Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 2

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs topped the Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners), 5-4.

Alec Mills started and allowed three runs on eight hits over 6.1 innings. Mills struck out four and did not walk anyone.

Brad Wieck blew a save in his Cubs debut, allowing a runner inherited from Mills to score in the seventh inning along with a run of his own. But then he pitched a perfect eighth inning and got the win. Wieck’s final line was one run on two hits over 1.2 innings. Wieck struck out two and did not walk anyone.

Dakota Mekkes had a perfect ninth inning for the save. He did not have a strikeout.

Third baseman Phillip Evans hit a solo home run in the top of the ninth that ended up being the difference in tonight’s game. It was Evans’ 14th home run this year. He went 2 for 5.

Left fielder Donnie Dewees went 2 for 5 with a double and three RBI.

Right fielder Trent Giambrone was 2 for 4 and scored once.

Catcher P.J. Higgins was 2 for 3 with a double, a triple and a walk. Higgins scored twice.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies shut down the Mississippi Braves, 2-1.

Starter Cory Abbott was terrific tonight. He allowed a solo home run to former Cubs farmhand Daniel Lockhart in the sixth inning, which was the only run the M-Braves got tonight. Abbott got his sixth win after giving up just one run on three hits over seven innings. Abbott struck out nine and walked no one. That’s pretty good.

After Manuel Rondon tossed a scoreless eighth inning, Bailey Clark pitched the ninth and got the save, but it was ugly. Clark allowed no runs on three hits and a walk over one inning. An outfield assist by right fielder Charcer Burks helped keep the M-Braves from scoring in the bottom of the ninth.

Burks was a perfect 2 for 2 with two walks in this game. He scored the first run of the game with a steal of third base and a wild throw in the second inning.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans sawed off the Fayetteville Wood Ducks (Astros), 10-3.

Starter Jeffrey Passantino cruised to a win, allowing just one run on four hits over six innings. Passantino struck out five and walked one.

Center fielder D.J. Artis was perfect tonight, going 5 for 5 with a stolen base. Artis scored twice and had one run batted in.

Left fielder Grant Fennell hit a three-run home run in the third inning, his fourth of the season. Fennell was 1 for 3 with a walk and a sacrifice fly for four total RBI.

Second baseman Carlos Sepulveda went 2 for 5 with a walk and three runs scored.

Third baseman Cam Balego was 2 for 3 with two walks. He drove home three runs tonight and scored once.

DH Luke Reynolds went 2 for 5 with a double. Reynolds scored once and had one run batted in.

Catcher Miguel Amaya went 2 for 4 with a walk.

South Bend Cubs

Cole Roederer walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th inning as the South Bend Cubs won their seventh-straight game with a 2-1 win over the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers).

Brendon Little turned in another strong start, allowing only one run on five hits over six innings. Little struck out two and did not walk anyone.

Brendan King did not allow a hit or a run over the next 3.2 innings. King did walk one.

Eugenio Palma got some help from his defense and got the win. Palma allowed a two-out single in the top of the tenth that could have broken the tie, but left fielder Zac Taylor, playing his first game for South Bend, threw out the runner who was trying to score from second on a single. Palma then pitched a scoreless 11th inning. Palma’s final line was no runs on one hit over 1.1 innings. He walked one batter and hit one batter. Palma struck out two.

Roederer went 1 for 3 with two walks, including the walk-off walk in the bottom of the 11th.

Marcus Mastrobuoni doubled home Fidel Mejia with two outs in the seventh inning to tie the game at 1-1. Mastrobuoni went 1 for 4 and Mejia was 1 for 4.

Ben Zobrist was the starting DH for this game on a rehab assignment. Zobrist went 0 for 3 with a walk.

Highlights:

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds one-hit the Boise Hawks (Rockies), 5-0.

Michael McAvene pitched the first two innings and did not allow a run, a hit nor did he walk anyone. That sounds really good until you hear that he hit three batters. He struck out five.

Chris Allen gave up a one-out double in the fifth for Boise’s only hit. Allen got the win with five innings, striking out two and not walking anyone.

Riley McCauley finished out the one-hit shutout with two innings in a non-save situation. McCauley did walk two while striking out four.

Shortstop Luis Vazquez went 2 for 3 with a two-run single that was a part of a four-run seventh inning for the Ems. Vazquez also scored once.

Second baseman Pedro Martinez went 2 for 4. He tripled and scored in the third inning.

AZL Cubs

Cubs 1 beat Brewers Gold, 5-4.

Cubs 2 lost to Giants Black, 5-4 in ten innings.