Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 10

Congratulations to Pelicans manager Buddy Bailey, who won his 2186th career game as a minor league manager. That moves him to fourth on the all-time list for manager wins in the minors. He’s the winningest active manager as well.

Everyone wins today! Except the ACL team.

I need some more photos of Alexander Canario. He looks like he’s on a mission to prove the Giants goofed when they traded him.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs calmed the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 10-2.

Keegan Thompson started as the Cubs try to build him up into starting. He did well as he gave up no runs and just three hits over four innings. Thompson struck out two and walked one.

Matt Swarmer threw the next five innings and got the win because Thompson didn’t go five innings. Swarmer allowed two runs, but since both of them came on a home run by Bobby Witt Jr., we can excuse that. Swarmer allowed four hits. He walked one and struck out three.

DH Michael Hermosillo came off the injured list and homered in his first game back. It came in the third inning with the bases empty and was Hermosillo’s ninth home run on the year. Hermosillo went 2 for 2 with a double and a walk. He scored twice.

Right fielder Nick Martini clobbered a three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning, his ninth on the year. Martini was 2 for 4 with a walk.

First baseman Alfonso Rivas went 3 for 4 with a walk. Rivas scored once and had two run-scoring singles, giving him two RBI.

Left fielder Zach Davies went 2 for 6. He scored twice and drove home one run.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies took out the Rocket City City Trash Pandas (Angels), 7-6.

Starter Cam Sanders got the win after allowing just one run on three hits over six innings. The one run came on the first pitch of the game, which Luis Aviles deposited over the fence for a leadoff home run. But Sanders was strong after that. He struck out five, walked one and hit one batter.

Graham Lawson relieved Sanders in the seventh and had a rough outing. Lawson got tagged for five runs in the one inning he pitched, turning a 7-1 lead into a 7-6 lead. But Erich Uelmen was strong over the final two innings for the save. Uelmen gave up no runs and no hits, although he did walk two. He struck out three.

Right fielder Nelson Velazquez hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. It was Velazquez’s second home run in Tennessee over just seven games. He has 14 home runs total this year. Velazquez was 2 for 5 with a double.

First baseman Nelson Maldonado finished the full-Nelson with a solo home run in the fourth inning. It was Maldonado’s sixth home run of 2021. Maldonado was 2 for 4 with a double and a sacrifice fly. He had two runs batted in.

Center fielder Brennen Davis stayed hot, going 3 for 4 with a double and a walk. Davis scored once and had one run batted in.

Catcher Tim Susnara went 2 for 4 with a double. He scored once and drove home one.

Left fielder Christopher Morel was 2 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored once.

Here’s Davis’ double. You can see it just missed being a home run.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs fried the Ft. Wayne TinCaps (Padres), 6-2.

Anderson Espinoza started and he gave up two runs on two hits over 3.1 innings. One of those two hits was a solo home run. Espinoza walked three and struck out five.

Matteo Bocchi pitched the other 5.2 innings and got the win. Bocchi allowed just one single tonight and no runs. Bocchi struck out six and walked two.

For the third game in a row, right fielder Alexander Canario connected for a home run, a solo shot in the seventh inning. It was Canario’s third home run with the Cubs and 12th overall. Canario was 2 for 5 with a stolen base.

Left fielder Yonathan Perlaza hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning. It was his tenth home run on the year. Perlaza went 2 for 4.

Catcher Harrison Wenson was 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored once.

Here’s Canario’s home run. It’s impressive.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans scored three times in the bottom of the ninth to put a leash on the Charleston RiverDogs (Rays), 6-5. It was the Pelicans 7th-straight win and it put them over .500 at 43-42.

Didier Vargas put the Pelicans in a 5-0 hole by surrendering five runs on eight hits over five innings. Vargas struck out four and walked no one, although he did hit one batter.

Jake Rendl faced one batter in the top of the ninth, struck him out and got the win.

The Pelicans trailed 5-0 in the 7th inning, but the scored three in the bottom of the seventh and three in the bottom of the ninth to win it. DH Yohendrick Pinango was responsible for all three runs in the ninth. Pinango hit a two-out two out double to tie the game 5-5. He then stole third base and scored the winning run on an error on the throw.

Pinango went 1 for 4.

First baseman Matt Warkentin got the Pelicans close with a two-run home run in the seventh inning. It was his fourth home run this season. Warkentin went 1 for 3.

Third baseman Luis Verdugo was 2 for 2 with a walk.

Highlights. You’re going to want to watch the end of this one.

ACL Cubs

Taking on Giants Orange and losing 11-2 in the eighth.

Kevin Alcantara hit his second home run as a Cub in this game and his second in as many games.