Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 11

Someone’s got to get me some photos of Alexander Canario in a Cubs uniform.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs calmed the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 12-7.

Starter Cory Abbott allowed four runs on four hits over 4.1 innings. Abbott struggled with control as he walked five and struck out three. He threw 96 pitches and just 49 were strikes.

The win went to Ethan Roberts because Abbott didn’t go five innings. Roberts relieved Abbott in the fifth and pitched 1.2 innings without allowing a run and giving up just one hit. Roberts struck out two.

Dillon Maples pitched an inning in a rehab assignment. Maples allowed two hits but no runs. He struck out one and did not walk anyone. He threw 18 pitches and had a respectable 11 strikes.

The I-Cubs jumped out to an 8-0 lead in this game and Omaha chipped away at it until the score was 8-7 going into the top of the ninth. But Iowa plated four runs in the top of the inning to salt the game away.

Right fielder Nick Martini hit a solo shot in the third inning, It was hit tenth home run this year. Martini also had a two-run double in the fourth inning and an RBI groundout in the ninth for four total RBI. He was 2 for 5.

First baseman Alfonso Rivas was 3 for 5 with three RBI. Rivas scored once.

Left fielder Zach Davis was 2 for 5 with a walk. He scored two times and drove in one.

Shortstop Abiatal Avelino was 2 for 5 with a walk. Avelino scored twice and had two RBI.

DH Jared Young got his first Triple-A start and his first Triple-A hit, a double to lead off the second inning. He later scored. Young was 1 for 6 on the night.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies threw away the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels), 10-5.

Starter Luis Lugo picked up the win after going five innings and giving up just two runs on four hits. Lugo struck out eight and walked no one.

The Smokies scored all ten runs in the second inning when 13 batters came to the plate.

First baseman Cam Balego hit a three-run home run, his first in Double-A. Balego was 2 for 3 with two walks He scored twice.

Third baseman Chase Strumpf was 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored on a double by catcher Tyler Payne, who went 1 for 3 with two walks. Payne had the one RBI and one run scored.

Left fielder Christopher Morel had a two-run double in the second. He was 1 for 5 with one run scored.

Center fielder Brennen Davis was 1 for 3 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch. He scored one run.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs melted down the Ft. Wayne TinCaps (Padres), 5-1.

Max Bain threw the first six innings without allowing a run to get the win. Bain surrendered just three hits and one walk. He struck out five.

Eduarniel Nunez allowed an unearned run in the eighth inning, but picked up his first career save anyway. The final line on Nunez was one unearned run on one hit over two innings. He struck out three, walked one and hit one batter.

In the top of the ninth inning, right fielder Alexander Canario provided three insurance runs with his fourth home run, one in each in the last four games. Canario went 1 for 5.

Cubs’ fifth-round pick in the 2021 draft, shortstop Liam Spence, made his South Bend debut tonight and went 2 for 4. Both singles drove in a run for two total RBI. (Spence had one game in the ACL before tonight.)

Here’s Canario’s home run.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were bitten by the Charleston River Dogs (Rays), 7-2. The loss snaps the Pelicans seven-game winning streak.

Starter Richard Gallardo took the loss after allowing four runs on six hits over 6.1 innings. Gallardo struck out four and walked two.

First baseman Matt Warkentin scored both Pelicans runs tonight and both times he scored on an error. Warkentin was 2 for 4 with a triple.

Shortstop Kevin Made went 2 for 4.

Highlights:

ACL Cubs

Off-day.