Minor League affiliates face must-win games
CHICAGO -- The Cubs' Double-A Tennessee, Class A Daytona and Class A Boise teams all face must win situations on Monday.
Tennessee beat Birmingham, 10-7, on Sunday to even the best-of-five Southern League North Division Championship Series at two wins apiece. The deciding Game 5 will be on Monday.
The Smokies totaled 11 hits. Matt Szczur and Jonathan Mota each had three RBIs and Arismendy Alcantara hit a two-run single in the third and Taylor Davis hit a two-run double in the sixth. Szczur hit a two-run double with two outs in the fourth and added a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Mota hit an RBI single in the fourth and a two-run triple in the eighth.
On Saturday, Tennessee scored six runs in the eighth to beat Birmingham, 9-2, and avoid elimination. Javier Baez hit a two-run homer in the first to back Eric Jokisch, who gave up two runs over 7 2/3 innings. John Andreoli had two doubles and two RBIs, and Szczur had an RBI.
Jonathan Quinonez delivered a pinch-hit solo home run in the eighth and a walkoff RBI single in the ninth to lead Charlotte over Daytona, 3-2, in the Florida State League Championship. The two teams will meet on Monday in Game 4 in the best-of-five series.
Corey Black gave up one hit over six scoreless innings, and Dan Vogelbach and Chadd Krist each drove in a run. Vogelbach hit an RBI single in the first, and Krist hit an RBI double in the seventh. Pin-Chieh Chen also had three hits. Charlotte then scored in the eighth on Quinonez's solo home run, and rain stopped play for 1 hour 33 minutes.
When play resumed, Charlotte had Ryan McChesney at second with one out in the eighth, and McChesney tried to score on Jake Hager's single. But center fielder Zeke DeVoss threw McChesney out at home. Charlotte manager Brady Williams argued the call, and was ejected. Willie Argo then grounded out to end the inning.
Jeff Malm hit a game-tying RBI single with one out in the Charlotte ninth off Zach Cates, and Quinonez, who stayed in the game in left, delivered the game-winning RBI single.
On Saturday, Daytona beat Charlotte, 2-0, as Ivan Pineyro threw seven shutout innings. Kris Bryant hit a double, Vogelbach hit an RBI single in the first, and Krist had an RBI.
Vancouver beat Boise, 4-2, on Sunday to force a third and decisive game Monday for the Northwest League championship in the best-of-three series. Corbin Hoffner took the loss, giving up three runs on five hits over 1 2/3 innings in front of 4,655. Boise starter Paul Blackburn struck out nine over five innings, and gave up one run on three hits. Jordan Hankins hit an RBI double in the second for Boise to tie the game at 1. The Hawks didn't score again until the eighth when pinch-hitter Jesse Hodges doubled and eventually scored on Danny Lockhart's single.
Boise is seeking its first Northwest League title since 2004.