The weekend saw teams going in different directions as Myrtle Beach had another series sweep with Yasiel Balaguert eyeing an RBI record. South Bend dropped four straight despite the pitching of Jose Paulino and Duane Underwood Jr. It was a mixed bag for Iowa and Tennessee, with Jeimer Candelario and Lane Adams standing out. Meanwhile, Eugene and the AZL Cubs kept rolling behind Trent Giambrone and Edgar Rondon.
With the season ending games from the Dominican Republic, the Down on the Farm Report readies for the last full week of the minor league regular season.
Short Season Class-A – Eugene Emeralds (48-19)
It was back on the winning track for Eugene on Friday as they came from behind to beat Salem-Keizer 6-4. The Ems took advantage of some out of control play in the third inning as Wladimir Galindo (2-for-4 with a double and two RBI) singled in Zack Short (2-for-5 with a double), Chris Pieters (0-for-4) scored on a wild pitch, and Galindo came home on a throwing error. Eugene retook the lead in the eighth after a base hit from D.J. Wilson (3-for-6 with an RBI and two stolen bases) plated pinch-runner Michael Foster and a walk forced in Jose Paniagua (2-for-4). Paniagua singled in Marcus Mastrobuoni (0-for-2) in the ninth inning.
Pedro Silverio had one of his better outings as he allowed two earned runs and struck out three in four innings. Tyler Peitzmeier gave up two earned runs in an inning, and Marc Huberman had three strikeouts in two innings. Chad Hockin and Wyatt Short each tossed a scoreless inning.
The offense bailed out the pitching staff on Saturday as the Emeralds flexed their muscles in a 14-9 victory over Salem-Keizer. Trent Giambrone was huge in going 2-for-5 with a home run, four RBI and a stolen base. Jose Paniagua (2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI), Yeiler Peguero (3-for-6 with a triple, two RBI, and a stolen base), and Zack Short (0-for-2 with two RBI) had multiple RBI. Jose Gonzalez (2-for-5 with a double and an RBI) also had a multi-hit game.
Bryan Hudson had another rough outing as he allowed eight earned runs in five innings. Michael Rucker struck out two and was charged with an unearned run in two innings. Andin Diaz had three strikeouts in two scoreless innings.
It was a high wire act on Sunday, as the bullpen sent fans racing to the cardiologist in Eugene’s 6-5 win over Salem Keizer. Erling Moreno once again had a great start, allowing an earned run while striking out six in five innings. Jed Carter had trouble finding the plate as he gave up an earned run in an inning. Dakota Mekkes yielded an earned run in two innings. Mark Malave walked three, uncorked a wild pitch, and struck out two while surrendering two unearned runs in the ninth.
As usual, the Emeralds did their best work from behind in the score as Chris Pieters (1-for-4 with a stolen base) scored on a Trent Giambrone (2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base) single in the fourth. Kevonte Mitchell (1-for-4 with a home run) homered and Yeiler Peguero (2-for-5 with a double and an RBI) doubled in Jose Gonzalez (2-for-3 with two doubles) in the seventh. A home run from Tyler Payne (1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI) with Giambrone on base and triple from D.J. Wilson (2-for-5 with a triple, an RBI and a stolen base) bringing in Gonzalez accounted for three runs in the eighth inning.
Low Class-A – South Bend Cubs (79-53)
Although they have the second best overall record in the Midwest League, South Bend has been looking a little shaky down the stretch as they lost 2-0 to Great Lakes on Friday. Jose Paulino got no run support. Paulino allowed an earned run and struck out two in six innings. John Williamson fanned three in 1.2 innings, but Jared Cheek was charged with an unearned run in 1.1 innings. The SB Cubs had only three hits. Carlos Sepulveda was 1-for-4, while P.J. Higgins went 1-for-3 with a double and Andruw Monasterio was 1-for-3.
The losing streak reached three games on Saturday as South bend lost 7-2 to Great Lakes. Casey Bloomquist had a rough time as he allowed six runs (four earned) and had six strikeouts in 5.1 innings. Pedro Araujo relieved and gave up an earned run as he struck out four in 2.2 innings. Dillon Maples tossed a scoreless inning.
The SB Cubs actually grabbed the lead in the second inning on a solo home run from Eddy Julio Martinez (1-for-3 with a home run). Matt Rose (1-for-3) scored on a ground out in the eighth inning.
The offensive woes continued for South Bend on Sunday as they were limited to three hits in a 2-0 loss to Great Lakes. Duane Underwood Jr. lasted only 3.2 innings as he allowed two earned runs and struck out five batters. Greyfer Eregua did some heavy lifting as he tossed 3.1 scoreless innings. Jared Cheek had two strikeouts in two scoreless innings. P.J. Higgins (1-for-1), Tyler Alamo (1-for-4), and Connor Myers (1-for-3 with a stolen base) had the only hits.
High Class–A – Myrtle Beach Pelicans (77-55)
Myrtle Beach put up five runs in the first inning and cruised to a 5-0 victory over Wilmington on Friday. Back-to-back doubles by Charcer Burks (1-for-4 with a double) and Donnie Dewees (2-for-4 with a double and an RBI) to lead off the game accounted for one run, and a single by Yasiel Balaguert (2-for-4 with an RBI) bought in Dewees. Ian Rice (2-for-4 with a double and an RBI) doubled in David Bote (2-for-3) and a base hit from Jeffrey Baez (1-for-4 with an RBI) plated Balaguert. Rice scored on a sacrifice fly.
Jeremy Null pitched his best ballgame of the year, striking out four and allowing two hits in seven innings. James Norwood worked around two walks and a hit in an inning, and Ryan McNeil struck out two as he pitched an inning.
There may not be a hotter team in the Carolina League than the Pelicans as they took their sixth straight with a 7-1 win over Wilmington on Saturday. James Pugliese had a career high nine strikeouts and limited the Blue Rocks to two hits in six scoreless innings. Tommy Thorpe allowed an earned run as he pitched an inning, and Daury Torrez struck out two in two scoreless innings.
Charcer Burks (3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI) led off the game with a home run and Daniel Spingola (1-for-3 with a double and an RBI) doubled in Andrew Ely (1-for-4) in the second. Burks singled in Spingola in the fifth inning. Base hits by David Bote (1-for-4 with an RBI) and Bryant Flete (1-for-5 with two RBI) brought in Burks, Donnie Dewees (1-for-5 with a stolen base) and Bote. Jesse Hodges (1-for-4 with an RBI) singled home Ian Rice (0-for-4) in the seventh.
It was another sweep for Myrtle Beach on Sunday, as they held on in a wild 8-7 win over Wilmington. Losing 2-0 in the third, the Pelicans scored eight unanswered runs before the Blue Rocks recorded five runs combined in the sixth and eighth innings. Yasiel Balaguert and Ian Rice, each 2-for-5 with an RBI, led the offense. Donnie Dewees (2-for-4 with a double and an RBI) and Jesse Hodges (1-for-5 with an RBI) had an RBI while Jeffrey Baez (2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base), Andrew Ely (2-for-4), and Erick Castillo (3-for-5) had multi-hit games.
Still coming back from the DL, Erick Leal pitched two innings and allowed two runs (one earned). Daniel Lewis followed and fanned three in three scoreless innings. Scott Effross had a hard time as he gave up four earned runs in only 0.1 innings, while Tommy Nance yielded an earned run in 2.2 innings. Ryan McNeil came on in the ninth to restore order and collect his 21st save.
Double-A – Tennessee Smokies (55-76)
The Tennessee Smokies’ game with Jackson on Friday was cancelled due to rain. It will not be made up.
It was an overall poor game for the Smokies on Saturday, as Tennessee lost 4-2 to Birmingham. The lone bright spot was starter Zach Hedges, who allowed two runs (one earned) and struck out five in six innings. Juan Paniagua had two strikeouts in two perfect innings, but Nick Sarianides gave up two earned runs in the ninth.
Tennessee rallied to tie the game in the eighth inning after Lane Adams (1-for-4 with a double and two RBI) doubled in Jason Vosler (2-for-4) and Trey Martin (0-for-1).
Tennessee scored in only two innings on Sunday, but what a two innings it was the Smokies defeated Birmingham 11-5. Lane Adams continues to wreak havoc on Southern League pitching, going 3-for-3 with four RBI and two stolen bases. Gioskar Amaya had a two-run triple as he went 3-for-3 with two RBI. Chesny Young (1-for-5 with an RBI), David Freitas (0-for-5 with an RBI), Ben Carhart (1-for-4 with an RBI), and Trey Martin (0-for-2 with an RBI and a stolen base) each had an RBI.
Jen-Ho Tseng was the beneficiary as he allowed four runs (two earned) and struck out four in six innings. David Garner was charged with an unearned run in two innings, and R.J. Alvarez had two strikeouts in a perfect ninth.
Triple-A – Iowa Cubs (62-73)
Iowa survived some shaky pitching with a big inning as they defeated Omaha 6-5 on Friday. The I-Cubs cut the lead in half in the second after Jeimer Candelario (3-for-3 with two doubles, a home run, and three RBI) launched a solo home run. Candelario doubled in Chris Coghlan (2-for-4) and Juan Perez (1-for-4). Tim Federowicz (2-for-3 with two RBI) singled in Candelario and Tommy La Stella (2-for-4) scored on a double play in the fourth inning. Another base hit by Federowicz brought in Candelario in the sixth inning.
Jordan Pries allowed four earned runs and had three strikeouts in four innings. Armando Rivero struck out four but gave up an earned run in two innings. Pierce Johnson also fanned four in two innings, while Jose Rosario notched save number four with a scoreless ninth.
On Saturday, Iowa continued to own Omaha has they shut out the Storm Chasers 4-0. Jake Buchanan had three strikeouts and scattered five hits in six innings. Jack Leathersich had two strikeouts in an inning, and Joe Smith struck out two in a perfect inning. Gerardo Concepcion pitched a scoreless ninth.
A home run by Kris Negron (2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and a stolen base) scored Taylor Davis (1-for-3) in the third. John Andreoli (1-for-4 with a double and an RBI) doubled in Negron and came home on a single by Chris Coghlan (1-for-3 with an RBI) in the fifth inning.
The luck for the I-Cubs ran out on Sunday was they were thrashed by Omaha 7-2. Stephen Fife was never in the game as he surrendered seven earned runs on 10 hits and two walks in four innings. Giovanni Soto struck out four in two innings. Corey Black also pitched two innings. Joe Thatcher had two strikeouts in the ninth.
Iowa scored two consolation runs in the ninth after Tim Federowicz (1-for-4 with a double and an RBI) doubled in Jeimer Candelario (1-for-4), and Federowicz came home on a fielding error.
Arizona Rookie League – AZL Cubs (28-26)
The AZL Cubs scored all their runs in one inning and held on for a 3-2 victory over the AZL Angels Thursday night. Isaac Parades continues to blister at the plate in going 2-for-4 with a triple, while double play partner Edgar Rondon was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Jose Leidenz came on in the third and tossed four scoreless innings.
The AZL Cubs were idle on Friday.
The A-Cubs pushed two across in the top of the ninth on Saturday to beat the AZL Diamondbacks 6-4. Junior Marte had six strikeouts and allowed an earned run in three innings of relief. Edgar Rondon was 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI while Jhonny Pereda went 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI.
Dominican Summer League – DSL-1 Cubs (29-42)
It was another pitcher’s duel for D-1 on Friday as they lost 1-0 to Mets-1. Jose Jules was 1-for-3 for D-1’s only hit. Jose Mac Donna was charged with an unearned run as he struck out five in six innings.
D-1 closed out the season on Saturday with a 2-0 loss to Mets-1. Despite getting 10 hits, D-1 could not cross the plate as Yonathan Perlaza (2-for-4), Luis Hidalgo (2-for-4 with a double), and Herson Perez (2-for-4) had multi-hit games. Rigor Fernandez had five strikeouts but was charged with two unearned runs in four innings of relief.
Dominican Summer League – DSL-2 Cubs (38-32)
D-2 didn’t do much better than brother team D-1 on Friday, losing 2-0 to Mariners-1. Aramis Ademan was 1-for-3 and Luis Diaz 1-for-3 with a stolen base for the only hits. Alfredo Colorado allowed two earned runs and had four strikeouts in five innings.
On Saturday, D-2 ended the season on a positive note as they defeated first place Mariners-1 10-1. Abraham Rodriguez (2-for-6 with a double, two RBI, and two stolen bases) and Fernando Kelli (2-for-5 with two RBI) paced the offense. Emilio Ferrebus struck out six and allowed an earned run in five innings.
News and Notes
The Chicago Cubs sent RHP Joe Smith to the Iowa Cubs on a rehab assignment; sent LHP Brian Matusz to the AZL Cubs on a rehab assignment; assigned C Sam Tidaback to the Eugene Emeralds from the South Bend Cubs; assigned RHP Michael Rucker to the Eugene Emeralds from the AZL Cubs; assigned RHP Josh Conway to the AZL Cubs.
The Iowa Cubs placed INF Stephen Bruno on the temporarily inactive list; activated OF Albert Almora Jr. from the 7-day disabled list. The South Bend Cubs activated C/1B Tyler Alamo from the 7-day disabled list.