When you win 14 games in a row and tie the Northwest League record, they come in all sizes as Eugene demonstrated thanks to Dylan Cease and Kevonte Mitchell. The AZL Cubs also shined with 17-year old Isaac Parades and 19-year old Gustavo Polanco leading the way.
Duane Underwood. Jr. had a rehab assignment with South Bend and Chesny Young regained the batting lead in the Southern League for Tennessee. Meanwhile, Jeimer Candelario keeps hitting for Iowa and Fernando Kelli keeps stealing in the Dominican League.
The biggest stars are shining the brightest in today’s Down on the Farm Report.
Short Season Class-A – Eugene Emeralds (44-15)
Things were looking pretty bleak until Eugene turned on the afterburners and blew away Spokane 13-8 on Tuesday. Ten of the 13 runs were scored in the last three innings as the Ems took advantage of nine walks and seven errors. Marcus Mastrobuoni led the offense as he was 1-for-5 with a triple and two RBI. Yeiler Peguero (1-for-5 with an RBI), Zach Short (1-for-2 with a stolen base), Wladimir Galindo (0-for-3 with an RBI), Kevonte Mitchell (1-for-4 with an RBI), and D.J. Wilson (1-for-4 with two stolen bases) each scored two runs.
Fourth round pick Tyson Miller was given his first start and allowed two earned runs while striking out three in 3.2 innings. M.T. Minacci gave up four runs (three earned) as he pitched 1.2 innings while Marc Huberman struck out two in 1.2 scoreless innings. Chad Hockin yielded two earned runs in an inning, and Mark Malave went 1-2-3 in the ninth.
It took some late inning heroics to give the Emeralds their 13th straight win as Eugene beat Boise 3-2 on Wednesday. Dylan Cease was in the upper-90s all night as he no-hit the Hawks for 3.2 innings and had eight strikeouts. Duncan Robinson was charged with two earned runs, but basically pitched three innings of one-hit ball as Josh Conway allowed two inherited runners to score in 0.1 innings. Tyler Peitzmeier tossed two scoreless innings for his second win.
The Ems took the lead in the sixth after Zach Short (0-for-3 with a stolen base) came home on a ground rule double for Chris Pieters (1-for-3 with a double and an RBI). The game was tied at two in the seventh when D.J. Wilson (1-for-3 with an RBI) singled in Trent Giambrone (2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base). Kevonte Mitchell (2-for-4 with a double) doubled in the ninth and came around on a base hit by Giambrone for the game-winner.
The Ems tied the Northwest League record for consecutive wins with No. 14 on Thursday night. Eugene shutout Boise 1-0 and Jed Carter picked up the win in relief of Manuel Rondon.
Rondon allowed just five hits over six shutout innings. Rondon walked one and did not strikeout a batter. Carter struck out three in his one inning of work. Wyatt Short picked up his fifth save with a scoreless ninth.
Trent Giambrone (3-for-3 with two doubles and a run scored) scored the only run of the game on a double from D.J. Wilson (2-for-3 with two doubles and a RBI) in the seventh inning.
Low Class-A – South Bend Cubs (76-46)
On Wednesday, South Bend dug too deep of a hole to climb out of as they lost to Bowling Green 8-5. Oscar De la Cruz had his first difficulty of the season as he allowed six earned runs and struck out four in three innings. Greyfer Eregua was charged with an unearned run as he pitched three innings, and John Williamson gave up an earned run in two innings.
Adonis Paula (1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI) drilled a two-run home run in the fourth inning with Eddy Julio Martinez (1-for-4) on base. In the fifth inning, Matt Rose (1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI) went deep with a three run dinger to bring in P.J. Higgins (1-for-4) and Alberto Mineo (1-for-3 with a double).
It was a balanced effort on Thursday that led to a 6-4 South Bend win over Bowling Green. Duane Underwood Jr. was given a rehab assignment with the Cubs and struck out two in two scoreless innings. Adbert Alzolay took over and allowed four earned runs and had three strikeouts in five innings. Dillon Maples tossed two perfect innings for his seventh save.
South Bend got on the board in the fourth inning when Alberto Mineo (2-for-5 with a double) doubled and scored on a wild pitch. A base hit by Matt Rose (2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI) brought in Carlos Sepulveda (0-for-4) and a single from Andruw Monasterio (2-for-4 with two RBI) plated Mineo and Rose in the sixth inning. A solo home run by Rose in the eighth put the SB Cubs ahead and Vimael Machin (2-for-4 with a double and an RBI) doubled in Adonis Paula (1-for-4) for insurance in the ninth inning.
High Class–A – Myrtle Beach Pelicans (70-53)
It was a bit of a high wire act for Myrtle Beach on Wednesday, but they were able to hold on for a 6-5 win over Winston-Salem. It was a mixed bag for Preston Morrison as he allowed three earned runs but struck out six in five innings. Craig Brooks had two strikeouts in two scoreless innings, but the usually reliable Ryan McNeil gave up two earned runs in 1.1 innings. Tommy Nance got the final two outs for his second save.
David Bote (1-for-3 with an RBI) singled in Charcer Burks (2-for-5 with two doubles) and scored on a wild pitch, while Yasiel Balaguert (2-for-4 with an RBI) came in on a sacrifice fly in a three-run first inning. Burks doubled and scored on a double play in the fifth inning. A single from Balaguert drove in Andrew Ely (2-for-5) and a walk to Daniel Spingola (0-for-2 with an RBI) forced in Bote in the seventh inning.
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans game with Winston-Salem on Thursday was cancelled due to rain. It will not be made up, as the two teams will not meet again.
Double-A – Tennessee Smokies (48-73)
It was an effort that has come to be expected out of Tennessee this season as the Smokies lost 5-1 to Jacksonville on Wednesday. Tyler Skulina gave a typical Tyler Skulina performance, allowing four earned runs in 5.1 innings. Starling Peralta tossed 1.2 scoreless innings, but James Farris gave up and earned run in an inning. Jack Leathersich set down the side in order in the ninth. The only run for the Smokies came in the fourth inning after Ian Happ (3-for-3 with a stolen base) came home on a sacrifice fly.
A late rally was not enough for the Smokies on Thursday as Tennessee lost 11-7 to Jacksonville. Jen-Ho Tseng had another rough outing as he allowed six earned runs on 11 hits in five innings. David Berg wasn’t much better, giving up five runs (two earned) in 1.1 innings while R.J. Alvarez had three strikeouts in a scoreless 1.2 innings. David Garner had a strikeout in a perfect ninth.
Chesny Young gained the lead in the Southern League for hitting as Young went 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Victor Caratini was 2-for-5 with two RBI while Kelly Dugan hit a pinch-hit two-run home run. David Freitas (1-for-4) and Lane Adams (1-for-4) each had an RBI.
Triple-A – Iowa Cubs (56-69)
Iowa moved north on Tuesday night and efficiently handled Sacramento 5-1. Jake Buchanan had one of his better efforts as he struck out four and allowing an earned run in seven innings. Corey Black had three strikeouts in two scoreless innings.
The I-Cubs scored four runs in the fifth as Taylor Davis (0-for-2) came home on a balk and a sacrifice fly brought in Munenori Kawasaki (1-for-3). Singles by Juan Perez (2-for-5 with two RBI) and Jeimer Candelario (1-for-5 with an RBI) drove in Jake Buchanan (0-for-1) and Kris Negron (1-for-5). John Andreoli (2-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base) scored on a base hit from Perez in the ninth.
It took everything the I-Cubs had to hold on for a win on Wednesday, as they beat Sacramento 8-7. The offense staked Iowa to a lead after Jeimer Candelario was 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBI while Logan Watkins went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Taylor Davis (2-for-3 with an RBI) provided a multi-hit game, and John Andreoli (0-for-4 with a stolen base) had an RBI.
Stephen Fife made his first start since coming off the DL and allowed three earned runs and struck out four in four innings. Miguel Mejia gave up three earned runs in two innings and Armando Rivero surrendered an earned run in 0.1 innings. Felix Pena had two strikeouts in 2.2 perfect innings for the win.
Arizona Rookie League – AZL Cubs (22-23)
It was a big night for the AZL Cubs on Wednesday as they destroyed the AZL White Sox 15-7. Isaac Parades went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run and five RBI while Gustavo Polanco was 3-for-6 with three doubles and four RBI. Rehabbing Erick Leal was charged with an unearned run and struck out two as he worked an inning.
Dominican Summer League – DSL-1 Cubs (24-39)
D-1 used four runs in the seventh inning to get past Rangers-1 5-4 on Wednesday. Jonathan Sierra was 1-for-4 with a triple and an RBI while Orian Nunez went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Jose Mac Donna was charged with two unearned runs in five innings.
On Thursday, D-1 was never in the game as they lost to Rangers-1 5-2. Andres Bonalde was touched for three runs (two earned) in five innings. Henderson Perez remains on a tear as he went 3-for-4 in the loss.
Dominican Summer League – DSL-2 Cubs (36-28)
Pitching for D-2 was able to scatter five hits as they blanked Orioles-2 2-0 on Wednesday. Faustino Carrera struck out six in eight scoreless innings. Fernando Kelli ran wild again as he went 1-for-3 with three stolen bases.
It was the offense’s turn for D-2 on Thursday as they beat Orioles-2 6-2. Third baseman Ronaldo Lopez was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Hector Garcia was charged with an unearned run as he struck out four in seven innings.
News and Notes
The Chicago Cubs recalled RHP Spencer Patton from the Iowa Cubs; assigned INF Stephen Bruno to the Iowa Cubs from the Tennessee Smokies; assigned INF Tommy La Stella to the Tennessee Smokies from the Iowa Cubs; assigned C Sam Tidaback to the South Bend Cubs from the Eugene Emeralds: assigned RHP Duane Underwood Jr. to the South Bend Cubs from the AZL Cubs.
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans sent RHP Erick Leal to the AZL Cubs on a rehab assignment. The South Bend Cubs placed RHP Tanner Griggs on the temporarily inactive list.