After a big shakeup over the holiday weekend things seem to be settling in for the affiliates as Iowa is on a roll, winning three straight thanks to home runs from Junior Lake, Ryan Dent, Taylor Davis, Jonathan Mota, Matt Szczur, and Kyle Schwarber.
Major leaguers Tsuyoshi Wada and Rafael Soriano were the center of attention in Tennessee, but pitchers Ryan Williams and Pierce Johnson grabbed the spotlight.
Myrtle Beach was unable to capitalize on excellent pitching form Jeremy Null and Brad Markey, but South Bend did behind Zach Hedges. Meanwhile, Eugene keeps on rolling with a never-give-up offense led by Frandy Delarosa.
Highlights abound, so take a look at today’s Down on the Farm Report.
Short Season Class-A – Eugene Emeralds (11-8)
Late inning comebacks are becoming the norm for Eugene as they used three runs in the final two innings to pull ahead of Vancouver 6-5 on Monday. The Emeralds counter-punched all night and they cut the lead in half in the third inning after Kevonte Mitchell (1-for-2 with a double), Donnie Dewees (1-for-4) and Frandy Delarosa (1-for-3 with a double and an RBI) all walked. Mitchell scored on a double play. Eugene took the lead in the fifth inning after Mitchell doubled and Dewees singled, and both scored on a fielding error. Down two runs in the eighth, the Emeralds tied the game when Delarosa doubled and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Delarosa scored on a ground out and Justin Marra (0-for-2 with two walks) walked. Ho-young Son pinch-ran for Marra, and Matt Rose (2-for-4) singled. Rose was picked-off at first. Pinch-hitter Tyler Alamo walked. A base hit from Ian Rice (1-for-3 with an RBI) drove in Son with the tying run. The ninth inning started with a walk to Mitchell, who then moved to third on an error that allowed Dewees to reach. A sacrifice fly brought in Mitchell with the game-winner.
Carson Sands did not have one of his best efforts as he allowed two earned runs on four walks and three hits in four innings. While he struck out four, Pedro Araujo also gave up two earned runs in two innings. Pitching more effective lately, Alex Santana was charged with an unearned run as he had three strikeouts in three innings for the win.
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Low Class-A – South Bend Cubs (36-44)
It was ultimately a disappointment for South Bend on Monday as they fought hard but lost 10-9 to Ft. Wayne in 12 innings. Starter Trevor Clifton was pounded by the Tin Caps, allowing six runs (five earned) while striking out six in four innings. Sam Wilson did a decent job, limiting Ft. Wayne to an earned run with two strikeouts in three innings. Corbin Hoffner also gave up an earned run in his three innings of work. The first inning for Dillon Maples, he was able to work out of some trouble but things caught up with him in inning two. Maples surrendered two earned runs on four hits and a walk and hit two batters.
The Cubs jumped out to a lead in the first inning after Gleyber Torres (1-for-5 with a double and an RBI) walked with one out, Jason Vosler (2-for-5 with a double) doubled, and Gioskar Amaya (4-for-5 with a home run and three RBI) brought them all in with a three run home run. David Bote (3-for-6 with a double and an RBI) doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly in the second inning. South Bend tied the game in the fourth inning when Bote singled and Andrew Ely (0-for-5 with a walk) walked. Bote came home on a ground out and Ely scored when Torres doubled with two outs. The Cubs led again in the fifth after Amaya singled, Kevin Encarnacion (1-for-6 with a double and an RBI) doubled, and Amaya touched home on a ground out. In the seventh, Vosler and Amaya led off with singles and Vosler scored on a fielder’s choice. South Bend tried to come back in the 12th after Amaya started the inning with a walk and Vimael Machin (1-for-6 with an RBI) singled with one out. A base hit from Bote drove in Amaya.
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All it took was one swing of the bat and excellent pitching to give South Bend a 2-1 victory over Fort Wayne on Tuesday. The Cubs were behind 1-0 in the seventh inning when Jason Vosler (1-for-4) led off with a single. Yasiel Balaguert (1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI) deposited a pitch into the left flied seats to give South Bend all the runs they would need.
Making a bid for being the next pitcher promoted, Zach Hedges had his best effort of the season. Hedges allowed only an earned run as he scattered seven hits and struck out two in eight innings. Just back from Myrtle Beach, Tyler Ihrig had two strikeouts in the ninth for his second save.
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High Class–A – Myrtle Beach Pelicans (46-36)
After scoring 28 runs in their previous two games, Myrtle Beach was due for a letdown and it came Monday as the Pelicans lost 3-2 to Carolina. Jeremy Null looked a lot more comfortable in his second Carolina League start as he allowed two earned runs on five hits while striking out three in six innings. Fernando Cruz pitched well for two innings, and then gave up the winning run with one out in the ninth.
Myrtle Beach grabbed an early lead after Victor Caratini (0-for-3 with a walk) started the second with a walk and singles by Carlos Penalver (3-for-4) and Danny Lockhart (1-for-3 with an RBI) drove him in. Back-to-back doubles by Kevin Brown (1-for-4 with a double) and Trey Martin (1-for-4 with a double and an RBI) in the fifth inning provided the other run for the Pelicans.
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It was a tough loss to hang on a rookie Tuesday, but the Pelicans offense did not help as they lost 3-1 to Winston-Salem. Myrtle Beach tied the game in the third inning after Mark Zagunis (2-for-5 with a double) singled with two outs, Chesny Young (0-for-2 with two walks) walked, and a base hit from Jeimer Candelario (1-for-4) loaded the bases. A walk to Jacob Rogers (1-for-3 with a double and an RBI) drove in Zagunis, but the Pelicans could not capitalize any further.
In his first Carolina League start, Brad Markey allowed an earned run and had two strikeouts in six innings. David Garner relieved and struck out the side in the seventh, tossing two scoreless innings. Dave Berg came on to pitch the ninth and gave up two earned runs.
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Double-A – Tennessee Smokies (45-35)
With the dizzying amount of roster moves Tennessee has had to endure over the past few days, a 4-3 loss to Birmingham could be expected. Rehabbing lefty Tsuyoshi Wada gave up all four of the Barons’ runs as he struck out five in four innings. Fresh up from the Dominican Republic, Rafael Soriano had three strikeouts and gave up a hit as he pitched an inning. Regularly scheduled starter Ryan Williams came out of the bullpen and fanned seven in three scoreless innings.
The Smokies scored all of their runs in the second after singles by Willson Contreras (1-for-3) and Billy McKinney (2-for-4) started the inning. McKinney was out at second on a force that allowed Stephen Bruno (0-for-4) to reach. A sacrifice fly brought in Contreras, and a base hit by Wes Darvill (1-for-4) put runners at the corners. A double by Anthony Giansanti (1-for-4 with a double and two RBI) drove in Bruno and Darvill.
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Tennessee received a pitching performance they expected to see regularly this season in a 3-1 victory over Birmingham on Tuesday. Starting pitcher Pierce Johnson looks like all he needs is a few more innings to be able to advance up the system as he struck out three and allowed an earned run on three hits and two walks in seven innings. Corey Black set down the side in order in the eighth, and P.J. Francescon had two strikeouts in the ninth for his 13th save.
With two outs in the third, the Smokies got singles from Elliot Soto (3-for-5 with a double and an RBI) and Bijan Rademacher (2-for-4 with a double). A double from Willson Contreras (2-for-4 with a double and two RBI) drove both runners home. Tennessee added a run in the seventh after Jacob Hannemann (1-for-4 with a walk) walked and scored on a double from Soto.
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Triple-A – Iowa Cubs (45-40)
It was a small display of power in game one of a doubleheader on Monday as Iowa used a big seventh inning to pull away from New Orleans 4-2. Carlos Pimentel remains effective as he allowed two earned runs and struck out four in five innings. Newcomer Ben Rowen had a strikeout in a perfect inning for his first win as an I-Cub. With two strikeouts in the seventh, Brian Schlitter collected his eighth save.
Rubi Silva (1-for-3) led off the game with a single and scored on a double from Arismendy Alcantara (2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI). That was the only run for Iowa until the seventh when Christian Villanueva (1-for-2) singled and Junior Lake (1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI) belted a one out, two-run home run. With two outs, Ryan Dent (1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI) added a solo shot of his own.
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Iowa completed the sweep in game two as they shut out New Orleans 2-0. Jeffry Antigua carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and left with three strikeouts in 5.1 innings. Carl Edwards Jr. finished out the sixth with a strikeout. Blake Cooper earned his third save as he struck out a batter in a scoreless seventh inning.
All the runs the I-Cubs would need came in the second inning after Taylor Davis (2-for-3 with a home run) cracked a one out solo home run. Two batters later, Jonathan Mota (2-for-3 with a home run) blasted his own solo home run.
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It was a team effort Tuesday as the I-Cubs went wire-to-wire in an 8-3 win over New Orleans. Matt Szczur led off the game with a solo home run. Szczur began the third inning with a double and Arismendy Alcantara followed with a single. A double from Kyle Schwarber scored Szczur. A base hit by Mike Olt drove in Alcantara, and a ground out brought Schwarber home. Schwarber added a solo home run of his own to begin the fifth inning. Iowa put the game out of reach in the top of the ninth as pinch-hitter Angelo Amendolare walked and Alcantara had a one out single. Alcantara stole second and Olt walked to load the bases. A double by Christian Villanueva cleared the bases … scoring Amendolare, Alcantara, and Olt.
Iowa saw good Drake Britton on Tuesday, sort of, as he allowed three earned runs on six hits and a walk in 5.1 innings. Yoervis Medina bounced back from a bad outing to strike out two in 1.2 scoreless innings. Armando Rivero worked around two hits with a strikeout as he pitched an inning. Ben Rowen went 1-2-3 in the ninth.
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Arizona Rookie League – AZL Cubs (6–6)
The AZL Cubs were off on Monday.
Dominican Summer League – DSL Cubs (18-15)
Monday saw the DSL Cubs use two big innings to blow past the DSL Marlins 8-2. Chris Pieters is emerging as a position player, going 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI, and outfielder Tony Rijo 2-for-4 with two RBI. Starter Deibi Torres bounced back from a poor outing as he was charged with an unearned run while striking out three in three innings.
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The D-Cubs had to hang on tight Tuesday as they narrowly escaped with a 6-5 win over the DSL Pirates. Second baseman Edgar Rondon was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while third baseman Fidel Mejia went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Starter Junior Marte is showing more confidence as he allowed an earned run and struck out eight in five innings.
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Venezuelan Summer League – VSL Cubs (20-24)
It was only one run, but the VSL Cubs made it count on Monday as they beat the VSL Phillies 1-0. Outfielder Luis Ayala was 1-for-3 with a double and scored on an error. Starting pitcher Jesus Arias struck out two and gave up only three hits in six innings.
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The V-Cubs had a heartbreaker on Tuesday as they lost 6-5 to the VSL Rays in 14 innings. The Cubs used a big second inning to take the lead, capped by shortstop Rafael Narea (1-for-6 with a home run and three RBI) three run home run. Moises Ramirez took over after Riger Fernandez had a rough start, striking out a batter in three scoreless innings.
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News and Notes
The Chicago Cubs recalled RHP Dallas Beeler from the Iowa Cubs; assigned INF Angelo Amendolare to the Iowa Cubs; assigned INF/OF Anthony Giansanti to the Iowa Cubs from the Tennessee Smokies; sent LHP Tsuyoshi Wada to the Tennessee Smokies on a rehab assignment; assigned INF Sutton Whiting to the Tennessee Smokies from the Eugene Emeralds; assigned RHP Rafael Soriano to the Tennessee Smokies; assigned LHP Michael Heesch to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans from the Iowa Cubs; assigned LHP Tyler Ihrig to the South Bend Cubs from the Myrtle Beach Pelicans; assigned RHP Omar Ventura to the VSL Cubs.
The South Bend Cubs placed RHP Santiago Rodriguez on the 7-day disabled list.