Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 29

A very light night tonight.

Nico Hoerner didn’t start tonight, which had Twitter all a-flutter. He entered the game in a double-switch in the seventh inning, so no one ask me if anyone hugged him.

Iowa Cubs

Travel day as they head to Reno.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies snuck past the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), 4-3 in 11 innings.

Starter Thomas Hatch allowed just one run on three hits over 3.1 innings. The only run he allowed was a home run to the first batter he faced in the bottom of the first. Hatch did walk three and struck out only one.

The Smokies bullpen did not allow another run until extra innings with Michael Rucker throwing 2.2 scoreless innings and Bailey Clark pitching two perfect innings of relief. Wyatt Short gave up an unearned run in the bottom of the tenth, but got the win when the Smokies scored two runs in the top of the eleventh. The final line on Short was one unearned run on one hit over two innings. Short walked two and struck out one.

Ben Hecht pitched the bottom of the eleventh and got the save. He allowed the runner that started the inning on second to score on a wild pitch and a sac fly, but he did not allow any baserunners of his own. Hecht struck out one.

Vimael Machin hit a two-run single in the top of the 11th that turned out to be the winning hit. Machin went 2 for 5 and scored once.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Coming home.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs swept the Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays), 17-8.

Riley Thompson started and took the win after allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits over five innings. He walked one and struck out four.

South Bend hit two two-run home runs in the top of the ninth inning by 19-year-old outfielders. Right fielder Brennen Davis hit the first one, his sixth home run of the season. He was 1 for 6.

Center fielder Cole Roederer hit the other one, also his sixth of the season. Roederer went 1 for 2 with three walks and was hit by a pitch. He also stole a base. He scored four times and had three RBI.

Two Cubs went 5 for 6 in this game. Second baseman Clayton Daniel went 5 for 6 with a triple. He scored three times and had three RBI.

Shortstop Andy Weber went 5 for 6 with a double and a stolen base. Weber scored once and had two RBI.

DH Fidel Mejia went 2 for 6. He scored once and drove one runner in.

First baseman Luke Reynolds was 2 for 5 with a walk. He scored twice.

Third baseman Yonathan Perlaza was 2 for 3 with a double and two walks. Perlaza scored three runs and had two runs batted in.

Catcher Marcus Mastrobuoni had a pair of doubles and a walk in a 2 for 4 game. Mastrobuoni had four RBI and scored two times.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds lost to the Spokane Indians (Rangers), 9-5.

Starter Didier Vargas lasted three innings and gave up two runs on six hits. Vargas walked two and struck out four.

Brandon Hughes relieved Vargas in the fourth inning and took the loss. Hughes gave up three runs on two hits and two walks in the one inning he threw. He did not strike anyone out.

Second baseman Pedro Martinez went 2 for 3 with two walks. Martinez scored twice and had one run batted in.

First baseman Jake Slaughter was 2 for 5 with an RBI double in the third inning.

AZL Cubs

Both teams are off.