Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 17

The Cubs were one-hit three times tonight. They went 1-2 in those three games.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs swept a doubleheader from the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Brewers), 1-0 and 6-0.

The story of game one is that Sky Sox starter Angel Ventura retired the first 18 I-Cubs and had a perfect game going into the seventh and final inning. Left fielder John Andreoli hit a walkoff home run to lead off the seventh. It was Andreoli’s 12th home run of the season.

Jen-Ho Tseng started the game for the I-Cubs and he wasn’t as good as Ventura, but he didn’t allow a run over six innings and that’s all that matters. Tseng gave up two hits. He walked four and struck out two.

Jack Leathersich bounced back from his last appearance and pitched a scoreless top of the ninth to get the win. Leathersich hit one batter with one out and the next batter then singled. But he struck out the final two batters of the inning to preserve the scoreless tie.

In game two, Williams Perez pitched a seven-inning shutout. Perez allowed just two hits. He walked two and struck out five.

Second baseman Mike Freeman and right fielder Bijan Rademacher hit back-to-back solo home runs in the top of the seventh. (The game was a makeup of a game rained out in Colorado Springs, so Iowa batted first, even though the game was played in Des Moines.) Freeman was 1 for 2 with two walks. He scored twice. Rademacher was 2 for 4.

Shortstop Elliot Soto was 2 for 3 with an RBI double.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies scored seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning but then gave up six runs in the top of the ninth to fall to the Chattanooga Lookouts (Twins), 12-11.

Duane Underwood Jr. took a step backwards tonight as he allowed five runs on four hits over four innings. Underwood walked three and hit two batters while striking out four.

James Norwood took the loss in relief. Norwood only allowed one run on one hit over one-third of an inning, but he walked three and allowed all three inherited runners to score as well. The only out he recorded was a sacrifice fly.

First baseman Yasiel Balaguert hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to give the Smokies an early lead. Balaguert now has 14 home runs this season. He was 2 for 6.

In the fifth inning, third baseman Jason Vosler hit his second home run in as many nights and third in the last six games. It came with a man on. Vosler now has 18 home runs this year. He was 2 for 5 with a walk tonight. He scored twice and had three total RBI.

Second baseman David Bote was 4 for 6 with a double and two runs scored.

Left fielder Charcer Burks was 2 for 5 with a walk and a stolen base. Burks scored twice and had two runs batted in.

Center fielder Trey Martin went 3 for 5 with a three-run double in the eighth inning. Right fielder Jeffrey Baez was a perfect 2 for 2 with a double and three walks. Baez scored once.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans ran past the Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox), 13-6.

Duncan Robinson turned in five innings of scoreless baseball for the win. Robinson gave up three hits. He struck out one and didn’t walk anyone.

Catcher P.J. Higgins went 3 for 6. He drove in one run and scored once.

DH Zack Short was 2 for 3 with two walks and one hit-by-pitch. Short scored once.

Third baseman Jesse Hodges was 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored three runs and drove home one.

Second baseman Vimael Machin was 2 for 5 with a double. He scored twice and had one RBI.

Right fielder Robert Garcia went 2 for 4 with a sac fly. He scored twice. Left fielder Roberto Caro was 2 for 5 with a two-run triple in the top of the ninth. He later scored that inning. Caro had three total RBI.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were cooked by the Ft. Wayne TinCaps (Padres), 7-0.

Tyson Miller started and took the loss. He gave up three runs on seven hits over 5.2 innings. Miller struck out six and didn’t walk anyone.

Two Ft. Wayne pitchers, Lake Bachar and Jose Galindo, combined to retire the first 26 Cubs batters of this game. With two out in the bottom of the ninth, DH Jhonny Pereda broke up the perfect game with a double. He was South Bend’s only baserunner of the night.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds were tripped up by the Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks) 3-0.

Brendan Little allowed three runs, all in the second inning, and got his first professional loss. Little allowed the three runs on two hits and a walk in four innings. One of the three runs was unearned. Little struck out three.

The Ems had only one hit in this game, a single to lead off the third inning by left fielder Jose Gonzalez, who only entered the game in the second inning because Chris Carrier left the game after crashing into the fence making a catch in the first inning.

Here’s the catch.

AZL Cubs

Off day.