The long ball played a big factor to start the week in the Cubs’ minor leagues, as South Bend’s Donnie Dewees hit his first homer of the season, while Eddy Julio Martinez cracked his fourth. Nothing left the park for Myrtle Beach, but Gleyber Torres was red hot by going 3-for-3. Kelly Dugan kept slugging for Tennessee, and Dan Vogelbach and Arismendy Alcantara powered Iowa.
Today’s Down on the Farm Report promises to bring down the thunder from the sky.
Low Class-A – South Bend Cubs (18-12)
The South Bend Cubs’ game with Dayton was rained out on Monday.
Game one of Tuesday’s doubleheader with Dayton was a low scoring affair, with South Bend prevailing 2-0. The only offense was in the second inning, as Eloy Jimenez (2-for-3 with a double) doubled and came around on a home run from Eddy Julio Martinez (1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI). Starter Carson Sands was brilliant over five innings, scattering five hits and striking out three batters. Casey Bloomquist pitched the final two innings for his second save.
South Bend had the wrong combination of too little-too late as they fell in the nightcap 5-4 to Dayton. Ryan Kellogg seemed to be off to a good start but allowed three earned runs in the fourth inning as part of giving up five earned in 4.2 innings. John Williamson had a strikeout as he pitched the last 1.1 innings perfectly.
Donnie Dewees (1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI) got the SB Cubs on the board in the third inning, as he hit his first home run of the season with P.J. Higgins (0-for-2) on base. In the seventh, Eddy Julio Martinez (1-for-3) singled and scored on a base hit form Jesse Hodges (1-for-3 with an RBI). Tyler Alamo (1-for-2) came home on a double play with the bases loaded, but the tying run was stranded at third.
High Class–A – Myrtle Beach Pelicans (16-14)
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans had an off-day on Monday.
Myrtle Beach appeared to be in command from the start on Tuesday as they beat Winston-Salem 5-2. Jonathan Martinez had a typical outing, allowing an earned run on seven hits in six innings. Jeremy Null saw his first action of the season, fanning three in 1.2 innings. However, James Pugliese showed some rust coming off the DL, giving up an earned run in an inning. Jose Rosario got the final out for his third save.
Gleyber Torres (3-for-3 with a double and a stolen base) got the third inning started with a one out single and a stolen base, scoring on an Ian Happ (2-for-4 with an RBI) base hit. Singles by Jason Vosler (2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI) and Danny Lockhart (2-for-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases) brought in two more runs. Speed accounted for a run in the fourth after Shawon Dunston Jr. (1-for-4 with two stolen bases) singled, stole second and third and came home on an error. A triple by Vosler in the seventh inning drove in Yasiel Balaguert (0-for-4).
Double-A – Tennessee Smokies (15-17)
Tennessee had trouble getting their offense in gear on Monday as they lost 2-1 to Montgomery. A single by Kelly Dugan (1-for-3 with an RBI) in the second inning drove in Victor Caratini (2-for-3 with a double and a stolen base), who had doubled earlier. But that was it. The Smokies managed only four more hits over the next seven innings.
Rob Zastryzny had one of his better starts, striking out two and allowing only a solo home run over seven innings. Josh Conway worked around a single in the eighth but gave up a leadoff double in the ninth. David Berg surrendered a walk- off double in his first Double-A appearance.
On Tuesday, Tennessee continued to have trouble scoring runs as the bowed to Montgomery 4-3 in 11 innings. Back-to-back doubles by Kelly Dugan (2-for-4 with a double, a home run and an RBI) and Billy McKinney (3-for-4 with a double and an RBI) led to a run in the second inning, while Dugan belted a solo home run in the fourth. A sacrifice fly scored McKinney in the ninth to send the game into extra innings.
Duane Underwood Jr. continues to try to round into form, as he struck out six and allowed two earned runs in five innings. Starling Peralta gave up an earned run as he pitched an inning, while David Garner and Gerardo Concepcion each tossed two scoreless innings. Corey Black could record only one out in the 11th before surrendering the game winning run.
Triple-A – Iowa Cubs (15-14)
Iowa used a five-run first inning to cruise to a 10-3 victory over Omaha in a Monday matinee. John Andreoli (3-for-5), Shane Victorino (2-for-5 with a double and two RBI), and Willson Contreras (1-for-3 with a stolen base) led off the game with consecutive singles, with a base hit by Taylor Davis (2-for-5 with a double and two RBI) bringing in the first run. After a ground out scored Victorino, Dan Vogelbach (2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI) slammed a three run home run. Vogelbach would add a solo homer in the fourth, and Albert Almora Jr. (1-for-4 with two RBI) had an RBI single in the fifth.
Jake Buchanan would take advantage of the run support as he struck out four and allowed three earned runs in seven innings. Armando Rivero had two strikeouts as he pitched an inning, and Carl Edwards Jr. ended up striking out the side in the ninth.
It all unraveled quickly for Iowa on Tuesday, as they lost to Nashville 8-5. Stephen Perakslis started another bullpen day, and served up two home runs as part of five earned runs in four innings. Miguel Mejia surrendered another three earned runs in 1.2 innings. C.J. Riefenhauser, Brandon Gomes, and Spencer Patton held the Sounds in check the rest of the way, but the damage had been done.
The I-Cubs seemed to have a comfortable lead in the second inning, as Arismendy Alcantara (2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI) cracked a three-run homer with Dan Vogelbach (1-for-3) and Albert Almora Jr. (2-for-5 with a stolen base) on board. A triple by Shane Victorino (2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI) brought in Vogelbach in the sixth. Victorino later scored on a single from Alcantara.
News and Notes
The Chicago Cubs sent C Miguel Montero on a rehab assignment to the Iowa Cubs; assigned RHP David Berg to the Tennessee Smokies from the Myrtle Beach Pelicans: assigned RHP Jeremy Null to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
The Iowa Cubs placed LHP Scott Barnes on the 7-day disabled list. The Tennessee Smokies placed RHP Jen-Ho Tseng on the 7-day disabled list. The Myrtle Beach Pelicans activated RHP James Pugliese from the 7-day disabled list.