Down on the Farm: Hendricks pitches gem for I-Cubs; Schwarber hits first HR at Kane County

Great pitching, solid hitting, and another walk-off win highlighted the Cubs minor league action last night.

Kyle Hendricks had a stellar outing for Iowa, and Javy Baez backed him with three hits in an I-Cubs victory. Kyle Schwarber hit a massive home run for his first since being promoted to Kane County, as they continued to win at home picking up their 30th at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

Here’s a look at all of last night’s action.

Iowa 8 – El Paso (Padres) 3

Kyle Hendricks took a perfect game into the sixth inning, and Javy Baez tied a season high with for RBIs in the 8-3 win for the Iowa Cubs (37-35) over El Paso.

Hendricks allowed only one run in 7 2/3 innings, and the Cubs backed him early and often. Arismendy Alcantara  lead off the first with a double, and Baez followed with a two-bagger of his own to put the Cubs up early. Alcantara has now reached safely in 15 of the last 16 games, and in that stretch is hitting .368 (21-for-57). He also scored 15 runs in 16 games out of the leadoff spot this year.

Baez added a two-run single in third inning to add on to the their lead. The biggest outburst came in the next inning, and Baez was in the middle of it again.

After a Matt Sczur RBI double, Alcantara drew a walk to load the bases. Wellington Castillo, on is rehab assignment, hit into a fielder’s choice to plate another run. Baez then knocked in his fourth run of the night with an RBI single to put the Cubs up 6-0.

Logan Watkins added the final blow of the night with two-run home run. Arodys Viscaino started the ninth, but was charged with two earned runs, as five of the six hitters he faced reached off of him.

Tennessee 5, Chattanooga (Dodgers) 4 F/11

The Smokies  got back-to-back home runs from Rubi Silva and Jonathan Mota, and catcher Charlie Cutler drew a bases-loaded walk for their third straight walk-off victory.

After neither team made any noise in the first extra frame, but Tennessee got it done in the 11th. Jae Hoon-Ha opened the inning with a an infield single, then moved to second on Stephen Bruno‘s single to center. Both then moved up a base with an error on the play. Christian Villanueva was the intentionally walked to load the bases, which was followed by Cutler’s walk.

The Lookouts again took an early lead, but the back-to-back jacks helped the Smokies take a 3-2 lead. The Lookouts took the lead back in the next inning with a two-run sixth. But that didn’t last long as the Smokies tied the game the following inning.

 Tennessee starter Matt Loosen didn’t figure in the decision, but pitched well (5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO).

Kane County 6 – Cedar Rapids (Twins) 4

After just missing a home run in his Kane County debut, Kyle Schwarber left no doubt on Friday night on a towering home run, and the Kane County Cougars won their 30th game at home with a 6-4 victory over Cedar Rapids.

With the game tied at four in the eighth, Jeimer Candelerio picked up his first hit since joining the Cougars, a two-run double that would help set up the victory.

Schwarber continued his impressive start in the Cubs system, picking up his first extra-base hit in the first with a double. But his hit later in the game was the one that turned heads.

In the fifth inning, with a 2-0 count, Schwarber hit a blast that cleared the batter’s eye in center, which stands about 400 feet away. That put the Cougars up 4-2 at the time.

Corbin Hoffner earned the win in relief, and Tyler Bremer got the save with a perfect ninth.

Eugene (Padres) 9 – Boise 5

After a hot start to the season, the Boise Hawks were swept by the Eugene Emeralds in their three-game set following the 9-5 loss on Friday.

The Emerald got out quickly, scoring three in the first for a 3-0 lead with a two-run single by Marcus Davis, and a run-scoring hit from Miguel Del Castillo.

Boise took advantage of poor control from the Emeralds pitching, using four walks and a hit by pitch to plate three runs, with two coming in via a two-run double by Kevin Brown.

The Emeralds blew the game wide open the following inning, as they loaded the bases with no outs. Del Castillo added an RBI fielders choice, followed by a grand slam from Trae Santos to make it 8-3.

Hawks’ starter Erick Leal allowed all but one of the runs, giving up eight earned over three innings while taking the loss.