Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: September 4

Congratulations to Tennessee Smokies pitcher Ryan Williams, who was your choice for the Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Month!

We'll do a Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year vote sometime next week.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs decommissioned the Round Rock Express (Rangers), 8-1.

Dallas Beeler didn't go 6.2 or more innings tonight, snapping a streak of going at least that far at five starts. But Beeler did allow only one run over five innings as he picked up his eighth win. Beeler allowed seven hits. He had some control issues as he walked four and struck out only one.

First baseman Chris Valaika hit a two-run home run in the second inning, giving the i-Cubs a lead they would never relinquish. Valaika was 1 for 5 and the home run was his seventh this season with Iowa.

Second baseman Arismendy Alcantara was 3 for 5 with a double and a stolen base. Alcantara had two RBI and scored once.

DH Taylor Teagarden went 2 for 5 with a two-run double in the sixth. He also scored twice. Catcher Taylor Davis was 3 for 5.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were steamed by the Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers), 7-3.

Starting pitcher Pierce Johnson allowed only one run on eight hits over seven innings. Johnson struck out three and walked only one.

Neil Ramirez replaced Johnson as part of his rehab assignment and took the loss after he was charged with two runs on one hit and a walk over two-thirds of an inning. Ramirez struck out one. But the real culprit here was Matt Brazis, who relieved Ramirez with runners on first and second and two outs. He then proceeded to walk four of the next five batters as part of a six-run seventh inning for the Shuckers. The one batter Brazis didn't walk, he hit with a pitch.

Jacob Hannemann led off the game with his sixth home run of the season. Hannemann was 2 for 4 and scored twice.

Third baseman Jeimer Candelario was 1 for 2 with three walks and an RBI.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans shut out the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Royals), 4-0.

Brad Markey was the story of this game as the Pelicans starter shut down the Blue Rocks for seven innings. Markey gave up just three hits, all singles. Markey walked nobody and struck out six as he improved his record on the season to 7-0.

Catcher Ben Carhart was 2 for 3 with a walk and an RBI. Third baseman Jason Vosler was 2 for 4 with one run scored and one RBI.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs stopped the Dayton Dragons (Reds), 5-3.

Zach Hedges started and got the win after allowing just one run on three hits over five innings. He struck out three and walked one.

Third baseman Jordan Hankins had an RBI single in the third inning and a two-run single in the seventh.  He was 2 for 3 and was hit by a pitch.

Second baseman Angelo Amendolare was 2 for 4 and scored twice.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds were shut out by the Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks), 2-0.

Kyle Twomey started and took the loss after being charged with two runs on three hits over 2.2 innings. Twomey struck out three and walked one.

Preston Morrison pitched 3.1 innings and allowed only one baserunner. Unfortunately, the baserunner was a double to the first batter he faced that scored two runners inherited from Twomey that were the only two runs of the game. Morrison struck out three.

DH Ian Rice was 2 for 3, which was two of Eugene's three hits.

Salem-Keizer beat Boise, so the Emeralds magic number to clinch a playoff spot remains at two with two games to play.