Cubs Minor League Daily: Not Quite Out Yet

iowa cubs logoThe odds that Iowa will make the playoffs are impossibly slim, but they do exist. Iowa currently sits in third place, four games behind Oklahoma City and a game and a half back of Omaha. If Iowa is to win the division, both of the following things must happen.

First, Iowa has to sweep Oklahoma City this weekend. Should Cubs lose even a single game, they are finished. If they sweep all four, though, they will be tied with Oklahoma City. The tie breaker would go to the team with the better head to head record, and if I am counting correctly, in a sweep scenario that team would be the Cubs. If the Cubs win out, they will therefore finish ahead of the RedHawks.

Second, Omaha needs to lose at home to a bad Colorado Springs team three times. If they lose just twice I think they will finish 74-69 and wind up half a game ahead of Iowa in the standings, even if Iowa sweeps. Three is the minimum number of Omaha losses needed. Should the Storm Chasers win two more times before the season ends, Iowa cannot win the division.

So there is a chance. It is the faintest of slim chances, but it is a chance. Chris Rusin will take the mound tonight in Iowa to try to keep that hope alive.

Scores From Yesterday

Iowa – Iowa had the day off.
Tennessee – Tennessee was the victim in a no hitter. They lost 1-0.
Daytona – Daytona had the day off. They begin their final series tonight.
Kane County – Three first inning runs proved decisive in this historic 3-2 win.
Boise Hawks – A tenth inning collapse led to a 13-8 loss.
Arizona – Arizona lost 6-3.

Performances of Note

  • [Tennessee] The Smokies did get a walk last night from Christian Villanueva. That was it.
  • [Tennessee] Felix Pena pitched a pretty good game. Over 5 innings he allowed a run on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4. The lone run came on a solo homer. Jeffrey Lorick and Tony Zych were nearly perfect in relief.
  • [Kane County] Tyler Ihrig pitched 6 innings and allowed a run on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3.
  • [Kane County] Cael Brockmeyer doubled twice and finished 2 for 3 with a walk.
  • [Boise] Danny Canela and Alex Tomasovich both finished with 3 hits.
  • [Boise] Gleyber Torres tripled for the second game in a row. He finished 4 for 5 with his first Boise stolen base.
  • [Arizona] Pitching in relief, Jeferson Mejia struck out 5, gave up a solo homer, walked one, and that was all over 4.1 inning.
  • [Arizona] Varonex Cuevas doubled and homered (his first) and now has an OPS of .860 for Arizona.
  • [Arizona] Kevonte Mitchell doubled and finished with 2 hits.
  • Other News

  • As a result of that no-hitter, the Smokies are in second place and a game behind Chattanooga.
  • Kane County’s win last night, their 89th, set a franchise record for most wins in a season. That alone is awesome. However, if you look around professional baseball… at any level… for another 89 win team, you won’t find one. Not only have the Cougars set a record, they also happen to lead everyone in wins. I think it is safe to say that they have had a good year.
  • Salem-Keizer also lost, so Boise’s lead in the overall standings remains at two games.
  • Kane County had a bus break down last night, but instead of being a negative thing, it resulted in this:
  • https://twitter.com/zhermans12/status/505194711582130177

    written by

    Luke Blaize is the Minor League Editor at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @ltblaize.

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