Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 15

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs captured the Oklahoma City Dodgers, 5-2.

Starter Colin Rea won his league-leading 11th game with eight innings, allowing just two runs on four hits. Both runs scored on solo home runs. Rea walked three and struck out six.

The eight innings that Rea pitched tonight were the longest outing by an I-Cubs starter since Jake Buchanan went eight innings on May 9, 2017. It’s Rea’s longest start since he went eight against the Mets on May 5, 2016 when he was pitching for San Diego.

Rowan Wick pitched a perfect ninth inning for the save. Wick struck out two.

Center fielder Ian Happ hit two solo home runs tonight. The first was in the fifth inning and the second one came in the seventh and was back-to-back with a solo home run by Dixon Machado. Happ was 3 for 4 and scored three runs. He now has 15 home runs this season.

Machado’s home run was his eleventh. Machado was 1 for 4.

Jim Adduci went 2 for 4 with one run batted in.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were extinguished by the Mobile BayBears (Angels), 6-3.

Starter Cory Abbott was terrific tonight, allowing just two one run on two hits over seven innings. Abbott struck out six and walked just one.

Allen Webster relieved Abbott on a rehab assignment and was not terrific. Webster faced five batters and all five of them had hits: two doubles and three singles. The only out he recorded was a runner thrown out trying to score from first on a double. The final line on Webster was three runs on five hits over one-third of an inning.

Center fielder Connor Myers tied the game 1-1 with a solo home run in the sixth inning. It was his third of the season. Myers went 1 for 2 and was hit by a pitch.

Left fielder Charcer Burks went 2 for 3 with a triple and a walk. He scored once.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans shut out the Lynchburg Hillcats (Indians), 10-0.

Starter Erich Uelmen got the win with five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits. Uelmen walked two and struck out four.

First baseman Tyler Durna went 3 for 5 with two RBI and one run scored.

Third baseman Cam Balego was 2 for 3 with two walks. He also scored one run and drove home two.

Catcher Miguel Amaya went 2 for 5 with one run batted in and one run scored.

Highlights:

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were held up by the Quad Cities River Bandits (Astros), 4-3 in ten innings.

Brendon Little had his best start of the season, tossing five scoreless innings and surrendering just two hits. He struck out eight and did not walk anyone, although he did hit one batter.

Eugenio Palma gave up two unearned runs in the top of the tenth inning and got the loss. Palma’s final line was two runs, both unearned, on two hits over one inning. Palma walked one batter intentionally and struck out one.

Shortstop Andy Weber hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, his third of the season. Weber went 1 for 3 with two walks.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds were preyed upon by the Boise Hawks (Rockies), 4-2.

Zach Mort pitched a career-high seven innings tonight. Mort allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits. Mort struck out six and did not walk anyone. He did, however, give up a two-run home run to the second-to-last batter he faced in the seventh inning that gave the Hawks the lead for good.

Catcher Jonathan Soto went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI single. He scored the Ems’ other run on a double by left fielder Edmond Americaan in the seventh inning. Americaan went 2 for 5.

Right fielder Zac Taylor was 2 for 4 with a triple.

AZL Cubs

Cubs 1 were losing to Giants Orange, 11-3 in the 7th inning.

Cubs 2 were losing to the Royals, 6-4 after 8 innings.

I’ll update these scores later.