Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 21

Smokies outfielder Charcer Burks was named Southern League Player of the Week.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were blinded by the Nashville Sounds (Athletics), 7-0.

Starter Seth Frankoff allowed a three-run home run to Joey Wendle before retiring a single batter, and things went downhill from there. Frankoff allowed seven runs on nine hits, including two home runs, over 5.2 innings. He walked three and struck out two.

Shortstop Mike Freeman was 2 for 4 with a double. Left fielder Bijan Rademacher was 2 for 4.

At least they got to be in Nashville to see the total eclipse and all the festivities.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were battered by the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 5-1.

The poor second half of starter Trevor Clifton continued as for the second time in four starts, Clifton only managed to last one inning. Clifton allowed five runs on six hits. One of the five runs was unearned. Clifton struck out two and didn’t walk anyone.

The Smokies pitching staff didn’t allow another hit the rest of the way. James Pugliese pitched three innings, Steve Perakslis two and Jake Stinnett two.

First baseman Yasiel Balaguert was 1 for 3 with a walk and an RBI single in the fourth inning.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Off day.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs finished off a four-game sweep of the Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays), 8-7 in 11 innings.

Starting pitcher Erling Moreno gave up three runs in the first inning, but then settled down and finished with four runs on seven hits over five innings. Moreno walked two and struck out two.

Wyatt Short pitched two innings without allowing a run to get the win, but it was not without extreme weirdness. With one out in the bottom of the tenth inning, Short walked one batter and then gave up a double to right field. The runner on first tried to score but was thrown out at the plate. Then the batter tried to go to third and turned it into an inning-ending 9-4-2-5 double play.

The final line on Short was two hits and a walk over two innings. He struck out one.

After South Bend scored twice in the top of the 11th, Manuel Rodriguez pitched the bottom of the inning and got the save although not without trouble. Rodriguez allowed one run and then put the tying and winning runs on second and third with one out. But a ground ball to shortstop got an out at the plate and then a grounder to first ended the game.

The final line on Rodriguez was one run on one hit and two walks in one inning. He struck out one.

Right fielder Chris Pieters gave South Bend the lead with a two-run single in the top of the 11th. Pieters was 3 for 4 with a walk and he scored twice.

Shortstop Aramis Ademan hit a solo home run in the third inning, his seventh of the season and third for South Bend. Ademan was 3 for 6 with a double and a stolen base. He scored twice.

Left fielder Luis Ayala went 2 for 6 with one run batted in.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds tarred and feathered the Boise Hawks (Rockies), 6-0.

Bailey Clark started and got the win with five scoreless innings. Clark allowed three hits. He struck out three and walked three.

Rollie Lacy, the Cubs’ 11th round pick out of Creighton in June, made his Eugene debut tonight and pitched the final four innings for the save. He allowed just two hits. Lacy struck out four and didn’t walk anyone.

Second baseman Jhonny Bethencourt was 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored three times and had two runs batted in.

Right fielder Jose Gonzalez was 2 for 4 with a two-run double.

First baseman Gustavo Polanco went 3 for 4 with one run scored. Catcher Miguel Amaya was 2 for 4 and scored one run.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Giants, 9-3.