Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 13

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs swept the Salt Lake Bees (Angels), 5-2.

Adbert Alzolay turned in four strong innings, allowing just one run on three hits over four innings. The one run scored on a leadoff home run by Jared Walsh in the fourth inning. Alzolay struck out seven and did not walk anyone.

Because Alzolay didn’t go five innings, the win went to Dillon Maples, who threw two perfect innings in relief of Alzolay. Maples struck out three. Sixteen of his 26 pitches were strikes.

Danny Hultzen pitched a scoreless ninth inning and got the save. Hultzen walked one, but did not allow any hits. He struck out two.

Second baseman Phillip Evans cracked a three-run home run in the third inning, his 16th of the season. Evans went 2 for 4.

DH Addison Russell then went back-to-back with Evans, his third-straight game with a home run. Russell went 1 for 2 and he was hit by pitches twice. Russell has seven home runs for Iowa this year.

Iowa’s magic number for clinching their first division title since 2008 falls to 10. It could fall to nine, depending on the result of the Memphis game at Fresno. (The Redbirds and Grizzlies were tied 7-7 in the 8th inning as I write this.) UPDATE: The Redbirds lost on a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth. So Iowa’s magic number is now nine. They start a four-game series with Memphis on Thursday)

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies boiled the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Marlins), 6-1. The win snaps a 13-game losing streak by the Smokies at home, dating back to July 14. (They’ve won road games in that time.)

Jack Patterson started and gave up just one unearned run over 5.2 innings. Patterson allowed six hits. He walked two and struck out three.

Right fielder Eddy Martinez hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, his third on the year. Martinez also had a two-run single in the sixth inning for four total RIB. Martinez went 2 for 3 with a walk.

First baseman Jared Young went 2 for 4 with a double. He scored once.

Left fielder Charcer Burks was 2 for 3 with a walk and one run scored.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans vetoed the Potomac Nationals, 8-0 in a game that ended after five innings because of rain.

Brailyn Marquez had a complete-game shutout, allowing just three hits over five innings. Marquez struck out four and did not walk anyone. Marquez has now gone 22 innings without allowing a run, dating back to his time in South Bend.

Second baseman Carlos Sepulveda went 2 for 4 with a two-run triple in the fifth inning. Sepulveda went 2 for 4 and scored twice.

Shortstop Aramis Ademan was 2 for 3 with a triple and two runs scored.

Catcher Miguel Amaya went 1 for 2 with a walk and a double. He had three runs batted in.

South Bend Cubs

Off day.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds were frozen out by the Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays), 9-0.

Kohl Franklin pitched well in his three-inning start. Franklin gave up just one unearned run on no hits and only one walk. Franklin struck out five.

Chris Allen relieved Franklin in the fourth inning and struggled. Allen allowed four runs, three earned, on five hits over just two innings. Allen had one strikeout and he didn’t walk anyone.

Fernando Kelli led off the bottom of the first inning with a single. Jonathan Soto singled to lead off the ninth. Those were the Ems only two hits tonight.

AZL Cubs

Off day for both teams.