Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: September 1

Just a reminder, the minor league regular season ends tomorrow. Iowa and South Bend will start their playoff series on Wednesday. Iowa is facing Round Rock in a best-of-five series and South Bend will face Bowling Green in a best-of-three.

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I can’t guarantee that Jared Young won’t hit two home runs on Monday, but considering he has five so far this year, it’s a solid bet. Tennessee has hit a league-low 48 home runs this season. The second-lowest is Jacksonville with 62.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs plucked the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals), 6-5.

Kendall Graveman made a three-inning start in just his second rehab appearance after Tommy John surgery. (He threw for Cubs 1 on August 22.) Graveman allowed one run on two hits over three innings. The one run scored on a solo home run by Adolis Garcia in the bottom of the first inning. Graveman walked one and struck out two.

The win went to Matt Swarmer, who gave up three runs on seven hits over 5+ innings of relief. Swarmer struck out five and walked no one.

After Swarmer allowed singles to the first two hitters of the ninth, Alex Wilson was summoned from the bullpen to get the save. Wilson has been very good for the I-Cubs since they signed him in early August, but he struggled badly today. He still managed to get the save in the end, thanks in part to an outfield assist by Johnny Field, who threw out a runner at the plate. The final line on Wilson was one run on two hits over one inning. Wilson walked one and struck out one. He also allowed one inherited runner to score (and it would have been two if not for the play at the plate).

Iowa scored five runs in the first inning and tacked on an insurance run on a solo home run by catcher P.J. Higgins in the fifth inning. Higgins went 2 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored. The home run was his tenth this season and fifth for Iowa.

Shortstop Zack Short had a two-run double in the first inning. Short was 1 for 2 with a walk.

After seven years in the Cubs minors, including the last three with Double-A Tennessee, Charcer Burks made his Triple-A debut in this game as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning. He’s still waiting for his first Triple-A at-bat, however.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were extinguished by the Mobile Bay Bears (Angels), 8-4.

Erich Uelmen started and took the loss after giving up six runs on seven hits over four innings. Uelmen walked two and struck out two.

Shortstop Christian Donahue was 3 for 5 with an RBI.

Center fielder Connor Myers 2 for 4 with one run scored and one RBI.

DH Jose Gutierrez was 2 for 4 with one run scored.

Catcher Tyler Payne went 2 for 4.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans mined the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Royals), 2-1.

Brailyn Marquez is finishing his season on a high note, picking up his fourth win with the Pelicans and ninth overall. Marquez gave up just one run on five hits over six innings. He struck out six and walked one.

Ryan Lawlor threw the next three innings and allowed just one hit and no runs for the save. Lawlor struck out four and did not walk anyone.

Third baseman Jhonny Bethencourt went 2 for 4.

DH Grant Fennell went 1 for 3 with a walk and an RBI in the third inning.

Tomorrow’s scheduled season finale has been cancelled due to the approach of Hurricane Dorian. The Pelicans season ends with an overall record of 55-81. They were a much better 34-35 in the second half.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs beat the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays), 4-3 in ten innings.

Derek Casey started and allowed one run on one hit over three innings. The one hit was a solo home run by Seaver Whalen, who had two home runs today. Casey walked two and struck out three.

Derek Holland made a rehab appearance in South Bend and gave up a two-run home run to the second batter he faced. After that, he settled down and he retired (sort of) the next five batters he faced. (One batter reached first on an error, but he was thrown out trying for second on the play.) The final line on Holland was two runs on two hits over 1.2 innings. Holland struck out two and did not walk anyone.

Brian Glowicki pitched the top of the ninth without allowing a run and got the win. Glowicki gave up one hit. He struck out one and did not have a strikeout.

DH Nelson Maldonado hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning. It was his first home run for South Bend and his third overall. Maldonado went 2 for 4 and scored twice.

Third baseman Fidel Mejia had a two-run double in the fourth inning. He was 1 for 4.

The winning run in the bottom of the tenth scored on an error.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds capped the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants), 10-7 in ten innings, snapping a six-game losing streak. It is also the third-straight extra-inning game between the Ems and the Volcanoes.

Starter Didier Vargas pitched 4.1 innings and allowed three runs on five hits. Vargas walked four and struck out two.

Maikel Aguilar pitched the ninth and tenth innings and got the win after the Ems scored four runs in the top of the tenth. Aguilar allowed one unearned run in the tenth on two hits. He walked one and struck out two.

Center fielder Edmond Americaan had a huge night, coming just a double shy of the cycle. Americaan was 3 for 5 with a triple and a two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning. It was Americaan’s fourth home run this year. He scored three times and had the two runs batted in.

In the fourth inning, catcher Alexander Guerra connected with a man on for his fourth home run for Eugene and 14th overall. Guerra went 1 for 4 with a sacrifice fly. He scored two runs and drove in three.

DH Jake Washer was 2 for 5 with two doubles.

Shortstop Luis Vazquez went 2 for 5 with one run batted in and one run scored.

Third baseman Ryan Reynolds was 2 for 4 with a walk and a big two-run single in the top of the tenth inning.