Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 3

The Cubs released catcher Tony Wolters today.

Here are some moves within the organization. It does not include players placed on or activated off the IL.

RHP Ethan Roberts from TN to IA

INF Levi Jordan from TN to IA

RHP Samuel Reyes from SB to TN

INF Reivaj Garcia from ACL to TN

RHP Anderson Espinoza from Ft. Wayne to SB

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs drove past Indianapolis (Pirates), 5-1.

Joe Biagini started and picked up his second win after shutting Indianapolis out for 5.1 innings. He allowed three hits. Biagini struck out five and walked four, but one of those walks was intentional.

Rowan Wick continued his rehab by relieving Biagini in the sixth inning. He faced two batters. He struck out the first one and got the second one to pop out.

Shortstop Abiatal Avelino hit a two-run double in the third inning to score the first two runs of the game. Avelino was 1 for 2 with two walks.

Right fielder Greg Deichmann went 2 for 3 with an RBI double in the seventh inning. He also walked once and scored one run.

Left fielder Nick Martini went 3 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were served up for breakfast by the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 6-2.

Starter Cam Sanders retired the first nine batters of the game, but things turned south the second time through the order. Sanders took the loss after allowing five runs on four hits over six innings. Sanders struck out six and walked two.

Left fielder Zach Davis hit a solo home run in the eighth inning. It was his second home run this year. Davis was 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base.

First baseman Jared Young hit two doubles and was 2 for 4. One of them drove in the first Smokies run of the game in the sixth.

Third baseman Chase Strumpf went 2 for 4.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs demoted the Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals), 5-4.

Ryan Jensen battled his way through this start as he was forced to throw 87 pitches to get through 3.2 innings. Jensen minimized the damage after allowing just one run on three hits. He struck out four, walked three and hit one batter.

Jose Albertos relieved Jensen and turned in his longest outing since 2018. Albertos got the win after allowing just one run on four hits over 3.1 innings. Albertos struck out four and walked no one, which is great news if you’re aware of Albertos’s control issues over the past few years.

Hunter Bigge pitched the ninth inning and got the first save of his career, but it was an ugly save. Bigge gave up one run on one hit and three walks over the inning. One of the three walks was intentional. Bigge did not have a strikeout and had to get a pop out with the bases loaded and two outs to end the game.

The Cubs scored all five runs in the fifth inning and four of them came after two were out.

Left fielder DJ Artis hit a two-run home run, his seventh this year and fourth for South Bend. Artis was 1 for 3 with a walk.

DH Bryce Ball had a two-out two-run single later in the inning. Ball was 1 for 4.

Second baseman Jake Slaughter was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored one time.

Highlights:

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans turned off the Columbia Fireflies (Royals), 6-4.

Starter Jose Miguel Gonzalez dominated the Fireflies for the first five innings, allowing no runs and just one hit. He walked two and struck out five. Gonzalez also hit one batter.

Alberto Sojo vultured the win after pitching the sixth inning and giving up the lead. Sojo surrendered two runs on four hits over one inning. He struck out two and walked no one.

Gabriel Jaramillo got a four-out save. Jaramillo allowed no runs on just one hit over 1.1 innings. Jaramillo did not issue a walk nor did he strike anyone out.

The Pelicans scored all six runs on two inside-the-park home runs. In the top of the second inning, second baseman Fabian Pertusz hit an two-run inside-the-park home run. It was his third home run of the year. Pertusz was 1 for 4.

In the top of the seventh inning, right fielder Jonathan Sierra hit an inside-the-park grand slam. It was his second home run this season. Sierra went 2 for 4.

Third baseman Kevin Made went 2 for 5.

Here’s Pertusz’s home run.

And here’s Sierra’s home run.

ACL Cubs

Lost to Royals Blue, 6-4.