It was a light schedule to begin the week, coinciding with the Major League All-Star game. Cubs’ fans are now holding their breath awaiting word on pitching phenom Dylan Cease as he left Eugene’s game with the trainer. Jonathan Martinez is resurging for Myrtle Beach, and Ryan Kellogg continues to impress for South Bend. Meanwhile, veteran pitching is the story down in Tennessee.
Along with rookie and Dominican league results, the Down on the Farm Report prepares for an interesting second half.
Short Season Class-A – Eugene Emeralds (17-8)
The bullpen fell apart for Eugene on Sunday night as they lost to Hillsboro 10-2. Starter Pedro Silverio did not pitch badly as he allowed four earned runs and had seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings. Michael Knighton had three strikeouts in 2.1 perfect innings, while lefty Wyatt Short set down the side in order in his professional debut. Scott Frazier failed to get an out as he gave up two earned runs, and MT Minacci surrendered four runs (three earned) in one inning.
The Emeralds cut the lead in half in the first inning after Jose Paniagua (1-for-4 with an RBI) singled in Yeiler Peguero (3-for-4 with a double and two stolen bases). The Ems tied it in the second as a triple by Robert Garcia (1-for-3 with a triple and an RBI) drove in Trent Giambrone (0-for-3).
The big story on Monday was not the Emeralds 7-4 loss to Hillsboro, but the status of top pitching prospect Dylan Cease. Cease allowed two runs and struck out seven in 4.2 innings, but left the game with the trainer in the fifth inning. Jordan Brink gave up two earned runs in 1.1 innings, and Enrique De Los Rio yielded and earned run as he pitched an inning. Mark Malave then surrendered two earned runs in two innings.
Eugene took the lead in the second inning after Connor Myers (1-for-4 with an RBI) singled in Kevonte Mitchell (1-for-4 with a double and a stolen base), while Tyler Payne (1-for-3 with an RBI) and Myers scored on a double by D.J. Wilson (1-for-4 with a double and two RBI). A base hit by Payne plated Mitchell in the sixth inning.
Low Class-A – South Bend Cubs (54-34)
It was a bullpen collapse on Monday as South Bend lost big to Bowling Green 10-3. Ryan Kellogg had a fine start as he allowed two earned runs and struck out three in six innings. But Greyfer Eregua was shelled for six earned runs as he went 0.2 innings. Scott Effross was not much better as he served up two earned runs in 2.1 innings.
The SB Cubs were down 8-0 when they first scored in the seventh inning. A bases loaded walk to P.J. Higgins (0-for-4 with an RBI) drove in Jesse Hodges (1-for-3) and a walk to Eddy Julio Martinez (0-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base) plated Josh Silver (3-for-4). Bryant Flete (2-for-3 with a double and an RBI) doubled in Silver in the eighth inning.
High Class–A – Myrtle Beach Pelicans (46-43)
Myrtle Beach may have things pointing in the right direction as the Pelicans beat Wilmington 5-1 on Monday. Jonathan Martinez had his second straight good start as he struck out eight and allowed an earned run in five innings. Jordan Minch had a walk and a strikeout in 0.1 innings, and Pedro Araujo fanned four in 2.2 innings. Ryan McNeil had two strikeouts in a perfect ninth.
A single by Charcer Burks (1-for-4 with an RBI) to drive in Andrew Ely (0-for-2) tied the game in the second. Rashad Crawford (2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and a stolen base) drilled a three-run homer with Ely and Erick Castillo (0-for-2) on in the fourth inning. A double by Gleyber Torres (2-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a stolen base) in the sixth inning scored Crawford.
Double-A – Tennessee Smokies (37-51)
After spotting Chattanooga three runs on Monday, the Smokies’ offense came to life as they won 7-6. Singles by Billy McKinney (2-for-4 with an RBI) and Ben Carhart (1-for-4 with an RBI), along with a ground out, scored Danny Lockhart (2-for-4), Victor Caratini (2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI), and McKinney in the fourth inning. Caratini launched a three-run homer with Trey Martin (2-for-4 with an RBI) and Lockhart on base in the fifth. A bunt single by Martin drove in Gioskar Amaya (0-for-3 with an RBI) in the sixth inning.
Je-Ho Tseng had a somewhat rough outing as he allowed four earned runs and struck out four in five innings. Juan Paniagua also had his troubles as he gave up two earned runs in two innings. Joe Nathan tossed a scoreless inning, and David Garner picked up his first save with a scoreless ninth.
You can call Tuesday’s game “Back to the Minors” as Tennessee’s Major League veterans could not prevent a 4-0 loss to Chattanooga. Clayton Richard started and the veteran lefty allowed two earned runs in three innings. Being stretched out as a starter, Brian Matusz relieved and struck out six while giving up an earned run in 3.1 innings. Nick Sarianides had two strikeouts in 1.2 scoreless innings, but R.J. Alvarez yielded an earned run in 0.2 innings. Stephen Perakslis got the final out. The Smokies managed only five hits as Chesny Young and Kelly Dugan were 2-for-3 while Danny Lockhart went 1-for-4.
Triple-A – Iowa Cubs 41- 50
The Iowa Cubs were idle on Monday and Tuesday.
Arizona Rookie League – AZL Cubs (8-9)
It wasn’t a good night for the A-Cubs on Sunday, as they lost 12-3 to the AZL Giants. Junior Marte was hammered for eight runs (six earned) in 3.2 innings. Second Baseman Jhonny Bethencourt was 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, and an RBI.
The AZL Cubs were idle on Monday and Tuesday.
Dominican Summer League – DSL-1 Cubs (15-18)
It was not a good beginning to the week for D-1 on Monday, as they lost 12-4 to Mets-1. Starter Andres Bonalde was rocked for six earned runs in 2.1 innings. Shortstop Rafael Narea was 1-for-3 with two stolen bases.
Eight runs in the seventh inning were not good enough for D-1 on Tuesday as they lost 9-8 to Rangers-1. Luis Hidalgo had an RBI double as he went 1-for-3 with a stolen base. Six errors contributed to the loss as Elvis Diaz was charged with two unearned runs and struck out two in two innings of relief.
Dominican Summer League – DSL-2 Cubs (22-10)
An eight run seventh inning led to D-2 destroying Dodgers-1 11-4 on Monday. Yovanny Cuevas paced the offense by going 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI, and a stolen base. Fauris Guerrero relieved Emilio Ferrebus and held the Dodgers scoreless for three innings.
Tuesday saw more domination by D-2 as they beat DSL Rojos 9-4. Yovanny Cuevas (1-for-5) blasted a three-run homer in the ninth and Fidel Mejia went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Starter Faustino Carrera was charged with two unearned runs and had three strikeouts in six innings.
News and Notes
The Chicago Cubs assigned LHP Brian Matusz to the Tennessee Smokies from the Iowa Cubs; assigned RHP Jordan Brink, OF Connor Myers, and C Sam Tidaback to the Eugene Emeralds from the AZL Cubs; assigned RHP Chad Hockin and LHP Wyatt Short to the Eugene Emeralds.