Midweek saw a light schedule in the minor leagues as Eugene is a game away from qualifying for the playoffs thanks to the hitting of Chris Pieters and the pitching of Oscar De La Cruz. Jonathan Martinez continued to roll in Myrtle Beach, as did Paul Blackburn with Tennessee. Meanwhile, Dakota Mekkes and Marc Huberman had their professional debuts in Arizona.
On this day, man first set foot on the moon and the world was given Tom U. Today’s Down on the Farm Report may not match those feats, but …
Short Season Class-A – Eugene Emeralds (22-9)
The resiliency of Eugene continued to be on display Sunday night as they beat Tri-City 7-6. Pedro Silverio has struggled to keep up with the rest of the rotation as he allowed four earned runs in four innings. Michael Knighton picked up some of the slack by giving up an earned run and striking out two in three innings. Chad Hockin was charged with an unearned run as he pitched an inning, and Wyatt Short picked up his first professional save with two strikeouts in the ninth.
Connor Myers (1-for-3 with a double and an RBI) doubled and scored on a single by Chris Pieters (2-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base) in the first inning. Bases loaded walks to Michael Foster (1-for-2 with three RBI) and Myers forced in Kevonte Mitchell (2-for-4 with two stolen bases) and Zach Short (1-for-5) in the fourth. A sacrifice fly and a single by Foster brought in Pieters, Mitchell, and Short in the fifth inning. Mitchell came home on a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning.
On the threshold of making the playoffs, the Emeralds made things interesting on Monday as Eugene beat Hillsboro 6-4. The story of the game was Oscar De La Cruz, who started for the Emeralds for the first time this season after experiencing arm difficulties. De La Cruz was electric as he struck out seven and was charged with an earned run in four innings. M.T. Minacci pitched three scoreless innings, but Alex Santana failed to record an out as he allowed three runs (one earned). Mark Malave had three strikeouts in two innings for his fourth save.
Eugene tied the game in the first after Robert Garcia (2-for-4 with a double) led off with a double and scored on a throwing error. The Emeralds took the lead when Connor Myers (0-for-3) came home on a single by Chris Pieters (2-for-4 with two stolen bases). Singles by Pieters, Wladimir Galindo (1-for-4), and Kevonte Mitchell (1-for-4 with two RBI) produced two more runs in the sixth. Mitchell later scored on a single by Trent Giambrone (1-for-3 with an RBI), who came around on another throwing error.
Low Class-A – South Bend Cubs (57-37)
Get-away day was not kind to South Bend as they lost 5-2 to Kane County on Monday afternoon. Ryan Kellogg yielded four earned runs on nine hits, striking out four in five innings. Tyler Peitzmeier tossed two scoreless innings, and Dillon Maples surrendered an earned run in the eighth.
A single by Bryant Flete (2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI) drove in Eddy Julio Martinez (0-for-3) in the fourth inning, and Flete launched a solo home run in the seventh.
South Bend was idle on Tuesday.
High Class–A – Myrtle Beach Pelicans (49-47)
It was a good, old-fashioned romp for Myrtle Beach on Monday as everyone got better in a 15-2 win over Winston Salem. Jonathan Martinez continues to string together good outings as he struck out four and allowed two runs (one earned) in six innings. Tommy Thorpe had a strikeout in two perfect innings while Daury Torrez fanned two in a scoreless ninth.
Gleyber Torres put on a show as he went 4-for-5 with a two doubles, a triple and three RBI. Jeffrey Baez (4-for-4 with a double and a stolen base), Charcer Burks (3-for-6 with a double and two RBI), Yasiel Balaguert (2-for-6 with two doubles and four RBI), and David Bote (2-for-3) all had multi-hit games.
The Pelicans failed to maintain any momentum as they were thrashed by Winston-Salem 13-7 on Tuesday afternoon. Jeremy Null failed to make it out of the first inning as he was charged with four unearned runs in 0.2 innings. James Pugliese replaced Null and allowed two earned runs in 2.2 innings before Pedro Araujo served up a Grand Slam home run in 0.2 innings. Craig Brooks gave up an earned run in two innings and Daniel Lewis tossed a scoreless inning, as Ryan McNeil yielded two runs (one earned) in the eighth.
Down 4-0 after two innings Myrtle Beach fought back with three runs in the third inning before failing to keep pace with the Dash. Yasiel Balaguert was 4-for-4 with two RBI while Jason Vosler (0-for-5) and Jeffery Baez (0-for-1 with a stolen base) each drove in two runs. Rashad Crawford (3-for-5), David Bote (2-for-4) and Andrew Ely (2-for-5) all had multi-hit games.
Double-A – Tennessee Smokies (39-55)
Tennessee made their fans wait on Monday afternoon, but the Smokies finally pulled out a 4-2 win over Montgomery. A double by Trey Martin (1-for-3 with a double and two RBI) drove in Kelly Dugan (1-for-3) and Carlos Penalver (1-for-3 with a double) in the eighth inning. Victor Caratini (1-for-4 with an RBI) singled in Ian Happ (0-for-4) and scored on a throwing error in the ninth.
Paul Blackburn had a solid day on the mound as he struck out seven and was charged with an unearned run in six innings. R.J. Alvarez allowed an earned run in an inning and Nick Sarianides had two strikeouts in a perfect inning. James Farris picked up his second save with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Tennessee was idle on Tuesday.
Triple-A – Iowa Cubs (42-54)
It was not as close as the score would indicate, as Iowa was embarrassed by Salt Lake City 12-7 on Monday. On a rehab assignment, Trevor Cahill gave up three earned runs and struck out three in 2.2 innings. Miguel Mejia was then bombed for five earned runs in 3.1 innings, and Giovanni Soto allowed two earned runs in two innings. Jose Rosario went only 0.2 innings and surrendered another two earned runs, while C.J. Riefenhauser got the final out.
The I-Cubs tied the game at three in the second after John Andreoli (2-for-5 with a triple, three RBI, and a stolen base) singled in Taylor Davis (2-for-4 with a triple) and Kris Negron (2-for-5). Munenori Kawasaki (0-for-2 with a stolen base) came home on a ground out. Jeimer Candelario (1-for-4 with a double and an RBI) doubled in Matt Murton (1-for-5 with two RBI) in the seventh. Andreoli tripled in Kawasaki and scored on a ground out in the eighth inning. Dan Vogelbach (4-for-5 with a home run) added a solo home run in the ninth.
The Iowa game on Tuesday was postponed due to inclement weather.
Arizona Rookie League – AZL Cubs (12-10)
Debuts were the focus of the A-Cubs’ 3-2 victory over the AZL Athletics on Monday. Tenth round pick Dakota Mekkes and 18th rounder Marc Huberman each had two strikeouts and tossed a perfect inning. Catcher Jhonny Peralta went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Dominican Summer League – DSL-1 Cubs (16-22)
It took 11 innings on Monday, but D-1 lost to the DSL Indians 6-5. Centerfielder Jose Gutierrez went 3-for-6 with a triple and a stolen base. Freddy Tineo had three strikeouts in three scoreless inning of relief.
D-1 could not mount an attack on Tuesday as they lost 8-4 to the DSL Indians. Jose Mac Donna allowed four earned runs and struck out five in five innings. Jonathan Sierra was 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI.
Dominican Summer League – DSL-2 Cubs (24-13)
On Monday, D-2 succumbed to the DSL Twins 5-2. Fidel Matos was 3-for-4 with an RBI while Aramis Ademan went 2-for-5 with a stolen base. Omar Ventura allowed an earned run in three innings of relief.
D-2 was not able to build on their first inning as they lost 4-2 to the DSL Twins on Tuesday. Faustino Carrera went six innings and struck out three, allowing two earned runs. Miguel Amaya was 3-for-4 with a stolen base at the plate.
News and Notes
The Chicago Cubs sent RHP Trevor Cahill to the Iowa Cubs on a rehab assignment; assigned RHP Oscar De La Cruz to the Eugene Emeralds from the AZL Cubs.
The South Bend Cubs placed RHP Tommy Nance on the 7-day disabled list; activated RHP Tyler Peitzmeier from the 7-day disabled list.