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Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: September 11

The Pelicans ride a pair of home runs to victory. The Smokies also win thanks to a home run. The less said about Iowa and South Bend, the better.

Ethan Hearn
Ethan Hearn
Larry Kave/Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Iowa tonight said “15 to 4, Chicago? Is that all you can do?” The I-Cubs allowed more points than the Hawkeyes did.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were hard-boiled by the Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers), 21-4.

Joe Biagini pitched just the first inning and got rocked for six runs on five hits. Three of those five hits were home runs. Biagini walked one and struck out one.

Blake Whitney gave up seven runs in the second inning and things didn’t get any better from there. Second baseman Bryan Serra pitched the ninth inning and while he loaded the bases on two hits and a walk, he didn’t allow any more runs.

The only bright spot for Iowa tonight was left fielder Trayce Thompson, who homered twice. The first one came with a man on in the fourth inning and the other one was a solo blast in the eighth. Thompson now has 21 home runs this season. He was 2 for 4 with the three RBI.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies burned down the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), 4-2.

Anderson Espinoza has been terrific since his promotion to Double-A. Tonight he gave up just one run on five hits over 4.2 innings. He walked one batter and hit one batter. Espinoza struck out four. He was pulled from the game after 85 pitches, 54 of which were strikes.

The win went to Alex Katz, since Espinoza didn’t go five innings. Katz allowed a run on three hits over 2.1 innings. He struck out one and walked one.

Scott Kobos finished things up with a two-inning save. Kobos retired all six batters he faced, striking out one.

Catcher Harrison Wenson hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning, his second of the season. Wenson went 1 for 3 with a walk.

First baseman Grayson Byrd was 2 for 4 with an RBI single in the seventh inning.

Third baseman Christopher Morel was a perfect 1 for 1 with three walks. He scored one run.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were closed tight by the Beloit Snappers (Marlins), 4-0.

South Bend starter Chris Clarke took the loss despite turning in a quality start of three runs over seven innings. Clarke allowed eight hits and issued one walk. He struck out four.

Right fielder Yonathan Perlaza doubled in the fifth inning. That was South Bend’s only hit of the evening.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans told the Charleston RiverDogs (Rays) that they were bad dogs, 5-2.

Daniel Palencia started and allowed just one run on four hits over 4.2 innings. Palencia struck out seven and walked just two. He also hit one batter.

Luis Rodriguez went the final 4.1 innings and got the win. Rodriguez gave up just one run on three hits. He struck out six and walked only one.

DH Ethan Hearn hit a grand slam in the sixth inning, his sixth home run of the season. Hearn was 1 for 4.

The Pelicans first run of the game came on a solo home run by second baseman Fabian Pertusz. He was also 1 for 4. Pertusz now has four home runs this year.

ACL Cubs

Beat the Athletics, 9-2.

James Triantos had two singles and a double.