Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: September 10

With South Bend and Myrtle Beach’s seasons over, there was some movement in the system.

3B Cam Smith, RF Ezequiel Pagan, LHP Mitchell Tyranski and RHP Will Sanders were promoted to Double-A Tennessee from High-A South Bend.

Infielder Benjamin Cowles, who the Cubs acquired in the Mark Leiter Jr. trade, joins Tennessee. He was expected to be out for the season, so that’s good injury news.

RHP Daniel Missaki joins Tennessee from Triple-A Iowa Cubs.

Infielder Reivaj Garcia joins the Iowa Cubs from Tennessee.

Left-hander Chase Watkins, right-hander Tyler Santana and shortstop Ed Howard join the Iowa Cubs from South Bend.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs’ comeback fell short against the Louisville Bats (Reds), 11-10.

Brandon Birdsell has pitched well for Iowa since his promotion, but he had a bad night tonight. Birdsell allowed six runs on six hits over 1.2 innings. He walked two and struck out two.

Hayden Wesneski cam on to pitch the fifth inning on a rehab assignment and had a rough outing. He gave up two runs in the fifth and another one in the sixth inning before he was removed without recording an out in the sixth. Wesneski’s final line was three runs on five hits, including a solo home run in the sixth, over 1+ innings. Wesneski struck out two and walked one.

Iowa was trailing this game 11-1 at the seventh inning stretch. They scored five runs in the seventh and four more in the eighth to make a game out of it.

Right fielder Owen Caissie hit a two-run home run in the seventh, his 18th on the season. Caissie went 1 for 5 with a walk.

William Simoneit replaced Matt Mervis at first base in the top of the seventh. Simoneit had a sac fly in the bottom of the seventh and a three-run home run in the eighth. It was Simoneit’s first Iowa home run, his second in the Cubs organization and fourth overall.

Third baseman Matt Shaw was 2 for 5 with a double and a walk. He scored twice.

Center fielder Trayce Thompson was 3 for 5.

DH Darius Hill was 2 for 5 and scored one run.

Left fielder Brennen Davis singled in the second inning and was thrown out at second trying for a double. On the play, he suffered an injury and had to carted off the field. The man cannot catch a break.

Caissie’s home run.

Simoneit’s home run.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies defenestrated the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 5-3. It was the Smokies’ seventh-straight win.

Starter Chris Kachmar went 5.2 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out two.

Zac Leigh pitched the top of the eighth inning, retired the side in order, and got the win. He struck out two.

Blake Weiman came on to pitch the ninth inning and got the save after retiring all three batters he faced. He did not strike anyone out.

Catcher Casey Opitz hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning, his first for the Smokies and sixth overall. Opitz went 1 for 3.

The Smokies took the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning when third baseman Cam Smith hit a two-run triple, his first Double-A hit. He then scored on a wild pitch. Smith was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Shortstop Benjamin Cowles went 0 for 3 and was hit by a pitch in his Cubs system debut. He scored on Opitz’s home run.

Opitz’s home run.

Smith’s triple.