Down on the Farm: Jeffery Baez hits 2 HRs, Albert Almora collects 3 hits

The Kane County Cougars swept a doubleheader while the Iowa Cubs and Daytona Cubs fell short in comeback attempts, and Albert Almora and the Tennessee Smokies remained red-hot Sunday in the Chicago Cubs minor league action.

Iowa Cubs
Salt Lake Bees (Angles) 3, Iowa 2

Eli Whiteside doubled in the bottom of the ninth to put runners on second and third with one out. But after an RBI groundout, he was stranded at third when Ryan Kalish struck out to hand Felix Doubront his first loss in the Cubs organization.

Doubront allowed three runs on eight hits in six innings, striking out four and walking one. Kalish was 2 for 4 and Josh Vitters was also 2 for 4 with an RBI double in the sixth.

The Omaha Stormchasers won, so Iowa sits two games of first place.

Tennesse Smokies
Tennessee 7, Montgomery Biscuits (Rays) 3

Jae-Hoon Ha hit a two-run blast in the fourth and Pin-Chieh Chen knocked in two runs behind Felix Peña’s 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball for the win.

Peña allowed three hits, striking out four and walking three for the Smokies’ fifth straight win to give them a three-game lead.

Ha’s homer was his fifth on the season, he was 3 for 4 and scored twice. Chen was 2 for 5 with a run scored. Albert Almora was 3 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI, Taylor Davis was 3 for 4 with two runs scored, and Stephen Bruno 2 for 4.

Daytona Cubs
Tampa Yankees 8, Daytona 7

Willson Contreras cranked a three-run homer in the eighth and the next inning Bijan Rademacher launched a solo blast to pull Daytona within one, but they could not complete the comeback.

Juan Paniagua allowed six runs, two unearned, on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.He walked three and struck out two.

Kyle Schwarber went 2 for 5 with a double and triple with two runs scored.

Daytona now leads Tampa by just two games.

Kane County Cougars
Kane County 9, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers) 0
Kane County 3, Wisconsin 0

Jeffrey Baez hit a lead off homer in the seventh to spark a seven-run inning for Kane County in the first game of the doubleheader.

Baez’s homer was his ninth of the year and second for Kane County. He was 1 for 2 with two walks and a stolen base.

Daury Torrez allowed a single in the first, and then shutdown the Timber Rattlers walking two and striking out three in five scoreless innings.

David Garner followed by giving up one hit for a two inning save, his first of the year.

Victor Caratini had a two-run single in the seventh, he was 3 for 4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Shawon Dunston was 2 for 4 with a stolen base and a run scored, Yasiel Balaguert was 2 for 4 with a run scored, Carlos Penalver was 2 for 4 with a double and run scored.

Game 2

Baez once again hit a solo homer in the seventh and Penalver doubled again behind Ben Wells, who pitched five innings of three-hit ball for the win.

Baez went 1 for 3 and Penalver was 2 for 3 and scored a run while Wells struck out and walked two.

The win puts the first half champions a game up on Cedar Rapids in the second half.

Boise Hawks
Boise 7, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants) 6

James Norwood gave up five runs on three hits and three walks over just two-thirds of the first, Boise tied it in the eighth and Kevin Brown hit a two-run homer in the ninth for the win.

James Farris relieved Norwood and allowed two unearned runs in 2 1/3 innings. Brad Markey followed with three scoreless innings and Daniel Lewis pitched a scoreless seventh.

Charcer Burks hit a two-run double in the seventh to plate Boise’s first two runs. He was 2 for 4 with a double, triple, and a walk.

Jesse Hodges tied the game in the eighth with a solo homer. It was his seventh of the season and he was 2 for 4 with a walk.

Brown was 2 for 5 with a double, the game-winning homer, and three RBI. Corbin Hoffner pitched a perfect ninth to earn his first save.

For more Chicago Cubs conversation and updates follow us on Twitter @CubbiesCrib and Like our Facebook page at Cubbies Crib.