Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 19

So close to the system going 8-0 tonight.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs shut up the Nashville Sounds (Athletics), 4-0.

Matt Swarmer made his Triple-A debut in this game, having been promoted from Low-A South Bend earlier in the day. He certainly looked like he belonged in the PCL as he tossed seven scoreless innings. Swarmer gave up four hits. He struck out seven and walked just one. Not bad for a guy who was pitching in Eugene three weeks ago.

DH Ali Solis was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI single in the second inning.

Third baseman Mike Freeman went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI.

Left fielder Bijan Rademacher went 2 for 5 with a double.

All nine I-Cubs in the starting lineup had at least one hit.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies blinded the Chattanooga Lookouts (Twins) 6-4.

Zach Hedges pitched the first seven innings and got his ninth win of the season. He surrendered just one run on a solo home run in the fifth inning and four hits total. Hedges walked two and struck out two.

Second baseman Andrew Ely hit a solo home run in the second inning, only his second of the season. Ely was a perfect 3 for 3 with a walk tonight. He scored twice and had two RBI.

Left fielder Daniel Spingola was 3 for 4 with two doubles. He scored one run.

Center fielder Charcer Burks was 3 for 4 with a sacrifice fly. Right fielder Jeffrey Baez went 2 for 5.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans swept a doubleheader from the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Royals), 9-1 and 4-2.

In game one, starter Kyle Miller pitched four innings without allowing a run or a hit. He walked one and struck out two.

Dakota Mekkes pitched the next two innings and got the win because Miller didn’t go five innings. Mekkes gave up one run on three hits. He struck out three and didn’t walk anyone.

DH Tyler Alamo hit two home runs in the first game: a two-run home run in the third inning and a solo home run in the fifth. Alamo was 3 for 4 with a walk and ten total bases in a seven-inning game. He had just the three total RBI and he scored three runs.

Catcher Tyler Pearson broke a scoreless tie in the second inning with a solo home run, his fourth on the year. Pearson went 2 for 3 with a double and two runs scored.

Shortstop Zack Short also hit a solo home run in this game. His came in the fourth inning. Short has now hit 13 home runs this season, six in Myrtle Beach. Short was 1 for 5.

In game two, Thomas Hatch started and got the win. Hatch went five innings and allowed two runs on six hits. Only one of the two runs was earned. Hatch struck out four and didn’t walk anyone.

Pedro Araujo pitched the final two innings for the save. He retired all six batters in order, three by strikeout.

Alamo hit his third home run of the day in game two, a two-run blast in the fourth inning. He was 1 for 3.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs stripped the Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays), 5-3.

Starter Jose Paulino went six innings and allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits. Paulinos struck out five, walked one and hit one batter.

Elvis Diaz relieved Paulino in the seventh inning with the Cubs hanging on to a 3-2 lead. He gave up a run on two hits in the one inning he pitched, but he got the win when South Bend retook the lead in the top of the eighth. Diaz struck out one. He did not walk anyone, but he did hit one batter, who ended up scoring.

Wyatt Short pitched the final two innings without allowing a run for the save. He loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but got out of the jam with a strikeout. He gave up two hits. He walked one, hit one batter and struck out one.

Catcher Tyler Payne retook the lead for the Cubs with a two-run double in the eighth inning. He was 1 for 4.

Third baseman Andruw Monasterio was 2 for 3 with a two-run triple in the fourth inning. He was also hit by a pitch. Monasterio also scored after the triple.

Shortstop Aramis Ademan was 2 for 5 with a double.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds were devalued by the Boise Hawks (Rockies), 6-5.

Starter Alex Lange allowed two runs on four hits over 2.2 innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Also, this was Lange’s final game of the season. He’s returning to LSU to finish his degree.

The Ems had a 5-4 lead heading to the top of the ninth inning, but Luis Aquino blew the save and took the loss. Aquino allowed two runs after getting a strikeout with two outs in the ninth, but a wild pitch allowed the batter to reach and a run to score from third. Then that runner would steal second and score the eventual winning run on a single. The final line on Aquino was two runs on two hits in one inning. He struck out two and didn’t walk anyone.

Shortstop Rafael Narea was 3 for 4 with one RBI.

AZL Cubs

Swept a doubleheader from the Indians, 1-0 in eight innings and 5-3.

Both Alec Mills and Oscar De La Cruz threw two scoreless innings in game one in rehab appearances. Neither one allowed a hit.