The week started with a very hot South Bend team as Jeffrey Baez was Grand and Rashad Crawford also went deep. Tennessee experienced highs and lows with Bijan Rademacher leading the way. Iowa played marathon baseball as Emilio Bonifacio ran wild, while Myrtle Beach ended on a sour note despite the efforts of Tyler Skulina.
And our congratulations on a fine season to the AZL Cubs.
The devil is in the details, which are in today’s Down on the Farm Report.
Short Season Class-A – Eugene Emeralds 36 – 34
The Eugene Emeralds were off on Monday and played late on Tuesday.
Low Class-A – South Bend Cubs (62-69)
South Bend continued their series with Bowling Green on Monday and brought out their bats in a 10-4 victory. The second inning started with David Bote (0-for-3) reaching on a passed ball and scoring after singles by Ian Happ (2-for-5 with a double) and Charcer Burks (3-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a stolen base). A walk to Vimael Machin (0-for-4 with a walk) loaded th bases. Rashad Crawford (1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI) made it to first on a ground out as Happ was erased at home. Jeffrey Baez (2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI) delivered a Grand Slam home run that scored Burks, Machin, and Crawford. In the fourth, Burks had a base hit, with a series of errors advancing him to third base. Crawford unleashed a one out, two-run home run, scoring Burks. Baez had a two out single and Gleyber Torres (1-for-5) reached on an error. A double from Gioskar Amaya (2-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI) plated Baez. Amaya had another double to begin the seventh inning, with pinch-hitter Angelo Amendolare (1-for-1) drawing a free pass. A wild pitch moved up the runners and a double by Burks brought Amaya and Amendolare in.
Trevor Clifton is ending the season on a high note as he allowed an earned run with three strikeouts in six innings. Dillon Maples had a typical outing as he gave up three earned runs in two innings. Sam Wilson worked around a hit in a scoreless ninth.
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It was a Tuesday matinee for South Bend and another blowout as they beat Bowling Green 9-2. Tommy Thorpe has been a revelation as a starter, as the lefty struck out four and gave up an earned run in six innings. Jordan Minch continued his rollercoaster ride by allowing an earned run in two innings. Daniel Lewis tossed a perfect ninth and had a strikeout.
The scoring started modestly enough in the first inning after Gleyber Torres (3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI) had a one out double and came home on a two out single by Ian Happ (2-for-3 with an RBI). Angelo Amendolare (2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI) walked with one out in the second inning and Vimael Machin (1-for-5 with an RBI) had a base hit. A triple by Rashad Crawford (2-for-5 with a triple and two RBI) drove in Amendolare and Machin. Jeffrey Baez (0-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base) reached on a fielder’s choice in which Crawford was out at home. Baez stole second and a single from Torres drove him in. In the fifth, a base hit by Happ and walks to Charcer Burks (0-for-3 with two walks) and Kevin Encarnacion (1-for-4) loaded the bases. A double by Amendolare brought in Happ and Burks. Encarnacion scored on a ground out. South Bend added two more in the ninth when Happ and Burks drew free passes and a single by Encarnacion plated Happ. A sacrifice fly brought in Burks.
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Ian Happ and Gleyber Torres
Chicago Cubs Online recently interviewed OF Ian Happ and SS Gleyber Torres … click here for the interviews.
High Class–A – Myrtle Beach Pelicans (77-54)
It was a complete bullpen failure for Myrtle Beach on Tuesday as they turned a potential 3-0 win into a 4-3 loss to Potomac. Tyler Skulina put the Pelicans in the right spot for a victory as he gave up only one hit in five scoreless innings while striking out five batters. Josh Conway continued the trend as he shut down the Nationals for two innings and struck out two in the process. David Garner came on in the eighth and set down the side in order, but walked the bases loaded to start the ninth. Jasvir Rakkar could not put out the fire, giving up three hits as four earned runs scored.
Myrtle Beach took the lead in the third inning when Mark Zagunis (1-for-2) and Jason Vosler (0-for-4) walked. Jacob Rogers (1-for-3 with a double and an RBI) walked following a double play. A single by Shawon Dunston Jr. (1-for-5 with an RBI) drove in Zagunis. Victor Caratini (0-for-2 with three walks) walked and scored in the seventh on a double from Rogers. The Pelicans seemed to ice the game in the ninth after Danny Lockhart (1-for-5 with a triple) tripled and came home on a wild pitch.
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Double-A – Tennessee Smokies (73-61)
Tennessee continued to have their way with Jacksonville on Monday with a 9-1 thrashing. Ryan Williams remains the story every time he takes the mound, as he improved his record to 10-2 with the Smokies. Williams scattered four hits in six shutout innings while striking out two batters. Juan Paniagua was charged with an unearned run in two innings. Gerardo Concepcion tossed a scoreless inning.
It was a low scoring affair to start out after Albert Almora Jr. (2-for-4 with a double, a triple, and an RBI) reached on an error and scored on a single by Ryan Dent (2-for-2 with an RBI) in the first inning. The score stayed 1-0 until the fifth inning when Jacob Hannemann (0-for-4 with a walk) walked with one out and came home on a triple from Almora Jr. A base hit by Dent drove in Almora Jr. Dan Vogelbach (2-for-5) led off the sixth with a single followed by a walk to Jeimer Candelario (1-for-2 with a double). A wild pitch advanced the runners, and Stephen Bruno (1-for-3 with an RBI) was hit by a pitch. Bijan Rademacher (1-for-3 with a triple and four RBI) tripled to clear the bases, scoring Vogelbach, Candelario, and Bruno. A sacrifice fly brought in Rademacher. Dent was hit by a pitch to start the seventh and singles by Vogelbach and Bruno drove in Dent. Vogelbach came home on a sacrifice fly.
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It was just an embarrassing loss for Tennessee on Tuesday, as the Smokies dropped an 11-0 game to Jacksonville. Jeffry Antigua gave a passable effort as he allowed three earned runs and had six strikeouts in four innings. Tayler Scott was hit hard as he gave up three earned runs in only 0.2 innings. Matt Brazis came on and pitched a perfect 1.1 innings. Neil Ramirez worked around a walk and a hit with two strikeouts in 0.2 innings. Corey Black surrendered five runs (two earned) in an inning. In his Double-A debut, James Pugliese had two strikeouts in 1.1 scoreless innings. The Smokes managed eight hits … Bijan Rademacher (3-for-4), Bryant Flete (2-for-3), Albert Almora Jr. (1-for-4), Willson Contreras (1-for-4) and Jeimer Candelario (1-for-4).
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Triple-A – Iowa Cubs (78-59)
With September call-ups depleting the roster, the I-Cubs were still able to gain a game on first place Oklahoma City by beating them 9-3 on Monday. Iowa jumped all over super-prospect Julio Urias in the first inning with a single by Taylor Davis (3-for-4 with three RBI) sandwiched between walks to Christian Villanueva (1-for-2 with an RBI) and Chris Valaika (1-for-4). A free pass to Arismendy Alcantara (0-for-3 with an RBI) forced in Villanueva, and a base hit by Mike Baxter (1-for-4 with two RBI) drove in Davis and Valaika. It started with two outs again in the fourth after John Andreoli (1-for-4 with a stolen base) walked, Adron Chambers (1-for-5) singled, and Villanueva drew a walk. A base hit by Davis brought in Andreoli and Chambers. Iowa manufactured a run in the fifth after Alcantara walked, and a passed ball, fly out, and wild pitch allowed him to score. A single and stolen base by Andreoli started the sixth, with a wild pitch and a base hit by Villanueva bringing him in. Carlos Pimentel came in as a pinch-hitter in the eighth and walked, as did Andreoli. Andreoli was out a second on a force that allowed Chambers to reach. Chambers advanced to second on a wild pitch. Walks to Villanueva and Davis forced in Pimentel. Iowa scored a little more conventionally in the ninth as Baxter walked and came in on a double by Luke Carlin (1-for-4 with a double and an RBI).
Felipe Paulino did his best to keep the Dodgers in the game as he allowed three earned runs and struck out three in five innings. Zac Rosscup had three punch-outs as he tossed two perfect frames. Rafael Soriano and P.J. Francescon each pitched a scoreless inning.
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It was supposed to be game one of a doubleheader on Tuesday, but Iowa and Oklahoma City got locked into a titanic struggle as the I-Cubs ended up losing 6-4 in 19 innings. Starter Michael Wagner was called-up from South Bend and allowed two runs (one earned) with three strikeouts in four innings. Armando Rivero and Ryan Buchter each had two scoreless innings and three strikeouts. Yoervis Medina could not hold a two run lead as he gave up two earned runs in an inning. Blake Cooper and P.J. Francescon did some heavy lifting, as the both pitched four innings and had four strikeouts. Frank Batista yielded two earned runs in 1.2 innings for the loss.
Iowa tied the game in the sixth inning after Emilio Bonifacio (4-for-6 with three stolen bases) singled and made it to second on an error. A one out double from Taylor Davis (3-for-9 with two doubles and an RBI) drove in Bonifacio. Davis scored on a double by Taylor Teagarden (1-for-6 with a double and an RBI). It was Bonifacio again in the 10th as he singled and stole second, scoring on a double from Christian Villanueva (2-for-7 with a double and an RBI). Two wild pitched brought in Villanueva.
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Game two with Oklahoma City started shortly before the Down on the Farm Report posted. Check back Friday for the recap.
Arizona Rookie League – AZL Cubs (31-22)
The AZL Cubs saw their season end on Tuesday as they lost their playoff game against the AZL Mariners 3-1. The game was actually resumed after being suspended on Monday due to weather. Dylan Cease started for the A-Cubs and allowed an earned run while striking out two in three innings. Carlos Jimenez was 3-for-4 and scored the only run, while Kevonte Mitchell went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
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News and Notes
The Chicago Cubs assigned RHP Michael Wagner to the Iowa Cubs from the South Bend Cubs; assigned INF Ryan Dent and RHP P.J. Francescon to the Iowa Cubs from the Tennessee Smokies; assigned RHP James Pugliese to the Tennessee Smokies from the Myrtle Beach Pelicans; assigned INF Angelo Amendolare to the South Bend Cubs from the AZL Cubs;
The South Bed Cubs activated RHP Dillon Maples from the 7-day disabled list.