Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: September 1

Don't forget to vote for the minor league player of the month. The winner will be announced tomorrow in this space and the Pitcher of the Month vote will run on Thursday so as not to conflict with tomorrow's day game.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs dropped a doubleheader to the Oklahoma City Dodgers, 6-4 in 19 innings and 3-1.

The first game of this doubleheader was the longest game in Iowa Cubs history and the longest game in the history of OKC's Bricktown Ballpark.

Starter Michael Wagner allowed two runs, one earned, on one hit and three walks over four innings. Wagner struck out three.

Armando Rivero and Ryan Buchter both pitched two scoreless innings and it looked like Iowa was going to win this game in the tenth inning when they took a 4-2 lead. But Yoervis Medina, who had pitched a scoreless ninth inning, walked the first batter of the tenth, Darwin Barney, and then gave up an RBI double to Corey Seager. Blake Cooper came in to relieve Medina but he was greeted by a game-tying double. Cooper did do a good job of pitching out of bases-loaded one-out jam when he induced a 3-2-3 double play.

Cooper stayed in the game and was credited with four scoreless innings. Then P.J. Francescon pitched four scoreless inning. Frank Batista, who was scheduled to start tomorrow's game, pitched a scoreless 18th inning. But then after Iowa failed to score after loading the bases with one out in the top of the 19th, Batista gave up a walkoff two-run home run after two were out in the bottom of the 19th.

Second baseman Emilio Bonifacio was 4 for 6 with three walks and three steals in this game. He scored twice.

Third baseman Christian Villanueva was 2 for 7 with a double. He had one RBI and one run scored. Third baseman Taylor Davis was 3 for 9 with two doubles. He scored once and had one RBI.

Shortstop Chris Valaika was 2 for 8 with a triple. Left fielder Mike Baxter was 2 for 6 with two walks.

Did I mention this was scheduled to be a 7-inning game? Did I mention there were several great defensive plays that kept the game going, as well as several screaming line drives that were just foul? Did I mention that Taylor Teagarden caught all 19 innings? (He was 1 for 6 with a double and two walks.)

In game two, Carlos Pimentel threw a six-inning complete game and lost. He had to, because he was the only pitcher that Iowa had available. (Oklahoma City was able to get Deck McGuire to drive the 100 miles from Double-A Tulsa and get their in time for the second game.) Pimentel didn't allow a hit before the fifth inning, but he gave up three runs in the sixth and had no bullpen to pick him up. Pimentel allowed three runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out four. Pimentel even had to bat with the bases loaded and two out in the top of the seventh. He grounded into a fielder's choice to end the game.

Right fielder Mike Baxter was 1 for 2 with a double and a walk in game two. He scored once.

With the doubleheader sweep, Oklahoma City's magic number to clinch the division dropped to one. So tonight pretty much ended Iowa's postseason hopes.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were blinded by the light of the Jacksonville Suns (Marlins), 11-0.

Starter Jeffry Antigua took the loss after pitching four innings and allowing three runs on seven hits, including a home run to the first batter of the game. Antigua walked three and struck out six.

Right fielder Bijan Rademacher was 3 for 4 with a walk. Shortstop Bryant Flete was 2 for 3 with a walk.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were filibustered by the Potomac Nationals, 4-3.

Starter Tyler Skulina was fantastic tonight, retiring the first 12 batters in order (despite an error on a dropped foul pop) before hitting a batter to start the fifth inning. He gave up a single to the next batter, but then a fly out and two strikeouts ended the threat and the night for Skulina. In his five innings, Skulina struck out five.

David Garner pitched a perfect eighth inning, but when he came out in the ninth with the Pelicans leading 3-0, he walked the first three batters before giving way to Jasvir Rakkar. Rakkar took the loss after the first three batters he faced greeted him with singles to tie the game. After getting the first out of the inning with the bases still loaded, Rakkar gave up a game-ending sacrifice fly to take the loss.

The Pelicans drew an unbelievable 16 walks in this game. Chesny Young was 0 for 2 with four walks. Mark Zagunis was 1 for 2 with three walks and one run scored. Victor Caratini was 0 for 2 with three walks and one run scored.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs swept the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays), 9-2.

Tommy Thorpe pitched the first six innings and allowed one run on three hits. Thorpe struck out four, walked one and got his fifth win of the year.

Shortstop Gleyber Torres was 3 for 4 with two doubles. He scored one run and had one RBI.

Second baseman Angelo Amendolare, in his first start for South Bend, went 2 for 3 with two doubles and a walk. Amendolare had three RBI and he scored once.

DH Ian Happ was 2 for 3 with two walks. Happ scored twice and drove one run in.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds capped the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants), 5-2.

Justin Steele allowed only one baserunner in his four innings of work, a single to lead off the second inning. Steele struck out four.

Second baseman P.J. Higgins was 3 for 4 with a double and a run scored. First baseman Blake Headley was 3 for 4 with a double and a stolen base. He also scored once. Third baseman Adonis Paula was 2 for 4 with an RBI.

AZL Cubs

Lost their suspended playoff game to the Mariners, 3-1.

This ends the Cubs rookie ball team's season. They finished the regular season at 31-22 and were 0-1 in the playoffs.