Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: September 16

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs calmed the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 8-5.

Starter Matt Swarmer gave up three runs on five hits, including one solo home run, over five innings. Swarmer struck out eight and walked three.

Jackson McClelland relieved Swarmer in the sixth inning and he gave up a run. But he got the win after Iowa scored twice in the top of the seventh. McClelland’s final line was one run on three hits over 1.2 innings. McClelland walked two and struck out one.

Iowa scored those two runs in the seventh on back-to-back solo home runs by second baseman Abiatal Avelino and center fielder Brennen Davis.

Avelino was 2 for 5 with two runs scored. He now has six home runs this season.

Davis’s homer was his third in three games in Triple-A and his 18th overall. Davis also had an RBI single in the third inning. He went 2 for 4 with a walk. Davis had the two runs batted in and he scored two times.

First baseman Tyler Ladendorf added an insurance run with a solo home run in the eighth inning, his sixth on the campaign. He also had a two-run single in the third inning. Ladendorf was 2 for 4 with the three RBI.

Catcher Erick Castillo went 2 for 3 with a sac fly.

Here’s Davis’s home run.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies shelled the Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers), 6-4.

Starter Ryan Jensen kept the ball down and retired seven Shuckers batters with ground outs as opposed to just one fly out to the outfield. (He did allow one solo home run.) Jensen’s final line was one run on four hits over five innings. He struck out two and walked no one as he collected his first Double-A win.

Scott Kobos pitched a perfect bottom of the ninth for the save. He struck out two.

Right fielder Nelson Velazquez hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning and the Smokies never trailed after that. Velazquez went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and the two runs batted in.

First baseman Grayson Byrd was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI single in the third inning. He also walked once.

Center fielder Christopher Morel was 2 for 5 with an RBI single in third as well.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs arrested the Quad Cities River Bandits (Royals), 5-4.

DJ Herz made his last start of the season count, allowing just one run on four hits over five innings. Herz struck out nine and walked only one.

Bailey Reid gave up two runs in the sixth inning and Tanner Jesson-Dalton allowed a run in the bottom of the eighth. But South Bend struck back for three runs in the top of the ninth to take the lead and Jesson-Dalton struck out the side in order in the bottom of the ninth as he picked up the win.

Jesson-Dalton’s line on the evening was one run on one hit and one walk over two innings. He struck out five.

Right fielder Yonathan Perlaza tied the game up with a two-run home run in the top of the ninth. It was Perlaza’s 14th home run of 2021.

Pinch-runner Edmond Americaan scored the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth on a wild pitch.

South Bend’s other two runs came in the third inning when center fielder Alexander Canario hit his ninth Cubs home run (and 18th overall) with a man on. Canario was 2 for 4.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were blue after losing to the Augusta GreenJackets (Braves), 3-2.

Starter Manuel Espinoza was the hard-luck loser after allowing just one run on three hits over five innings. He struck out six and walked no one.

Shortstop Ed Howard was 2 for 4 and scored one run.

Center fielder Christian Franklin went 2 for 4.

Highlights:

ACL Cubs

Beat the Rangers, 13-12.

James Triantos was 4 for 4 with two doubles and two walks.