Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 8

A quick reminder that tomorrow night’s Iowa Cubs game will be televised on the Marquee Network with Alex Cohen and Elise Menaker. The game starts at 7:08 Central time.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were excommunicated by the St. Paul Saints (Twins), 10-3.

Joe Biagini started and got the loss after allowing four runs on three hits over 2.1 innings. Biagini walked three and struck out four.

Rough night for Ryan Lawlor, who got knocked around for the other six runs in just one inning of work.

Ben Leeper pitched the ninth inning and retired the side in order, striking out two. He’s now pitched 12.1 innings in Triple-A without allowing a hit. He was clocked at 98 mph three times tonight.

All three Iowa runs came on a bases-loaded double by first baseman Alfonso Rivas in the sixth inning. Rivas was 1 for 4.

Third baseman Tyler Ladendorf was 2 for 4 with a double.

DH Ian Miller went 2 for 5.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies blinded the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), 5-2.

Javier Assad pitched the first five innings and got his second win of the season. Assad surrendered two runs on six hits. He struck out four, walked one and hit one batter.

Cayne Ueckert pitched the ninth inning and got the save, but not without a scare. After he struck out the first two batters, he walked the next one and then hit a batter to bring the tying run to the plate with two outs. But Ueckert induced an easy grounder to second base to then end the game.

The Smokies took the lead in the fifth inning when second baseman Christopher Morel connected for a three-run home run, his tenth of 2021. Morel was 1 for 4.

Center fielder Brennen Davis added on an insurance run with a solo home run in the sixth inning. Davis was 1 for 3 and was hit by a pitch.

Left fielder Zach Davis went 2 for 4 with a double. He had an RBI single in the third inning for Tennessee’s first run. He also scored on Morel home run.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs shut out the Beloit Snappers (Marlins), 4-0. It was South Bend’s fourth-straight win.

Derek Casey dominated the Snappers for 5.2 innings, allowing just two hits. Casey walked nobody and he struck out ten. Casey did leave the game after trying to field a hard grounder that went off his glove.

Third baseman Jake Slaughter hit a three-run home run in the third inning, his first on the year. Slaughter was 1 for 3 with two walks. He scored twice.

Highlights:

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were stung by the Augusta Green Jackets (Braves), 6-5.

Starting pitcher Manuel Espinoza got the loss after allowing six runs on nine hits over 3.2 innings Two of those hits were home runs. Espinoza walked two and struck out one.

Alberto Sojo’s Pelicans debut was very successful. In relief of Espinoza, Sojo faced ten batters and retired nine of them with the only baserunner coming on a hit by pitch. Sojo struck out five.

Catcher Pablo Aliendo hit a solo home run in the third inning, his third on the season. Aliendo went 1 for 4.

DH Matt Mervis was 2 for 4 and scored once.

The start of this game was delayed by one hour and 18 minutes because of rain.

ACL Cubs

Beat Giants Black, 6-3.