Congratulations to Emeralds pitcher Eury Ramos, who was named Northwest League Pitcher of the Week! Ramos threw 6.1 scoreless innings, allowed just one hit and struck out eight in his one appearance last week.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were caught by the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 7-6.
So are you a glass half-empty or a glass half-full guy? Tyler Chatwood started tonight’s game and allowed two runs on three hits and five walks over 4.1 innings. But almost all of that damage was in the second inning, when Chatwood walked four including two batters with the bases loaded. Outside of the second inning, Chatwood was good. He was pulled from the game when he walked the also rehabbing Jorge Soler in the fifth on four pitches, although Gameday had two of those pitches as strikes. Chatwood struck out three, including Soler twice.
Anthony Bass pitched the eighth inning and you’d be hard-pressed to find anything good about his outing. Bass allowed four runs on six hits. He didn’t issue a walk nor did he strike anyone out.
Kris Bryant also played in this game as the DH and he was 0 for 3 with a walk and a strikeout. I should say that Bryant hit the ball hard on both of the balls that were put into play. In fact, one of them was hit so hard that it hit left fielder Paolo Orlando in the glove and bounced out for a two-base error.
Shortstop Mike Freeman went 2 for 4 with a walk, a double and three RBI. He also scored once.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies burned the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 3-1.
Michael Rucker gave the Smokies a strong five innings tonight, allowing just one run on three hits. Rucker struck out three, walked two and hit one batter.
Wyatt Short entered the game with runners on first and third and two outs in the eighth and he got the win when the Cubs scored twice in the top of the ninth. He then went on to pitch a perfect bottom of the ninth to close out the game. Short pitched a perfect 1.1 innings, striking out one.
Shortstop Trent Giambrone tied the game a 1-1 with his 17th home run of the season in the seventh inning. Giambrone went 1 for 3 with a walk.
DH Eddy Martinez had an RBI bloop single to right field to give the Smokies the lead in the ninth inning. Martinez was 2 for 4.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were left on the launchpad by the Buies Creek Astros, 3-2 in ten innings.
Starter Alex Lange gave up two runs on just four hits (including one solo home run) over six innings. Lange walked three and struck out seven.
The loss went to Garrett Kelly, who started the tenth inning but had to be removed with an injury before finishing facing the first batter. But the runner who started the inning on second was charged to him, even though it was Jose Paulino who pitched the tenth inning. Kelly was charged with the walk to the first batter.
The final line on Kelly was one unearned run on no hits over 1+ innings. He walked two and did not strike out anyone. Paulino pitched one inning allowed just one baserunner on an intentional walk, but the inherited runner on second scored on his watch.
The Pelicans scored twice in the second inning and then didn’t score again.
Shortstop Aramis Ademan went 2 for 5 with a double.
Right fielder Roberto Caro was 2 for 4.
Highlights.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs were smashed by the Ft. Wayne TinCaps (Padres), 15-5.
Jeffrey Passantino started and took the loss. Passantino allowed six runs, four earned, on 11 hits over four innings. He struck out two and did not walk anyone.
DH Delvin Zinn went 2 for 3 with a walk to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. Zinn scored once.
Left fielder Jimmy Herron went 2 for 4 with two RBI.
Ft. Wayne shortstop Gabriel Arias hit for the cycle against South Bend. It was the first cycle for the Ft. Wayne franchise since 1993.
The loss was a big one as it dropped South Bend 2.5 games behind Ft. Wayne for the final wild card spot with just six games to play.
Eugene Emeralds
The Eugene Emeralds were blown away by the Tri-City Dust Devils (Padres), 13-0.
Zach Mort started and took the loss, but he didn’t pitch poorly at all. Mort allowed just two runs, one earned, on five hits over four innings. Mort walked one and struck out one.
Casey Ryan and Derek Casey both gave up four runs in relief of Mort, which was how the game turned into a blowout.
Third baseman Luke Reynolds was 1 for 2 with a double and a walk.
This loss was also big as it dropped the Ems back into a tie with Salem-Keizer for the final playoff spot with six games to play. The two teams will play a three-game series in Salem-Keizer starting on Wednesday.
Cubs 2 lost to Giants Black, 3-2.
This ends the Arizona League regular season.
Cubs 1 finished the season at 38-18, winning both halves and posting the best record in the Arizona League. They get a bye into the second round (of three) of the playoffs, which are one-game affairs.
Cubs 2 finished the season 28-25 and did not make the playoffs.