Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 9

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs cleaned up the Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers), 5-1.

Cory Abbott had his best start of the year against the powerful Mud Hens lineup. He tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits. He struck out ten and walked only two as he collected his third win of the season.

Left fielder Trayce Thompson gave the I-Cubs an early 3-0 lead with his 19th home run of the year with two men on. Thompson went 1 for 4.

The very next batter up, shortstop Abiatal Avelino, made it 4-0 in the bottom of the first with his fifth home run this season. Avelino was a perfect 3 for 3 and was hit by a pitch.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies couldn’t escape the gaze of the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), 5-1.

Ryan Jensen gave the Smokies another strong start. He allowed one run in the top of the first inning when he gave up a single and a double with one out. But he gave up nothing else over his five innings of work. The final line on Jensen was one run on four hits over five innings. Jensen walked one and struck out five.

Graham Lawson is having some difficulties adjusting to Double-A. Tonight he took the loss after getting knocked around for four runs on three hits over one inning of relief. Two of those three hits were home runs. Lawson walked two and struck out one.

The Smokies had just three hits tonight. Their only run came in the fourth inning when third baseman Christopher Morel walked, stole second and then scored after the Lookouts committed two errors on the steal attempt. Morel was 0 for 2 with two walks.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs closed up the Beloit Snappers (Marlins), 5-2.

Jordan Wicks made his second career start and faced five batters this time. He retired four of them and the other one reached on an error. Wicks had one strikeout in his 1.1 innings.

The win went to Max Bain, who gave up one run on four hits over 4.2 innings of relief. Bain had an interesting relationship with the strike zone tonight as he walked six batters and he struck out six batters.

Eduarniel Nunez got the save. He gave up one run on one hit and three walks over 2.1 innings. Nunez struck out one.

First baseman Bryce Ball hit a solo home run in the fifth inning, his seventh with the Cubs and 13th overall. Ball also walked with the bases loaded in the eighth inning for two total RBI. He was 1 for 3.

South Bend’s other three runs came courtesy of DH Yohendrick Pinango, He had a two-run single in the sixth inning and drove in one more with an RBI single in the eighth. Pinango went 2 for 4.

DH Yonathan Perlaza went 2 for 4 with a double. He scored twice.

That’s all of South Bend’s five hits in this game.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were bitten by the Charleston RiverDogs (Rays), 12-1 in game one of a doubleheader. Game two was postponed and they’ll try to play a doubleheader again tomorrow night in Charleston.

Starter Tyler Schlaffer gave up a solo home run to the second batter he faced in the bottom of the first and things went downhill from there. Schlaffer allowed six runs on six hits over three innings. Schlaffer walked four and struck out three.

Left fielder Owen Caissie doubled to lead off the top of the second inning and scored on a two-out single by second baseman Ed Howard for the Birds’ only run. Caissie was 1 for 3 and Howard went 1 for 2.

Peter Matt had the third and final hit of the game for Myrtle Beach. Matt was 1 for 3.

ACL Cubs

Beat Giants Black, 6-0.

Kevin Alcantara had a two-run triple in a 1 for 3 game.