Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 23

Less than two weeks to go until the end of the minor league season. Then the playoffs.

Pelicans trainer Toby Williams was named Carolina League Trainer of the Year. Congratulations!

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs flew higher than the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals), 3-2.

Josh Collmenter held the Redbirds scoreless for four innings, allowing just three hits. He walked one and struck out two.

Jose Rosario threw a perfect top of the eighth for his first Iowa win. He struck out one.

Gerardo Concepcion was perfect in the ninth for his first save of the season. Concepcion also struck out one.

Munenori Kawasaki hit a sac fly in the eighth inning that scored Taylor Davis to break a 2-2 tie. Kawasaki was 0 for 1 and Davis was 0 for 2 with a walk.

Stephen Bruno put the first run of the game on the board with a home run in the fourth inning. It was Bruno's first ever Triple-A home run and first of the season. Bruno went 1 for 4.

Third baseman Tommy La Stella was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies swept a doubleheader from the Jackson Generals (Mariners), 4-2 in ten innings and 11-5.

Jen-Ho Tseng came within one out of a (seven-inning) complete game win in game one, but he allowed the game-tying home run to pinch-hitter Ryan Casteel in the bottom of the seventh. The final line on Tseng was two runs on six hits over 6.2 innings. Both runs allowed by Tseng came on solo home runs. Tseng walked one and struck out four.

David Berg pitched a scoreless ninth and tenth innings to get the win. Berg allowed one hit but no walks. He struck out four.

All four Smokies runs in game one came on a pair of two-run home runs. The first was right fielder Kelly Dugan's 11th of the year in the fifth inning. And then Ben Carhart broke the 2-2 tie in the top of the tenth with a two-run blast of his own. It was Carhart's third this year. Both Dugan and Carhart were 2 for 4. Dugan was on base when Carhart hit his blast, so he scored two runs.

Starling Peralta started game two and got into trouble, allowing five runs on six hits in 3+ innings. Peralta walked three and struck out one.

Juan Paniagua came on in the fourth inning with a runner on first after Peralta had allowed three runs and hadn't retired anyone. Paniagua then got 12 outs over the next 11 batters. He got out of the fourth with a fly out and a double play and then was perfect for the next three innings. Paniagua struck out two.

Carhart and Dugan were at it again in game two, as both homered in game two as well. Carhart's fourth home run came with a man on in the second inning. Dugan hit a solo home run in the fifth. Carhart was 3 for 4 with three RBI and two runs scored in game two and Dugan was 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles and his 12th home run. Dugan had three RBI and scored twice.

First baseman David Freitas hit a pair of doubles in a 2 for 3 game. He also reached on catcher's interference. Freitas scored three times and had two RBI.

Third baseman Chesny Young went 2 for 5 and scored once. Left fielder Lane Adams was 2 for 4 with a double and two steals. He also scored one run.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans reeled in the Carolina Mudcats (Braves), 7-0.

Trevor Clifton was strong in his 6.2 inning start, allowing just three hits. Clifton struck out ten and walked only two. It was Clifton's seventh win of the season.

Third baseman David Bote was 3 for 5 with a pair of doubles. Bote scored two runs and drove home one.

Center fielder Donnie Dewees went 2 for 5 with a double. Dewees also scored twice and had one RBI.

DH Ian Rice was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He had three RBI.

Right fielder Jeffrey Baez went 2 for 5 with an RBI. Baez also stole his 36th base of the season.

The Pelicans magic number to make the playoffs is now two. They only have a one-game lead over first-half champion Salem, however, and they'll want to win the division or Salem will host all three games of the first round.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were carried out to sea by the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers), 6-5.

Oscar De La Cruz had no problems for the Cubs tonight, throwing five scoreless innings and allowing just five hits. De La Cruz struck out six and walked two.

Carson Sands got hammered for four runs in the sixth and two in the seventh to take the loss. Sands allowed six runs on eight hits over just 1.2 innings. But hey, one of the six runs was unearned. Sands walked one and struck out three.

Left fielder Eloy Jimenez hit a solo home run in the fifth inning, his 13th of the season. Jimenez was 1 for 5.

Second baseman Carlos Sepulveda was 2 for 5 with a double and he scored once. Shortstop Andruw Monasterio was 2 for 3 with a walk and one run scored.

DH Adonis Paula was 2 for 3 with a two-run double in the fourth inning.  Third baseman Vimael Machin was 2 for 3 with a walk. Machin had one RBI and he scored once.

Here's a great catch by center fielder Connor Myers in this game:

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds were polished by the Everett AquaSox (Mariners), 3-1.

Dylan Cease started this game he he allowed just one run and one hit over four innings. Cease walked two and struck out seven.

Duncan Robinson took the hard-luck loss. Robinson allowed just one unearned run in three innings of relief. Robinson gave up two hits and he walked one while striking out four.

Both teams only had four hits in this game, but Everett was able to capitalize on two Ems errors. DH Jose Paniagua was 1 for 3 with an RBI double in the second inning.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Giants, 5-3.