If you like pitching, the Cubs’ minor league system had what you want to start the week. Jesus Castillo was a wrecking crew for Eugene and Carson Sands was throwing blanks for South Bend. Brad Markey was dealing for Tennessee and Erling Moreno made an impression for the AZL Cubs.
There’s even more inside, along with Dominican League action, today’s Down on the Farm Report.
Short Season Class-A – Eugene Emeralds (8-3)
It was another game, another great pitching performance by the Emeralds on Monday as they thrashed Spokane 8-2. Jesus Castillo struck out 11 as he tossed five scoreless innings. Scott Frazier gave up an earned run in two innings. Michael Knighton also allowed an earned run in two innings.
Eugene scored in bunches. D.J. Wilson (0-for-2 with a stolen base) came home on a sacrifice fly and Matt Rose (2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI) singled in Andruw Monasterio (1-for-4) in the first inning. Errors allowed Michael Foster (1-for-3 with a double and a stolen base), Wilson, and Kevonte Mitchell (1-for-3 with an RBI) to score in the fifth. A home run by Rose brought in Mitchell in the eighth inning. Chris Pieters (1-for-4 with a double) doubled and touched home on a single by Ricardo Marcano (1-for-4 with an RBI).
Low Class-A – South Bend Cubs (46-29)
Well, you can’t win them all as South Bend bowed to Lake County 6-1 on Monday. Adbert Alzolay was torched for 11 hits as he gave up five runs (four earned) and struck out five in five innings. Greyfer Eregua did some heavy lifting as he had four strikeouts in three innings. Craig Brooks tossed a perfect ninth. The Cubs scored their only run in the sixth inning when Donnie Dewees (1-for-4 with a double) doubled and came in on a single by Eddy Julio Martinez (1-for-3 with an RBI).
South Bend got back into the win column on Tuesday as they shut out Lake County 3-0. Carson Sands was in control as he only allowed three hits and a walk through seven innings while striking out four batters. Scott Effross collected his second save with two strikeouts in two innings.
All the runs for the S-Cubs came via the long ball. Tyler Alamo (1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI) belted a two-run shot with Eloy Jimenez (1-for-3) on in the second inning. Adonis Paula (1-for-3 with a home run) added a solo blast in the eighth.
High Class–A – Myrtle Beach Pelicans (38-38)
A rainout on Monday meant a doubleheader on Tuesday as Myrtle Beach dropped the opener 5-3 to Salem. Trevor Clifton was rocked for five earned runs as he struck out five in five innings. Tommy Thorpe tossed a scoreless inning.
Charcer Burks (2-for-3 with a double and a stolen base) doubled and scored on a ground out to lead off the game. Back-to-back doubles from Yasiel Balaguert (1-for-3 with a double) and David Bote (2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI) along with a single by Jeffrey Baez (1-for-3 with an RBI) brought in two more runs in the fourth.
Leading 6-4 going into the bottom of the seventh, Myrtle Beach was stunned by Salem in the nightcap, losing 7-6. Errors played a big factor as Zach Hedges went the distance (6.1 innings) and gave up seven runs, but only three were earned.
In the second inning, Yasiel Balaguert (1-for-4 with a home run) hit a solo home run and a single by Erick Castillo (2-for-3 with an RBI) brought in Daniel Spingola (1-for-3 with a double). A single from Gleyber Torres (1-for-3 with an RBI) and a sacrifice fly scored Charcer Burks (1-for-3 with two stolen bases) and Rashad Crawford (1-for-4) in the third inning. Andrew Ely (1-for-3 with an RBI) singled in Spingola in the sixth, and double by Jason Vosler (1-for-3 with a double and two RBI) drove in Ian Rice (0-for-2) in the seventh inning.
Double-A – Tennessee Smokies (31-44)
Tennessee pitching has come alive in the second half as the Smokes thumped Pensacola 12-1 in a rain shortened six innings on Monday. Brad Markey went all the way, allowing an earned run and struck out two in six innings. Billy McKinney (2-for-3 with a triple) and Ian Happ (3-for-3 with a home run) were the big sticks as they had four and three RBI respectively. Chesny Young (2-for-3 with a double) scored three runs and Victor Caratini (2-for-4 with a double) drove in two runs.
The Smokies were idle on Tuesday.
Triple-A – Iowa Cubs (38-39)
On Monday, Iowa finally got to play their doubleheader with Oklahoma City, losing the opener 10-9 in nine innings. Rehabbing veteran Tommy La Stella was the story as he went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Dan Vogelbach (3-for-4 with two doubles) also had a home run as he drove in four in the game. Juan Perez (1-for-4 with an RBI) added a solo home run.
Activated from the DL, Pierce Johnson was pounded for five earned runs in two innings. Miguel Mejia gave up an earned run in two innings, while Giovanni Soto surrendered two in an inning. Dallas Beeler (earned run in 0.2 innings), C.J. Riefenhauser (0.1 innings) and Starling Peralta (earned run in two innings) finished the game.
It was another extra inning game in the nightcap as Iowa beat Oklahoma City 3-2 in eight innings. Jake Buchanan gave the pen a rest as he struck out eight and allowed two earned runs in seven innings. Corey Black earned his second save with a scoreless eighth.
The I-Cubs took the lead in the fourth inning when a home run from Mark Zagunis (2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI) brought in Logan Watkins (2-for-4 with a stolen base). In the top of the eighth, a sacrifice fly brought in John Andreoli (1-for-3) with the go-ahead run.
Iowa survived an 11:00am start on Tuesday to defeat Oklahoma City 3-2. The I-Cubs began with a couple of rehabbing pitchers as Clayton Richard struck out two in a perfect inning, and Aaron Brooks gave up an earned run and had two strikeouts in four innings. Armando Rivero also had two strikeouts as he pitched two innings. Although Felix Pena allowed an earned run in two innings, he picked up his second save.
A wild pitch brought in Matt Murton (2-for-4) with the first run in the second inning. Pitcher Aaron Brooks (1-for-2) singled and scored on a Tommy La Stella (1-for-3 with an RBI) base hit in the fifth inning. Kris Negron (2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base) led off the sixth with a double and came home on a sacrifice fly.
Arizona Rookie League – AZL Cubs (4-2)
Monday saw the AZL Cubs go strong from start to finish as they beat the AZL Giants 7-2. Outfielder Jose Gonzalez led the way as he was 3-for-5 with two RBI. Erling Moreno was masterful as he struck out six in six scoreless innings.
Dominican Summer League – DSL-1 Cubs (9-12)
D-1 still cannot get any traction as they were derailed by Yankees-1 6-3 on Monday. Jose Mac Donna had a good start as he went four innings, giving up an unearned run and striking out three batters. Outfielder Jose Gutierrez was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
On Tuesday, D-1 beat the weather but they could not beat Mets-1, losing 4-3. Luis Hidalgo (1-for-3 with an RBI) had the lone offensive highlight, a solo home run in the ninth. Aneuris Rosario pitched the last two innings, giving up two walks and striking out three batters.
Dominican Summer League – DSL-2 Cubs (14-6)
The steamroller continued on Monday as D-2 defeated DSL Rojos 4-2. Abraham Rodriguez provided the punch as he went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI. In relief, Ivan Medina had two strikeouts in 3.1 scoreless innings for the win.
News and Notes
The Chicago Cubs sent INF Tommy La Stella and LHP Clayton Richard to the Iowa Cubs on a rehab assignment, selected the contract of RHP Joel Peralta from the Iowa Cubs; optioned LHP Gerardo Concepcion to the Iowa Cubs; sent C Tim Federowicz outright to the Iowa Cubs; assigned INF Trent Giambrone to the Eugene Emeralds; assigned LHP Pablo Ochoa to the AZL Cubs from the D-1 Cubs.
The Iowa Cubs activated RHP Pierce Johnson from the 7-day disabled list. The South Bend Cubs activated INF Adonis Paula from the 7-day disabled list. The D-1 Cubs released RHP Assael Aquinio.