Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 23

Iowa Cubs

Off day

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were not butter than the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 8-7.

The second start of Chris Nunn in the Cubs organization went a lot better than the first. He allowed a two-run home run in the second inning, but those were the only two runs he gave up over five innings. Nunn allowed four hits. He walked four and struck out four. He hit one batter.

The Smokies had a 7-3 lead heading to the bottom of the eighth, but Preston Morrison allowed three runs in the eighth inning and then James Norwood started the eighth inning. He allowed two runs on four hits and only retired one batter. In a sense he was unlucky, as three of the four hits he allowed were infield singles. Norwood did not have a walk or a strikeout.

The meltdown in the late innings wasted a five home run performance by the Smokies, including two by first baseman David Bote and two by third baseman Jason Vosler.

Bote hit a solo home run in the top of the first and a two-run shot in the third. He now has 13 home runs this year. Bote was 2 for 5.

Vosler hit his first home run back-to-back with Bote in the first. He second home run was also a solo home run in the fifth. Vosler was 2 for 3 with a walk.

Shortstop Ozzie Martinez had the other Smokies home run tonight, a solo home run in the fifth inning, just two batters after Vosler’s second shot. Martinez went 1 for 4.

Second baseman Andrew Ely was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were shut out by the Down East Wood Ducks (Rangers), 2-0.

Kyle Miller started and took the loss after he allowed two runs on eight hits over 4.1 innings. He struck out two and walked no one.

DH Adonis Paula was 2 for 4.

Manager Buddy Bailey will have to wait another day to win his 2000th career minor league game.

Highlights:

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs surfed the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers), 2-1.

Manuel Rondon won his 13th game of the season after giving up just one run on five hits over five innings. Rondon struck out three and walked three.

Jhon Romero earned an old-fashioned save tonight as he protected a one-run lead with three innings of scoreless baseball. Romero allowed only one base runner, a walk in the eighth inning to Isaac Paredes, but he erased him with a double play so he faced the minimum nine batters. Romero struck out four.

DH Joe Martarano was 2 for 3 with a double and one run scored.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds were buried by the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants), 4-3.

First-round pick Brenden Little didn’t make it out of the first inning tonight, surrendering four runs on four hits in just two-thirds of an inning. Little walked two and both batters he retired he got with a strikeout.

Eugene scored all three of their runs and had four of their six hits in the fifth inning. DH Michael Cruz went 1 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored one run. Center fielder Chris Singleton was 2 for 4 with two stolen bases.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Padres, 3-2.