Yonathan Perlaza – Pic by Iowa Cubs

Simply put, tonight was not a good night to be a fan of the Cubs system. For starters, Myrtle Beach’s game was suspended in the top of the fourth and will be finished tomorrow. Both South Bend and Tennessee lost while Iowa split a doubleheader with Columbus that included the completion of yesterdays game. As a result, those statistics go in today, and will drive much of the conversation between us.

The Only Walk Off

The first game to be completed was actually a continuation of yesterdays suspended game between Iowa and Columbus. The game was called in the top or bottom of the 10th inning tied at eight and Iowa had the bases loaded with one out. It ended within five seconds as Chase Strumpf hit a ball to right field that was misplayed and the Cubs took the win at 9 to 8. As a result of the game being completed today, those statistics on officially go in today. Yonathan Perlaza went 3-for-6 with three RBI, including a bases clearing double in the bottom of the ninth inning to send it to extras. Nick Madrigal also had three hits and he drove in two and is hitting .500 with a 1.451 OPS since being sent down. Miguel Amaya went 2-for-3 with two RBI and Darius Hill just continues to hit going 2-for-4. The pitching, on the other hand, did not contain much to write about other than Bailey Horn pitching a scoreless 10th.

Hitter of the Day and a Half

As for South Bend, starting pitcher, Brandon, Birdsell was humming right along through three innings tonight before he ran into trouble in the fourth where he gave up four runs. He still struck out five but he gave up seven hits and two walks. His ERA for the year still stands at an excellent 2.97. Joe Nahas was outstanding in relief going 3.1 innings and lowering his ERA to 2.15. Joe is closing in on a promotion to Tennessee at anytime. At the plate, South Bend’s offense continues to struggle as they only managed to get five hits including two by James Triantos, who drove in two of the three runs in the eighth inning. Triantos is now hitting .324 with a .874 OPS. 

In Tennessee, it looked like the Smokies were going to roll over Chattanooga tonight. They were up 2-0 after four innings when Porter Hodge had a mini-meltdown and gave up six runs in the fifth inning. Chattanooga used that to go on to win 7 to 5 even though the Smokies out hit them 8 to 5. Haydn McGeary, BJ Murray, and Pablo Aliendo each had two hits. McGeary seems to be finding his way on how to adjust in the Southern League the past week. In that span, he’s hit .381 with one home run and six RBI. Looks like we might see a good month from him.

Stat of the Day

Didn’t think anyone would ever type this up….

In Iowa’s nightcap against Columbus, things got out of hand quickly as Ben Brown gave up five runs on two homers but only two of those runs were earned a impart to an error by Sergio Alcantara. In the fifth inning, cam Sanders came in to relieve brown, and he probably gave up five runs in just 2/3 of a frame. As a result, Columbus had an 11 to 2 lead after six innings five innings, despite a home run from Chase Strumpf. It got so bad that Hared Young was called into pitch….in the eighth inning. I am hanging around waiting for that one to end as it is 15-2 after 8. I am throwing in the towel. If Iowa comes back from being 13 down, then that will deserve its own post.

Dinger of the Day

Missed Throw of the Day from Yesterday

Kevin Made is impressive a defender that the Cubs game. This is the ordinary for him if you have not seem him play defense.

Transaction of the Day

Jordan Holloway finished his rehab at Myrtle Beach and was sent back to Iowa to replace Vinnie Nottoli who was traded to the Mets for the ever popular cash considerations.