Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 4

I’m back from my mini-vacation. I know most of you didn’t even notice I was gone. Thanks to Al for filling in for me.

Congratulations to Jen-Ho Tseng, who was your choice for the BCB Pitcher of the Month for July!

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs caught the Fresno Grizzlies (Astros) hibernating, 5-4.

Starter Aaron Brooks got the win as he pitched six innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits. He controlled the strike zone as he struck out seven and walked just one.

Dillon Maples faced five batters and he got six outs. He entered the game with a man on and no outs in the eighth inning. He got a foul out and a double play to end the threat. He then pitched a perfect ninth inning, striking out two for the save.

First baseman Victor Caratini hit a solo home run in the second inning. It was his ninth minor league home run this season. (He had one in the majors, of course.) Caratini was 2 for 4.

DH Jemile Weeks was 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies reeled in the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Reds), 5-4.

It was a strong start for Duane Underwood Jr. tonight, as he got his 11th win after allowing just two runs on four hits over seven innings. Most impressively, Underwood struck out seven and didn’t walk anyone. He didn’t hit any batters either. At the plate, Underwood was 2 for 3 with two RBI.

Craig Brooks pitched the ninth inning and he gave up two runs, which were the first runs he has allowed since June 13. But it was enough to get the save anyway. Brooks gave up three hits and he walked one while striking out two. All the runs scored after two were out.

Catcher Erick Castillo was 3 for 4 with a double and a two-run single. He scored once.

First baseman Yasiel Balaguert was 2 for 3 with a walk and one run scored.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans split a doubleheader with the Salem Red Sox, losing game one 11-6 in eight innings and winning the second game 4-1.

Starter Thomas Hatch went five innings and allowed six runs on nine hits. Hatch walked three and struck out two.

David Berg pitched the other three innings and he held the Red Sox in check for the first two of those innings. But in the top of the eighth, Berg allowed five runs, although only one of them was earned. The final line on Berg was five runs, one earned, on five hits over three innings. He walked two and struck out one.

Right fielder Eddy Martinez hit a three-run home run in the third inning, his 14th on the season. Martinez went 1 for 3 with a walk.

Center fielder Connor Myers went 2 for 3 with an RBI in game one. Left fielder Robert Garcia went 2 for 4.

In game two, Kyle Miller started and got the win after allowing just one unearned run over five innings. Miller surrendered four hits. He walked two and struck out three.

Scott Effross pitched the final two innings without allowing a run or a hit, although he did walk one batter and he hit one batter. Effross struck out three as he picked up his fifth save.

Catcher Tyler Pearson gave the Pelicans a 2-1 lead with a two-run home run in the second inning. It was his second home run of the season. Pearson was 2 for 3.

Shortstop Zack Short chipped in an extra run with a solo home run in the third. It was Short’s tenth home run this season and third with the Pelicans. Short went 2 for 4.

Eddy Martinez was a perfect 2 for 2 with a walk in game two. He scored twice. Third baseman Adonis Paula was 2 for 3 with an RBI.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs sunk the Lake County Captains (Indians), 15-9.

Erling Moreno threw the first three innings and allowed just one run on two hits. But mostly on a solo home run he allowed to the second batter he faced in the first inning. Moreno struck out three and walked nobody.

Because Moreno didn’t go five innings, the win went to Tyson Miller, which only goes to show the silliness of the win statistic. Miller pitched the next 5+ innings, but he gave up six runs on ten hits. He walked one and struck out one.

Shortstop Aramis Ademan had a big night, going 3 for 6 with his first low-A home run. It came with a man on in the third inning and was his fifth overall home run. Ademan had four overall RBI and he scored twice. He also stole one base.

Catcher Tyler Payne hit a three-run home run in the second inning. It was his fifth home run of the season and fourth with South Bend. Payne went 1 for 5.

Third baseman Andruw Monasterio was 3 for 4 with a double and scored a career-high four runs. Center fielder D.J. Wilson went 2 for 5 with a walk and two steals. Wilson had one RBI and he scored twice.

Right fielder Kevonte Mitchell was 3 for 4 with a double and two walks. Mitchell stole one base. He scored twice and had one RBI.

DH Jhonny Pereda was 2 for 4 and was hit by a pitch. Pereda scored twice and had two RBI.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds beat the Spokane Indians (Rangers), 8-5.

First-round pick Alex Lange made his professional debut tonight and he pitched two perfect innings, striking out three.

The win went to Carson Sands, because the Ems took the lead for good while he was on the mound with a seven-run fourth inning. But Sands allowed three runs on two hits, two walks and two hit batsmen over two innings. Sands struck out one.

Brian Glowicki pitched a perfect ninth inning for his third save. He did not have a strikeout.

Right fielder Brandon Hughes went 2 for 4 with a walk and one run scored. Second baseman Jared Young was 2 for 5 and scored twice.

Center fielder Chris Singleton made his Ems debut a successful one when he hit a three-run double in the fourth inning. Singleton was 1 for 4 with a walk.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Mariners 5-3.