Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 18

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were stung by the Salt Lake Bees (Angels), 12-7.

Trevor Cahill started on a rehab appearance and he gave up three runs on on four hits over 2.2 innings. All three runs plated in the first inning. Cahill walked three and struck out three.

Miguel Mejia took the loss in relief. He got tagged for five runs on five hits in 3.1 innings. Mejia walked one and struck out one.

DH Dan Vogelbach hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to get Iowa a run closer. It was his 16th blast of the season. Vogelbach was 4 for 5.

Center fielder John Andreoli went 2 for 5 with a triple and three RBI. He scored once.

First baseman Taylor Davis was 2 for 4 with a triple and a walk. He scored once. Second baseman Kristopher Negron was 2 for 5 and scored once.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies scored twice in the eighth and twice in the ninth to knead the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 4-2.

Good start for Paul Blackburn today as he gave up just one unearned run on only two hits over six innings. Blackburn did walk three but he struck out seven.

Nick Sarianides pitched a perfect bottom of the eighth, striking out two. That performance got him his first win in the Cubs organization. James Farris was perfect in the bottom of the ninth to get the save. Farris did not have a strikeout.

Yesterday's hero, Trey Martin, tied this game up in the top of the eighth with a two-run double. He was 1 for 3.

Catcher Ben Carhart was 2 for 4.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans dashed the hopes of the Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox), 15-2.

Jonathan Martinez was the beneficiary of this offensive explosion, picking up the win after allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits over six innings. He walked one and struck out four.

Shortstop Gleyber Torres was 4 for 5 with two doubles, a triple and a walk. Torres scored three times and drove in three runs.

Center fielder Jeffrey Baez went 4 for 4 with a double and two walks. Baez also stole a base. He scored three runs.

Left fielder Charcer Burks was 3 for 6 with a double. He had two RBI and scored two runs.

First baseman Yasiel Balaguert hit two doubles and had four RBI in a 2 for 6 night. Third baseman David Bote was 2 for 3 with three walks two runs scored.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were mauled by the Kane County Cougars (Diamondbacks), 5-2.

Starter Ryan Kellogg took the loss. He allowed four runs on nine hits over five innings. He struck out four and walked no one.

Third baseman Bryant Flete drove in both Cubs runs today. He had a solo home run in the seventh inning and an RBI single in the fourth. He was 2 for 4. The home run was his third this year.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds grounded the Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks), 6-4.

Oscar De La Cruz made his Ems season debut tonight and he was terrific for four innings. De La Cruz allowed just one unearned run and two hits. He walked just one (although he did hit two batters) and he struck out seven.

M.T. Minacci took the win with three innings of scoreless relief. Minacci gave up one hit and he walked one while striking out three.

Mark Malave pitched the final two innings for the save. He gave up just one hit. Malave walked one and struck out three.

Left fielder Robert Garcia was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. First baseman Chris Pieters was 2 for 4 and stole two bases. He scored once.

Eugene's best offensive weapon tonight was the Hops' five errors.

The win cuts the Ems magic number to clinch the first-half title and a playoff berth to one with seven games to play.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Athletics, 3-2.

The six Cubs pitchers struck out 20 batters between them.