Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 21

I decided to spend the day with my family today rather than watch 6-8 baseball games. I was planning to spend it going to my daughter’s youth football game (she’s a cheerleader) but it got cancelled after one of the cheerleaders came down with COVID. (And from what I understand, she has symptoms.) My daughter is vaccinated, so she should be fine. But out of an “abundance of caution,” there will be no cheerleading until they can produce a negative COVID test five days after the last exposure, which she is taking tomorrow.

Anyway, get vaccinated if you aren’t already and any comments here to the contrary will be deleted. I have no you-know-whats left to give.

Also, assuming that my daughter’s test comes back negative, I probably won’t be watching much baseball on Saturdays for the rest of the minor league season because of youth football and cheer. I will still be writing the Minor League Wrap, but when it gets published will be erratic on Saturdays.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were tamed by the St. Paul Saints (Twins), 7-4.

Luis Lugo made his Triple-A debut and he struggled, taking the loss after giving up six runs on seven hits over four innings. Lugo walked two and struck out five.

Brendon Little’s Iowa debut went much better. He pitched two scoreless innings of relief. He gave up two hits, both singles, and issued one walk. Little struck out two.

First baseman Jared Young hit his first Triple-A home run with a man on in the fourth inning. Young was 1 for 4. He has five overall home runs this year.

Shortstop Abiatal Avelino was 2 for 3 with two doubles. He also walked twice. Unfortunately, he grounded out to end the game as the potential tying run in the ninth. Avelino scored one run and he drove in one.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were subjugated by the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 2-1 in game one of a doubleheader. Game two was postponed due to weather and will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday.

Cam Sanders turned in a quality start for the Smokies and ended up with the loss anyway. Sanders allowed two runs on seven hits over six innings. One of those seven hits was a solo home run. Sanders struck out five and walked two.

Third baseman Chase Strumpf went 2 for 3. He scored the only Smokies run of the game on a sac fly in the fifth inning by Tyler Payne, who was 0 for 2.

After struggling his first two months in Double-A, Strumpf is hitting .327/.407/.538 in August.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs tossed the Quad Cities River Bandits (Royals) in jail, 4-2.

Starting pitcher Anderson Espinoza got his first win since 2016 after allowing just one hit and no runs over five innings. Espinoza struck out seven and walked three. He also hit one batter.

Eduarniel Nunez had a two-inning save. He gave up one unearned run on one hit over two innings. Nunez walked two and struck out one.

Catcher Bryce Windham hit a solo home run in the sixth inning, his second of the season. Windham also had an RBI single in the fourth inning for two total RBI in a 2 for 4 night.

Left fielder Yonathan Perlaza was 3 for 4 and scored once.

First baseman Tyler Durna was 2 for 4. He had an RBI single in the fourth inning and then scored on Windham’s single.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were plucked by the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Astros), 5-4.

Starter DJ Herz returned to his hometown and dominated the Woodpeckers over four innings. He allowed just one hit and no runs. Herz struck out ten and walked three.

It was a tough night in relief for Bailey Reid. He gave up one run in the eighth inning and two in the ninth to blow the save and take the loss. The final line on Reid was three runs, two earned, on four hits over 1.1 innings. Reid struck out three and walked one.

DH Yohendrick PInango was 2 for 3 with two walks and two runs scored.

Third baseman Josue Huma went 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Shortstop Kevin Made was 2 for 5.

ACL Cubs

Split a doubleheader with the Athletics, winning 6-2 and losing 15-3.