After taking a break for the Major League All-Star game, all of the Cubs’ affiliates look refreshed as there were both big pitching performances and excellent offensive displays to end the week.
Eugene was a base hit machine thanks to Ian Happ and Eloy Jimenez, while Yasiel Balaguert and David Bote went deep for South Bend.
Tsuyoshi Wada looked sharp for Iowa, but Myrtle Beach got the best of both worlds. The Pelicans’ Jen-Ho Tseng and Jonathan Martinez were in top form while Kevin Brown, Jacob Rogers, and Chesny Young all left the yard.
With all the scores and highlights, take a look inside today’s Down on the Farm Report.
Short Season Class-A – Eugene Emeralds (15-12)
Eugene got back into the win column on Wednesday as they pounded out 14 hits to beat Hillsboro 8-4. The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning when Ian Happ (3-for-4 with a double and an RBI) and Eloy Jimenez (2-for-4) singled. Justin Marra (1-for-3 with two RBI) walked and a sacrifice fly brought in Happ. The Emeralds were down 3-1 in the fifth inning until Blake Headley (2-for-4 with a double and an RBI) doubled and Ho-young Son (2-for-4) singled. A base hit by Donnie Dewees (1-for-5 with an RBI) scored Headley and put runners on second and third. Son came home on a single from Frandy Delarosa (2-for-5 with an RBI). A base hit by Happ drove in Dewees, and a single from Jimenez loaded the bases. Marra stroked the Emeralds sixth straight single to drive in Delarosa and Happ. A sacrifice fly scored Jimenez, and a two out base hit by Headley plated Marra.
Oscar De La Cruz was the beneficiary of the offensive outburst as he allowed three earned runs and struck out five in 4.1 innings. Francisco Carrillo had three strikeouts and gave up an earned run in 3.2 innings. Jared Cheek set down the side in order in the ninth.
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Low Class-A – South Bend Cubs (40-48)
The South Bend bullpen could not hold a lead Wednesday as they lost to Lansing 6-4. Erick Leal had a decent effort, allowing three runs (two earned) while striking out a batter in six innings. However, Jordan Minch gave up three earned runs in 1.1 innings. Daniel Lewis came on too late to help, recording the final two outs of the eighth inning.
Charcer Burks (0-for-0 with a walk and a stolen base) led off the game for the Cubs with a walk and Gleyber Torres (1-for-5 with a stolen base) followed with a single. Burks stole third base and scored on a failed pick-off attempt. The second started with a single and stolen base by David Bote (2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base), with a one out base hit by Jeffrey Baez (2-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base) driving in Bote. Singles by Yasiel Balaguert (2-for-5), Kevin Encarnacion (2-for-4), and Bote with one out led to a run by Balaguert and the lead for South Bend in the fifth. An error allowed Vimael Machin (1-for-4 with a double) to reach and Encarnacion to score.
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South Bend brought the lumber Thursday as they exploded for seven runs in the fourth and held on for a 10-6 win over Lansing. The big story was staring pitcher Jake Stinnett, who had his best outing of the season to date. Stinnett allowed an earned run with a strikeout in five innings. Alex Santana relieved and struck out three in two scoreless innings, But Sam Wilson let the Lugnuts back into the game as he was charged with five runs (three earned) in 1.2 innings. Corbin Hoffner got the final out of the game for his third save.
Yasiel Balaguert (4-for-5 with a double and a home run) broke a scoreless tie in the second inning as he led off with a home run. Two outs later, David Bote (13-for-5 with a home run and three RBI) blasted a solo home run. Consecutive singles by Balaguert, Kevin Encarnacion (1-for-5), Gioskar Amaya (1-for-4 with an RBI), Bote, and Erick Castillo (2-for-5) to start the fourth inning scored Balaguert and Encarnacion. A double from Rashad Crawford (1-for-4 with a double and two RBI) brought in Amaya and Bote. A base hit by Jeffrey Baez (2-for-5 with two RBI) plated Castillo and Crawford. Jason Vosler (1-for-5 with a double and an RBI) doubled in Baez. In the seventh, Balaguert doubled and scored after two ground outs.
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High Class–A – Myrtle Beach Pelicans (51-39)
Myrtle Beach broke out the big bats Wednesday as they powered past Potomac 5-2. The Pelicans manufactured a run in the second inning after Kevin Brown (2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI) singled, Pin-Chieh Chen (1-for-4 with a double) doubled, and Danny Lockhart (0-for-3 with a walk) walked with two out. Trey Martin (0-for-3 with a walk and a RBI) drew a walk to force in Brown. With two outs in the third, Jacob Rogers (1-for-4 with a home run) clubbed a solo home run. Victor Caratini (0-for-3 with a walk) reached on an error and came around on a two-run homer from Brown. Chesny Young (2-for-4 with a home run) added a solo home run, his first as a professional, in the fifth inning.
Jen-Ho Tseng had his second good start in a row as he allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out two in seven innings. Josh Conway and Fernando Cruz each fired a scoreless inning, and Cruz picked up his second save.
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It was a tense ballgame Thursday but Myrtle Beach ended up on top of a pitcher’s duel, as they beat Potomac 1-0. The story of the game was Jonathan Martinez as he struck out four and scattered four hits over seven innings of shutout ball. Dave Berg blanked the Nationals for an innings and struck out a batter, while Michel Heesch picked up his third save with a strikeout in the ninth.
The only run came in the fourth inning. Jeimer Candelario (1-for-4) and Jacob Rogers (1-for-4) singled. A passed ball advanced the runners a base and Candelario scored on a sacrifice fly.
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Double-A – Tennessee Smokies (47-41)
Back in action on Wednesday, Tennessee dropped a 4-1 game to Montgomery. Starter Felix Pena surrendered all four runs (three earned) in the third inning as he worked five innings and had four strikeouts. Tayler Scott had a strikeout as he pitched two scoreless innings, while Gerardo Concepcion blanked the Biscuits in the eighth inning. The Smokies gained a consolation run in the eighth after Jacob Hannemann (1-for-4 with a double) doubled and Elliot Soto (1-for-3) singled. Hannemann scored on a double play.
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The Smokies were thoroughly outgunned Thursday as they lost 9-2 to Montgomery. Ivan Pineyro was totally ineffective as he allowed seven runs (six earned) on ten hits and a walk while striking out five in five innings. Zach Cates was equally as bad, giving up two earned runs in 1.1 innings. Starling Peralta tossed 1.2 perfect innings.
Tennessee actually tied the game in the third inning after Elliot Soto (1-for-3) singled and walks to Bijan Rademacher (1-for-3 with a double and an RBI) and Willson Contreras (1-for-3) loaded the bases. A ground out brought in Soto. The Smokes added a run in the seventh after Soto walked and scored on a double from Rademacher.
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Triple-A – Iowa Cubs (48-43)
The Iowa Cubs got off on the right foot for the second half as they defeated Memphis 4-1 on Thursday. Tsuyoshi Wada was on the hill for Iowa and had five strikeouts while allowing an earned run in six innings. Rafael Soriano worked around a hit as he struck out the side in an inning of work. It was Carl Edwards Jr. turn next, tossing a scoreless inning while Brian Schlitter had a strikeout in a perfect ninth for his 11th save.
Junior Lake (2-for-4 with a home run) scored the first run of the game as he crushed a solo home run with two out in the third inning. The I-Cubs broke a 1-1 tie in the eighth after Christian Villanueva (2-for-4 with a double) doubled with two out. Mike Baxter (1-for-3) was intentionally walked, and a double from Mike Olt (2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI) drove in Villanueva and Baxter. A single by Taylor Davis (1-for-4 with an RBI) scored Olt.
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Arizona Rookie League – AZL Cubs (11-8)
Pitching made it two straight losses for the A-Cubs as they fell to the AZL Royals 5-3. Zac Rosscup struck out two in an inning of rehab work, but Enrique De Los Rio gave up four runs (two earned) and had a strikeout in three innings. Outfielder Michael Foster was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base.
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Dominican Summer League – DSL Cubs (20-20)
The AZL Cubs lost their second in a row on Wednesday as they bowed 5-3 to the Red Sox-2. Jesus Tejada pitched three innings of scoreless relief and struck out a batter. Outfielder Samir Lara was 1-for-4 with a double, two RBI, and a stolen base.
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Venezuelan Summer League – VSL Cubs (22-30)
A valiant comeback fell short on Wednesday as the VSL Cubs fell 9-7 to the VSL Tigers. The defense was not up to the task as they committed four errors and two passed balls. Starter Freddy Tineo was charged with four unearned runs as he struck out a batter in 3.2 innings. Outfielder Luis Ayala was 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, and two RBI.
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It was a different story on Thursday as the VSL Cubs lost to the VSL Tigers 8-3. The V-Cubs scored three in the first inning as Henrry Pedra was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Gabriel Lima had a rare poor outing as he gave up five runs (four earned) and struck out a batter in four innings.
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News and Notes
Third baseman Rafael Mejia, SS Yeiler Peguero, and RHP Junior Marte were selected for the National League squad of the Dominican Summer League All-Star game.
The Chicago Cubs sent LHP Zac Rosscup to the AZL Cubs on a rehab assignment; optioned OF/1B Mike Baxter to the Iowa Cubs; assigned C/1B Cael Brockmeyer and RHP Rafael Soriano to the Iowa Cubs from the Tennessee Smokies; assigned LHP Jeffry Antigua to the Tennessee Smokies from the Iowa Cubs; assigned LHP Tyler Peitzmeier to the AZL Cubs.
The Iowa Cubs reinstated RHP Carl Edwards Jr. from the inactive list. The Myrtle Beach Pelicans activated RHP Paul Blackburn from the 7-day disabled list.