Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 3

I hope everyone is celebrating the holiday weekend with those they love. I know I am.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs beat Indianapolis (Pirates), 9-7.

Iowa scored four runs in the top of the first inning and starter Matt Swarmer gave all four runs back in the bottom of the inning. Swarmer finished after giving up five runs on six hits over three innings. Swarmer walked three and struck out five.

Ryan Lawlor relieved Swarmer in the fourth inning, pitched two scoreless innings and got the win. Lawlor did not allow a hit in his two innings, but did walk two and struck out five.

Justin Steele pitched the next two innings in a rehab appearance and also did not give up a run or a hit. Steele walked two and struck out one.

The reason why the I-Cubs had a 4-0 lead in the top of the first is that first baseman Alfonso Rivas hit a grand slam, his second home run of the year. Rivas went 2 for 5.

Shortstop Abiatal Avelino went 4 for 5 with a two-run triple in the fourth inning. Avelino also scored two runs and stole two bases.

Second baseman Dee Strange-Gordon went 2 for 5 and scored once.

Left fielder Nick Martini was 2 for 4 with a walk. Martini scored one run and drove in one.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were tossed in the garbage can by the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels), 9-2. The loss snapped the Smokies five-game winning streak.

The Trash Pandas jumped on Smokies starter Peyton Remy for five runs in the first inning. Remy stayed in for two more innings, but it was too big a lead for the Smokies to return from. The big blow in the first was a three-run home run by Mitch Nay. The final line on Remy was five runs on five hits over three innings. He walked three and struck out one.

Second baseman Carlos Sepulveda went 2 for 3 with a walk and one run scored.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were swept in a doubleheader by the Lake County Captains (Cleveleand), 2-1 and 5-0.

Ryan Jensen started game one and you couldn’t ask him to do any more. He faced 18 batters and retired 18 batters. He struck out three.

Samuel Reyes retired the side in order in the seventh to keep the perfect game going through regulation, but the first batter of the eighth inning doubled on a ball that sounded like Nelson Velazquez lost in the sun. (No video for Lake County) The game ended when Reyes failed to catch a throw back from catcher Harrison Wenson, which allowed a runner on third to score the second run of the inning. The final line on Reyes was two unearned runs on one hit in 1.2 innings. He walked two batters, both intentionally, in the eighth inning, and struck out three.

South Bend lost a one-hitter in game one, but they only had two hits themselves. Center fielder Edmond Americaan went 1 for 2 with a walk and first baseman Matt Warkentin went 1 for 2 with a double.

Joe Nahas started game two and took the loss after surrendering five runs on five hits over four innings. Two of those five hits were home runs. Nahas walked two and struck out three.

South Bend had three hits in game two, all singled. Center fielder Nelson Velazquez went 1 for 3.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were downed by the Down East Wood Ducks (Rangers), 4-2.

Starter Jose Miguel Gonzalez took the loss after allowing three runs on five hits over four innings. Gonzalez walked three and did not strike anyone out.

Third baseman Fabian Pertuz went 1 for 3 with a double and one run scored.

ACL Cubs

Beat the ACL Athletics, 9-2.