Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 9

Are you old enough to remember when the Cubs would be trailing by six runs in the ninth and Jack Brickhouse assured you that the game wasn't over and that the Cubs just needed a hit here, a hit there and then a blast and they'd be right back in this game? It's too bad Brickhouse isn't around to see what the South Bend Cubs did tonight.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs grounded the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Brewers), 8-5. The win snaps a five-game Iowa losing streak.

Michael Wagner started and pitched the first two innings as the I-Cubs went to a committee approach today. Wagner allowed two runs on four hits. He struck out one and walked one.

Giovanni Soto took over Wagner and threw three perfect innings, striking out six. Then Felix Peña came on and blew the Iowa lead when he allowed three runs in the seventh inning. Peña would then get the win when Iowa came back to score twice in the top of the eighth. He pitched two innings total and allowed the three runs on two hits. Peña walked two and struck out one.

Jose Rosario pitched the bottom of the ninth and got his tenth save of the season and first for Iowa. He faced three batters and got three groundouts.

Right fielder Mark Zagunis got Iowa out to a 1-0 lead with a home run in the top of the first. It was his eighth home run this season and fourth for Iowa. Zagunis was 2 for 5 and scored twice.

Catcher Cael Brockmeyer hit his seventh home run with the bases empty in the third inning. It was Brockmeyer's first career Triple-A home run. Brockmeyer was 1 for 5.

Tim Federowicz hit a pinch-hit, two-run home run in the top of the eight that gave Iowa the lead for good. It was his fourth home run this season.

First baseman David Freitas was 3 for 4 with a double and a walk. Shortstop Kristopher Negron was 2 for 3 with a double, a walk and a sac fly. He also scored one run.

Second baseman Logan Watkins went 2 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were spotted by the Chattanooga Lookouts (Twins), 1-0.

Brad Markey rebounded from his last start to toss six scoreless innings, giving up five hits. Markey struck out three and walked nobody, although he did hit two batters.

Joe Nathan entered a scoreless game in the top of the ninth and gave up a home run to the first batter he faced. Nathan faced four batters, allowed two hits and retired two. He did not have a strikeout.

The Smokies went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position tonight, which pretty much explains the game. Right fielder Billy McKinney was 3 for 4 with a double. DH Bijan Rademacher went 2 for 4. Second baseman Daniel Lockhart was 2 for 3.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans rolled the the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Royals), 8-7.

Not a good start for Jake Stinnett tonight as he surrendered a pair of three-run home runs. Stinnett pitched six innings and allowed six runs on seven hits. He did walk two and struck out six, which is one good sign.

Tommy Thorpe threw one inning of scoreless relief and got the win. Thorpe walked one but allowed no hits. He struck out two.

Ryan McNeil struck out two in a perfect bottom of the ninth for the save.

Shortstop Gleyber Torres was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. Torres stole two bases, scored twice and drove in three runs. April is a long ways away.

Right fielder Jeffrey Baez went 2 for 4 and stole a base. He scored two runs. Center fielder Rashad Crawford had a double and a triple in four ABs. He also walked once. Crawford scored twice and had one RBI.

Catcher Tyler Pearson went 2 for 4 with an RBI double in the second inning.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs scored seven runs in the bottom of the ninth to stun the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays), 12-11. It was South Bend's eighth walkoff win this season.

Justin Steele put the Cubs behind early when he was tagged for four runs in the second inning. Steele lasted one 1.2 innings in his return to South Bend. He allowed two hits, walked two and hit one batter. Steele struck out two. One of the four runs was unearned.

Scott Effross took over for Adbert Alzolay in the ninth inning when Alzolay allowed the first five batter in the inning to reach base, resulting in four runs. (To be fair, Alzolay had pitched five innings of relief without allowing a run before starting the ninth.) Effross allowed one hit (an RBI double) and he hit one batter, but then got a pop out and a double play to end the inning. Effross got the win when South Bend staged their miraculous comeback.

South Bend sent 11 men to the plate in the bottom of the ninth and only one was retired. Donnie Dewees ended the game with an RBI single, his second hit (and second RBI) of the inning. Dewees finished the night 3 for 5 with a double and two runs scored.

Right fielder Eddy Martinez was 3 for 4 with two doubles and a walk. Martinez drove in three runs and scored twice.

Catcher P.J. Higgins was 2 for 4 with a double and two walks. Higgins scored twice.

Center fielder Roberto Caro was 3 for 5. Third baseman Josh Silver went 2 for 5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Second baseman Carlos Sepulveda was 2 for 5 and scored once.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds jumped over the Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks), 5-2.

Jesus Castillo started and got the win. Castillo went 5.2 innings and gave up two runs on four hits. He walked one, hit one batter and struck out an impressive ten batters.

Jared Cheek did not allow a run over the final two innings for his fourth save. Cheek surrendered one hit. He did not walk anyone and he struck out two.

Second baseman Trent Giambrone was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored once. Right fielder Robert Garcia was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI.

Left fielder Chris Pieters hit a two-run triple in the first inning that gave Eugene a lead it would never relinquish. Pieters was 1 for 4.

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Rangers, 6-0.