INF/OF Arismendy Alcantara was named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star Team and will represent the Iowa Cubs in the Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 15 in Omaha.
Arismendy Alcantara is batting .252/.317/.461 in 65 games with 10 doubles, seven triples and 10 home runs for a .778 OPS. In 258 at bats, Alcantara has struck out 74 times with 25 walks. Alcantara has played second base (39), third base (6), shortstop (2) and center and left field (19) for Marty Pevey this season.
Alcantara is Iowa’s lone representative and became the second I-Cubs’ player to be named a PCL All-Star in consecutive seasons (Geovany Soto – 2005, 2006). Alcantara did not play in the game last year due to his promotion to the big leagues.
The game will be televised on the MLB Network and MiLB.TV.
Duane Underwood Jr.
The Cubs received the results on the MRI on Duane Underwood Jr.’s right elbow. According to reports, the Cubs were pleased, all things considered. Duane Underwood Jr. is not expected to need Tommy John surgery. The MRI revealed swelling, according to the Tribune, but no structural damage.
Duane Underwood Jr. will take a break and rest. He is expected to pitch again this season.
• Full Report from Comcast SportsNet
Jorge Soler, Kyle Schwarber, Mike Olt and Carl Edwards Jr.
Jorge Soler had the day off Wednesday and did not play in Iowa’s 4-3 victory over Round Rock. Soler is 0-for-7 in two games with three strikeouts. Marty Pevey told the Des Moines Register Wednesday was a planned recovery day for Soler.
Kyle Schwarber batted third and started behind the plate. Schwarber went 3-for-4 with a double and a RBI. Schwarber was charged with his second passed ball. In nine games with the I-Cubs, Schwarber is 10-for-32 with four doubles, a triple, a home run, two walks and 10 strikeouts (.313/.353/.594/.947).
The rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa does not appear to be going well for Mike Olt. After a 0-for-4 night, Olt is 6-for-29 with three doubles and a home run in eight games. Olt has one walk and 10 strikeouts (.207/.233/.414).
RHP Carl Edwards Jr. blew his first lead with Iowa but still picked up the win Wednesday. Edwards Jr. allowed one run on two hits with a walk and three strikeouts in two innings. Edwards Jr. has appeared in nine games out of Iowa’s bullpen and he is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA and 1.20 WHIP (six runs, eight hits, 10 walks and 17 strikeouts in 15 innings).
News, Notes and Rumors
• Jon Lester twisted his ankle at the end of the sixth inning of Wednesday’s game. Lester pitched the seventh inning and told the Tribune after the game he is fine.
• Joe Torre was at Citi Field on Wednesday and he met with a small group of Cubs’ players and coaches. According to ESPN Chicago, the main topic of the discussion was the inconsistent strike zone teams are dealing with, just not the Cubs. Dexter Fowler made must-read comments about the strike zone.
• Mark Gonzales reported Kris Bryant is the first rookie in Cubs history with at least 10 home runs, 40 runs scored and 40 RBI by the end of June.
• SS Gleyber Torres went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two stolen bases Wednesday. Torres is batting .326/.390/.418/.808 in 68 games with 12 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 28 walks, 61 strikeouts and 12 stolen bases (12-for-18).
• Eloy Jimenez went yard for the second time Wednesday in as many days. Jimenez was 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored. In 14 games, the 18-year old Jimenez is 18-for-56 with a double, two home runs, six walks and nine strikeouts (.321/.387/.446/.834). And his recent success, according to a report from MiLB.com, has been driven by the passing of his uncle.
• Even with the recent success of Jason Motte in the ninth inning, Joe Maddon is not going to name him the closer. Maddon prefers the “committee approach to the ninth” according to reports from the Sun-Times and Comcast SportsNet.
• According to ESPN Chicago, Cubs pitchers steal headlines from the struggling offense.
• The Sun-Times reported Joe Maddon has his own magic act for the Cubs after second straight shutout. And the Cubs are starting to believe in magic according to Comcast SportsNet.
• The Cubs have saved two runs this season using defensive shifts … and seven runs total on the year.
• Sports Illustrated explained how Todd Zeile went from run producer to movie producer.
And last, but not least, according to the USA Today, Manny Ramirez loves coaching the Cubs and the Cubs love having him around.
This Day In Cubstory
2014 – Cubs released Jonathan Sanchez
2013 – Cubs traded Scott Feldman and Steve Clevenger to the Orioles for Jake Arrieta, Pedro Strop and cash.
2013 – Cubs traded Carlos Marmol and cash to the Dodgers for Matt Guerrier.
2009 – Cubs acquired Jeff Baker from the Rockies for Al Alburquerque
2009 – Derrek Lee drove in a career-high seven runs with a grand slam and a three-run homer in a 9-5 win over the Brewers.
2004 – Cubs traded Jimmy Anderson to the Red Sox for Andy Shipman
2003 – Matt Clement combined with three relievers on a one-hit shutout over the Phillies. The Cubs beat the Phillies 1-0 on a Sammy Sosa homer leading off the ninth inning against Turk Wendell. David Bell collected the Phillies only hit.
2000 – Cubs signed free agent Robinson Chirinos
1993 – Sammy Sosa collected six hits, one short of the NL record, in an 11-8 victory over the Rockies
1984 – Cubs traded Dickie Noles to the Rangers for players to be named later. The Cubs received Tim Henry and Jorge Gomez from the Rangers on Dec. 11, 1984 to complete the trade.
1981 – Angel Pagan, born
1980 – Jermaine Van Buren, born
1972 – The Cubs completed a triple play in the seventh inning at Three Rivers Stadium … Ron Santo to Glenn Beckert to Jim Hickman at first base.
1969 – So Taguchi, born
1967 – After the Cubs 4-1 victory over the Reds at Wrigley Field, many of the 40,464 fans at Wrigley stayed in the ballpark to wait for the final score of the Cardinals and Mets game. When the final score was posted with the Mets beating the Cardinals, the Cubs moved into a first place and the fans at Wrigley refused to leave until the flags were changed at the top of the scoreboard that showed the Cubs were a half game in front of the Cardinals. Ferguson Jenkins pitched the Cubs to their 17 win in 19 games at the time.
1957 – Lee Walls hit for the cycle, but the Cubs lost to the Reds 8-6 in 10 innings after Wally Post his a grand slam in the 10th inning at Wrigley Field
1950 – Andy Pafko drove in five runs with a double, a triple and a home run. Bill Serena hit a three-run homer and Hank Edwards collected four hits and three RBI as the Cubs beat the Reds 16-0 at Crosley Field.
1949 – Cubs selected Mickey Owen off waivers from the Brooklyn Dodgers
1937 – Gabby Harnett hit the 200th homer of his Cubs career, a two-run shot off the Pirates’ Red Lucas in the eighth inning at Wrigley Field. The Cubs won 8-7 on Augie Galen’s two-run homer in the ninth inning.
1891 – The Chicago National League Ballclub scored 11 runs in the third inning on the way to a 20-5 victory over Cleveland at West Side Park.