[A reminder that Luke is currently on vacation, so the Minor League Daily is a bit breezier than usual.]

We are fast approaching the end of the minor league season. For most teams, that comes in early September; for the teams in Arizona it is Monday. For those teams in the playoff picture it would nice if they finished the year on a hot streak. Short series playoff success sometimes just comes down to who is hot and who isn’t when the playoffs get underway.

Arizona Cubs 1 is hot. They locked up a playoff slot in the first half by winning the division, and they are probably going to win it again in the second half. Their 16-6 record is the best in the league, and they are right now on a four game win streak.

Triple A: Iowa Cubs

Iowa had the day off.

Double A: Tennessee Smokies
Tennessee 4, Jackson 1

Hatch continues to pitch very well to close out the season, including last night. Erick Castillo hit his second homer for the Smokies.

High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach had the day off.

Low A: South Bend Cubs
South Bend 4, Great Lakes 3

Erling Moreno pitched six shutout innings and the Cubs swiped three bags in this win.

Short Season A: Eugene Emeralds
Hillsboro 2, Eugene 1

Brailyn Marquez carried a good game into the seventh, but the only offense was a solo homer from his catcher, Eric Gonzalez.

Rookie: AZL Cubs 1
Cubs One 10, Reds 6
Cubs One 6, Reds 5 in eight innings

The day started with the completion of a game suspended on August 8, and finished with a Cubs sweep. Along the way the Cubs pounded out 26 total hits and struck out just 12 times.

Rookie: AZL Cubs 2

Cubs Two had the day off.

Other Notes

• In the month of August (four starts), Thomas Hatch has an ERA of 1.88. By contrast, in both June and July his ERA was within a few points on either side of 5.00.
• If the season ended today, Eugene would be in the playoffs. They hold a one game lead over Salem-Keizer for second in the division, five games out of first.