Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 20

No one told Ryan Court that RAGBRAI doesn’t start until Sunday because he’s already cycling!

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs came from behind and spanked the New Orleans Baby Cakes (Marlins), 10-8.

Jen-Ho Tseng started this game and allowed four runs on seven hits over 4.2 innings. Two of the four runs were unearned. He walked one and struck out two.

Rob Zastryzny got an ugly win tonight. He entered the game in the top of the seventh inning and gave up four runs in the inning to put Iowa behind 8-2. He did retire the side in order in the eighth inning and he got the win after Iowa scored three runs in the seventh and five in the eighth.

The final line on Zastryzny was four runs on three hits and an intentional walk. He struck out three.

Cory Mazzoni pitched the ninth inning and had difficulty nailing down the save, but ultimately got out of the inning. Mazzoni allowed a double and a single to the first two batters he faced in the ninth, but then retired the next three without the runner on third from scoring. Mazzoni struck out the final batter of the game for his only K.

Shortstop Ryan Court hit for the cycle tonight, going 4 for 5 with a solo home run in the seventh inning. Court was the first I-Cub to hit for the cycle since Robin Jennings in 1997. Court also has a 15-game hitting streak. The home run was Court’s ninth home run this year. Court scored four times and had two RBI.

Court’s seventh-inning home run was actually back-to-back with a two-run blast by David Bote, his 13th of the minor league season. (One in the majors, of course.) Bote went 3 for 5. He scored twice (including a dramatic run from first on Court’s triple) and had three RBI.

Catcher Taylor Davis hit a pair of doubles in a 2 for 4 game. He also hit a sacrifice fly that scored Court after his triple and two total runs batted in.

Left fielder Chris Coghlan went 2 for 5 with a two-run triple in that comeback eighth inning. Coghlan scored from third on a single by Bote.

Third baseman Jason Vosler went 2 for 4 and was hit by a pitch. He had one RBI. Vosler entered the game when Chesny Young injured himself while swinging at the plate.

Here are all four hits of Court’s cycle.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were shelled by the Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers), 8-2.

Don’t blame Duncan Robinson, who tossed six scoreless innings. He surrendered five hits. Robinson walked one and struck out four.

Wyatt Short relieved Robinson and had a rough night. Short threw 1.1 innings and gave up six runs on five hits, two of which were home runs: a three-run shot in the seventh and a two-run blast in the eighth. Short walked two and hit one batter. He struck out one.

Right fielder Eddy Martinez hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh to make it 2-0 at the time. It was Martinez’s seventh home run of the year. He was 1 for 3.

Center fielder Wynton Bernard was 2 for 3.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Rained out. No makeup date has been announced yet.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs arrested the Quad Cities River Bandits (Astros), 7-2.

Brendon Little pitched the first five innings and got the win. Little allowed one run on three hits. He struck out five and walked three.

DH Michael Cruz hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning, his 11th on the season. Cruz was 1 for 4 with a bases-loaded walk and three total RBI.

Second baseman Christian Donahue went 3 for 5 with two RBI and one run scored.

Left fielder Chris Singleton was 2 for 5 with a double and one run scored.

Shortstop Clayton Daniel went 2 for 4 with a sacrifice fly and one run scored.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds were blown away by the Tri-City Dust Devils (Padres), 4-1.

Paul Richan got his first pro loss after allowing three runs on three hits over three innings. To be fair, two of the three runs were unearned. Richan walked one and struck out one.

Left fielder Grant Fennell drove in the only Ems run of the gam with a double in the sixth inning. He was 1 for 4.

AZL Cubs

Cubs 1 were off.

Cubs 2 beat Giants Orange, 8-7.