It was time for hitters to shine for the Cubs’ minor leagues as Eddy Julio Martinez is red hot for South Bend and Yasiel Balaguert is the reigning Player of the week for Myrtle Beach. Chesny Young and Trey Martin had big nights for Tennessee and 17-year old Isaac Parades helped the AZL Cubs clinch a playoff berth.
Also, be sure to check out the News and Notes to keep up with all the latest player movement.
The Down on the Farm Report has all the information on the shake up in the system.
Short Season Class-A – Eugene Emeralds (28-10)
Eugene completed a five-game sweep of Vancouver on Monday with a 7-6 victory in 12 innings. The Ems were already behind 5-0 in the sixth when Connor Myers (1-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base) scored on a ground out and an error brought in Chris Pieters (2-for-5 with an RBI). A ground out and an error accounted for Zach Short (1-for-5 with a double) and Marcus Mastrobuoni (1-for-5) scoring in the seventh. Myers came around on a single by Pieters. A sacrifice fly drove in Kevin Mitchell (1-for-6) with the tying run in the eighth, and Vimael Machin (2-for-5 with two RBI and a stolen base) singled in Yeiler Peguero (1-for-4) with the go-ahead run in the 12th.
Bryan Hudson struggled as he gave up five runs (four earned) on 10 hits in 4.1 innings. Enrique De Los Rio allowed an earned run and struck out four in 1.2 innings, while Andin Diaz fanned five in two innings. Jared Cheek did some heavy lifting with three scoreless innings, and Scott Frazier worked around three hits in the 12th.
Low Class-A – South Bend Cubs (61-39)
South Bend made up Saturday’s rainout with a doubleheader on Monday as they beat Peoria 9-8 in game one. Eddy Julio Martinez (2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI) singled in Carlos Sepulveda (1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI) and P.J. Higgins (1-for-3) to tie the game in the seventh. A base hit from Alberto Mineo (1-for-4 with an RBI) drove in Martinez with the game-winner.
Adbert Alzolay was rocked for seven earned runs as he pitched 4.2 innings. Tyler Peitzmeier gave up an earned run in 2.1 innings and struck out four for the win.
In game two, the SB Cubs left nothing to chance as they blew past Peoria 9-2. Justin Steele is making progressive improvement as he allowed two runs (one earned) and struck out five in three innings. John Williamson fanned four in two innings, and Dillon Maples earned his third save with two scoreless innings.
Four players for South Bend had multi-hit games, led by Eloy Jimenez, who was 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBI. Alberto Mineo (2-for-3 with two RBI) and Roberto Caro (2-for-3 with a double and two RBI) joined Jimenez while Andruw Monasterio was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
The South Bend Cubs were idle on Tuesday.
High Class–A – Myrtle Beach Pelicans (53-49)
On an emotional day for Myrtle Beach, the Pelicans rallied around a new line-up and defeated Carolina 9-5 on Monday. With Gleyber Torres traded away, team leaders David Bote (2-for-5 with a double and two RBI) and Yasiel Balaguert (3-for-4 with a double and an RBI) took charge. Daniel Spingola (1-for-4) drove in two runs while Andrew Ely (2-for-4) scored two runs and Erick Castillo (2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI) crossed home three times.
Jeremy Null had all kinds of trouble as he gave up five earned runs and struck out three in five innings. Craig Brooks had his best outing for the Pelicans as he had four strikeouts in two perfect innings. Daury Torrez finished the Mudcats off with two scoreless innings.
The Pelicans let one get away from them on Tuesday, as Myrtle Beach lost to Carolina 8-6. It was a bullpen day as Tommy Thorpe got the spot start and allowed two earned runs in 3.1 innings. Daniel Lewis followed and gave up an earned run in 2.1 innings, while Pedro Araujo was pounded for five earned runs in two innings. Catcher Tyler Pearson aided a beleaguered pitching staff by tossing 1.1 scoreless innings.
It was a big second inning for Myrtle Beach as back-to-back doubles by Yasiel Balaguert (1-for-5 with a double) and Ian Rice (1-for-1 with a double and an RBI) scored a run, with Rice later coming home on a force out. Bryant Flete (3-for-4 with a triple and an RBI) tripled in Jesse Hodges (1-for-5), and a single by Charcer Burks (2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI, and a stolen base) brought in Flete. Burks brought the Birds to within two runs in the eighth as he homered with Flete on board.
Double-A – Tennessee Smokies (41-59)
The Tennessee Smokies were idle on Monday.
Tennessee broke out the lumber on Tuesday as they destroyed Chattanooga 13-9. The game was not even as close as the score indicates as the offense was paced by Chesny Young (4-for-5 with an RBI) and Trey Martin (4-for-5 with two RBI). Ian Happ had two doubles as he was 2-for-5 with two RBI, while Chris Coghlan as drove in two in going 2-for-3 with a double. Bijan Rademacher (2-for-5 with an RBI) also had a multi-hit game.
Tyler Skulina was the beneficiary as he allowed two earned runs in five innings. Jack Leathersich gave up two earned runs pitching 0.1 innings, and Nick Sarianides tossed 1.2 scoreless innings. R.J. Alvarez could not get out of the ninth, surrendering five earned runs in an inning. Stephen Perakslis got the final three outs.
Triple-A – Iowa Cubs (44-60)
Some new faces and better balance brought Iowa a 6-2 win over Memphis on Monday. Newly acquired Jordan Pries started and allowed two earned runs while striking out four in six innings. Armando Rivero tossed a perfect inning, and Felix Pena had three strikeouts in two scoreless innings.
Mark Zagunis (2-for-3) and Jeimer Candelario (1-for-5 with two RBI) singled to drive in John Andreoli (1-for-5 with an RBI) and Zagunis, while Tim Federowicz (1-for-4) came home on a ground out in the first inning. A ground out brought in Albert Almora Jr. (1-for-4) and a base hit by Logan Watkins (2-for-4 with an RBI) scored Zagunis in the third inning. Kris Negron (2-for-4) came around on a ground out in the eighth inning.
The I-Cubs could not overcome their pitching woes on Tuesday as they lost 9-5 to New Orleans. Jake Buchanan continues to be inconsistent as he allowed six runs (five earned) and struck out three in four innings. Pitching for the first time in relief, Pierce Johnson surrendered three earned runs in two innings. Gerardo Concepcion mopped up with two strikeouts in two scoreless innings.
Iowa scored first in the second inning after Juan Perez (2-for-4 with a double, a home run, and three RBI) with came home on a ground out. Perez delivered a three-run homer in the fourth inning with Albert Almora Jr. (1-for-4) and Mark Zagunis (0-for-4) on base. Jeimer Candelario (1-for-4 with a home run) added a solo home run in the sixth.
Arizona Rookie League – AZL Cubs (16-12)
The AZL Cubs clinched a playoff berth on Sunday night with a 3-2 win over the AZL Athletics. Shortstop Isaac Parades had a big night as he went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. Junior Marte struggled with his command but allowed only one earned run in 4.1 innings. Holden Cammack made his professional debut and pitched 0.2 scoreless innings.
The A-Cubs’ fresh signings could not hold back the AZL Brewers on Monday, as they lost 7-4. Matt Swarmer struck out six in three innings for his professional debut, while Colton Freeman allowed two earned runs in an inning and Jed Carter tossed a scoreless inning. Jhonny Bethencourt went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Dominican Summer League – DSL-1 Cubs (17-27)
D-1 turned things on after the fifth inning on Monday as they beat Rangers-1 5-1. Yonathan Perlaza (2-for-4) smacked a three-run homer in the eighth and Jonathan Sierra was 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Jose Mac Donna started and allowed an earned run while striking out three in five innings.
On Tuesday, D-1 was blanked by Rangers-1 3-0. Jesus Tejada was charged with three unearned runs as he struck out two in six innings. Shortstop Rafael Narea went 2-for-3 in the loss.
Dominican Summer League – DSL-2 Cubs (26-18)
Pitching was the story on Monday as D-2 one-hit Mariners-1 to win 1-0. Faustino Carrera struck out five and allowed two walks and a hit in seven innings, while Fauris Guerrero fanned three in two perfect innings. Ronaldo Lopez was 1-for-3 with a triple and an RBI.
D-2 could only scrape together two hits and one run on Tuesday, as they lost 4-1 to Mariners-1. Yovanny Cuevas was 1-for-4 with a double. Hector Garcia gave up three runs (two earned) and struck out five in five innings.
News and Notes
The Chicago Cubs assigned OF Donnie Dewees, INF Bryant Flete, and RHP Preston Morrison to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans from the South Bend Cubs; assigned OF Connor Myers and LHP Jose Paulino to the South Bend Cubs from the Eugene Emeralds; assigned RHP Erling Moreno to the Eugene Emeralds from the AZL Cubs; assigned RHP Holden Cammack, OF Tolly Filotei, and LHP Colton Freeman to the AZL Cubs.