally, it's their first season as an Astros affiliate after having been a Giants affiliate since their founding in 1998.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were spotted by the Chattanooga Lookouts (Twins), 4-3.

Starter Felix Peña pitched the first six innings and allowed two runs on five hits. One of the two runs was unearned. Peña struck out four and walked one.

Juan Paniagua pitched the seventh inning and allowed two runs, one earned, on one hit and one walk. He did not strike anyone out.

Center fielder Albert Almora was 2 for 4. He scored once and had one RBI. Catcher Willson Contreras was 2 for 4 with one RBI and right fielder Bijan Rademacher was just 2 for 4.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans scored four runs in the seventh inning to slow down the Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox), 4-2.

Jen-Ho Tseng started and got the win after pitching seven innings and surrendering two runs on four hits. He struck out a career-high nine and walked only one.

David Garner pitched the final two innings for his second save. Garner gave up one hit, but no runs. He struck out three and walked one.

Third baseman Jason Vosler was 2 for 3 with a walk and an RBI double. He later scored in the seventh when Carlos Penalver walked with the bases loaded. Penalver was 0 for 3 with the walk.

Catcher Victor Caratini was 2 for 4 and scored when Pin-Chieh Chen was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded again in the seventh.

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South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were smashed by the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers), 7-2.

Starter Trevor Clifton took the loss after allowing three runs on five hits over five innings. Clifton had some control issues as he walked five and he struck out five.

The only two South Bend runs came on a two-run single by center fielder Rashad Crawford in the fifth inning. Crawford was 1 for 3.

Shortstop Gleyber Torres was 2 for 4.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds swept a doubleheader from the Spokane Indians (Rangers), winning the continuation of yesterday's game 5-1 and taking the regularly-scheduled game 6-3.

Carson Sands started this game yesterday and allowed one run on one hit over three innings before the lights went out. Sands struck out four and walked one.

Jose Paulino picked up today where Sands left off and got the win after pitching 4.2 scoreless innings. Paulino gave up five hits. He walked two and struck out five.

Mark Malave got his third save of the season and first with Eugene after throwing the final 1.1 innings without allowing a run (and stranding two inherited from Paulino). Malave gave up one hit and walked one. He did not strike anyone out.

Left fielder Eloy Jimenez hit two home runs in this game, one yesterday and one today. The first one was a two-run home run in the first inning and the second was a solo shot in the sixth. He was 2 for 4.

Andrew Ely was 2 for 4 with a double and a triple. He scored once. Right fielder Alex Bautista was 2 for 4 with one run scored and one run batted in.

In game two, starter Justin Steele was charged with two runs on two hits over 2.2 innings. Steele walked three and struck out no one.

Steele gave way to Jae-Hoon Ha in the third inning and was greeted with a two-run double with both runs being charged to Steele. But Ha ended the inning by retiring the next batter with a ground out and pitched a perfect fourth inning and got the win. Ha struck out one.

Craig Brooks struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning for his first career save.

In the third inning, Jimenez hit his second home run of the day and third of the doubleheader (you don't hear that very often) with two men on. Jimenez was 1 for 3 and now has seven home runs this season.

Center fielder Donnie Dewees was 2 for 4 with a double and a steal. He scored twice. Second baseman P.J. Higgins was 2 for 4 with one run scored and one run driven in.

Third baseman Blake Headley was 2 for 3. He had an RBI double in the fourth inning and later scored that inning.

The Ems now have a three-game lead over Salem-Keizer for the second-half playoff berth.

AZL Cubs

Had a doubleheader rained out.