Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 2

Your choice for the Cubs #11 prospect is the sure-handed 24 year old shortstop Darwin Barney.  Barney might never be a star, but he's probably major-league ready right now, so you could see him in Wrigley as soon as there is an opening.  He does have a reputation for having a high-baseball IQ.

I really debated who to add to the list today and I settled on Robinson Chirinos. Let's get the bad news on Chirinos out of the way. He's 26 years old and he's in his tenth season in the Cubs organization. The good news is that he's a catcher who hasn't been catching for two full seasons yet, but has already impressed the scouts with his defense and ability to manage a game. Since moving behind the plate, he's been hitting for power and getting on base at around a .390 clip. He's hitting over .300 right now and drawing more walks than he's striking out. If he were 23 instead of 26, he'd be a top ten prospect.  Hey, sometimes catchers are late bloomers. Age is just a number, right?

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs dethroned the Omaha Royals, 5-3.

Starting pitcher Casey Coleman evened his record at 7-7 by allowing only one run over six innings. Coleman gave up four hits. He walked four and struck out four.

Scott Maine collected his first save for Iowa by throwing a scoreless ninth. He did allow a hit and a walk with two outs to bring the winning run to the plate, but he struck out Alex Gordon to end the game.

First baseman Micah Hoffpauir swung a big stick tonight. Hoffpauir was 3 for 4 with two doubles and his tenth home run on the season. Hoffpauir scored twice and had three RBI.

Shortstop Darwin Barney went 2 for 4 with a stolen base and a run scored.

The I-Cubs are now 43-37, and the four teams in their division are still all within 1.5 games of each other.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies buried the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, 9-0.

I've made no secret that I'm a big Chris Archer fan, and tonight he made his AA debut a good one with 5.2 innings, giving up only three singles and two walks. He struck out six.

Third baseman Russ Canzler hit a two-run homer in the fourth. It was his tenth home run of the season. Canzler was 2 for 5 and scored twice. DH Matt Spencer also hit a two-run homer, which was his ninth. Spencer was 1 for 4 with a walk and scored twice.

Shortstop Marwin Gonzalez was 3 for 5 with three RBI. Left fielder Tony Campana with an RBI and his 26th steal of the season.

First baseman Blake Lalli scored twice in a 3 for 4 game. He also walked once. Right fielder Brandon Guyer was 2 for 5 with an RBI and his 13th steal of the year. Guyer also scored once.

Because I know you'll worry if I don't mention him, center fielder Brett Jackson was 1 for 3 with two walks and a hit by pitch.

The Daytona Cubs lost two games to the Tampa Yankees today. They lost the first one 4-3 in 14 innings in a game that was suspended by rain after three innings yesterday. They lost the second game 4-2.

Chris Rusin started yesterday and he pitched three shutout innings. Rusin gave up only one hit. He didn't walk anyone and struck out three.

Oswaldo Martinez took the loss when he gave up a walk-off homer in the 14th inning. Martinez pitched one-third of an inning.

Right fielder Kyler Burke was 2 for 6. DH Jonathan Mota went 0 for 6 with five strikeouts in his first game for Daytona this year.

In the second game, Chris Siegfried started and pitched 2.2 shutout innings. Siegfried gave up two hits and walked two. He struck out five.

Alex Maestri took the loss. He surrendered  all four runs on a hit and two walks in the 1.1 innings he pitched. Three of the four runs Maestri allowed were unearned, but that was because he made two errors himself, including one in the the four-run fourth inning.

Catcher Michael Brenly was 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI. So at least someone who watched today's Cub game will be happy tonight.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs got scratched by the Kane County Cougars, 3-1.

Robert Whitenack started and took the loss. Whitenack lasted only three innings and gave up two runs on two hits. Control was the big problem as he walked four and struck out only one.

Third baseman Greg Rohan was 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks lost to the Yakima Bears, 6-2.

Starting pitcher Tarlandas Mitchell retired the first batter of the game on a fly out and then failed to get another out. Mitchell gave up five runs on two hits and four walks before getting pulled.

Third baseman Brandon May was 1 for 4 with a two run homer. It was May's third of the season.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Indians, 5-4 in 11 innings.