Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 31

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs split a doubleheader with the Louisville Bats (Reds), losing the continuation of yesterday’s game 4-2 and winning the regularly-scheduled game 2-1 in eight innings.

Mike Hauschild started yesterday and got the loss after surrendering three runs on seven hits over 4.1 innings. He walked three and struck out one.

Rowan Wick pitched another 1.1 innings without allowing a run in a rehab appearance. He did give up three hits, but no walks. Wick struck out two.

Tony Cingrani fell off the mound and had to leave with an injury. He faced one batter and hit him. He threw one pitch after falling, but then had to leave.

Shortstop Abiatal Avelino hit a two-run home run in the third inning yesterday. It was his third on the year. Avelino was 2 for 4.

Third baseman Tony Wolters went 2 for 3 and scored on Avelino’s home run.

In game two, Keegan Thompson got his first start of 2021 as the Cubs are trying to build him back up into a starter. Thompson did everything you could have asked of him as he pitched three innings and did not allow a run or a hit. Thompson struck out four and walked one. He threw 47 pitches and 34 were strikes.

Ryan Kellogg pitched the next four innings as the I-Cubs did not allow a run in regulation. Kellogg gave up two hits. He struck out two and walked no one.

Ben Leeper pitched the top of the eighth inning and got the win. He did allow an unearned run (the ghost runner) on one hit. He walked one and struck out no one.

With two outs in the bottom of the tenth inning, first baseman Alfonso Rivas connected with a 1-0 pitch into right-center field for a walk-off two run double. Rivas went 1 for 3 with a walk.

Left fielder Nick Martini went 2 for 2 with a walk.

The I-Cubs won game two with just four hits. Matt Burch had a pinch-hit single for the other hit.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies powered past the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), 6-3.

Javier Assad pitched the first six innings and got the win by allowing just two runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out three.

Erich Uelmen pitched the next three innings for the save. Uelmen allowed one run on two hits. He struck out five and walked one.

The Smokies had three home runs tonight. In the second inning, second baseman Carlos Sepulveda connected for his first home run since 2016. It came with the bases empty. Sepulveda went 1 for 3 with a walk and he scored two runs.

In the fourth inning, third baseman Levi Jordan hit a two-run home run, his fifth of the year and second of the week. Jordan was 1 for 4.

Finally, catcher Tyler Payne hit a solo home run in the fifth inning. Payne was 2 for 4.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were bushwhacked by the Quad Cities River Bandits (Royals), 5-3.

Starter Chris Clarke surrendered two runs on four hits over 4.1 innings. Clarke struck out five and walked no one.

Hunter Bigge pitched one inning, the bottom of the eighth, and got the loss after giving up two runs. Bigge allowed two hits, including one solo home run, and he walked three. He struck out one.

Left fielder DJ Artis went 1 for 4 with a steal and two runs scored.

Second baseman Jake Slaughter went 2 for 4.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans hung on to beat the Augusta GreenJackets (Braves), 6-5.

Starter DJ Herz looked like the guy who dominated in May tonight as he gave up just one run on two hits over five innings. The one run came on a solo home run to the second batter he faced. Herz struck out nine and did not walk anyone.

The Pelicans had a 6-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth but Bailey Reid could not finish the job, despite striking out the first two batters of the inning. After a walk, an RBI single, a hit batsman and a three-run home run, the score was 6-5 and Reid exited for Jarod Wright, who got the only batter he faced to hit a groundout to short. It was Wright’s first career save.

Right fielder Jonathan Sierra hit a two-run double in the top of the first inning. He had two doubles in a 2 for 5 game. Sierra scored once.

First baseman Matt Mervis hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning, his eighth of the year. Mervis went 2 for 4 and scored twice.

Third baseman Kevin Made doubled and tripled in a 2 for 4 game. He had one RBI.

ACL Cubs

Beat the Athletics, 7-6.

Kevin Alcantara, acquired in the Anthony Rizzo deal, was 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored in his Cubs debut.