Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 4

by Josh Timmers on Jul 4, 2011 11:53 PM CDT in Minor Leagues

We're starting with Peoria tonight.

Peoria Chiefs

Austin Kirk threw a no-hitter tonight for the Peoria Chiefs as they bested the Clinton LumberKings (Mariners) 2-0.

It was a full, nine-inning no hitter for Kirk, the first for the Chiefs since 1988. Nick Struck threw a rain-shortened five inning no-hitter last season, and James Russell, Chris Siegfried, Matt Maradeo and Jose Ceda combined for one in 2007. Kirk only allowed two base-runners. He walked the first batter he faced and promptly erased him in a double play. He also walked a batter to lead off the sixth inning, but stranded him on second base after a sac bunt. Kirk struck out ten LumberKing batters.

Peoria scored both runs in the sixth inning. Matt Szczur led off the inning with a single and scored on a Richard Jones sac fly. Ryan Cuneo followed with a two-out RBI single.

Third baseman Brandon May was 3 for 4.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were prey for the Oklahoma City Redhawks (Astros) 3-2.

Austin Bibens-Dirkx started, pitched six innnings and got the loss. He allowed all three runs on five hits, including two solo home runs by Koby Clemens. Bibens-Dirkx walked one and struck out five.

Third baseman D.J. LeMahieu was 2 for 4 with a double and he scored a run. Right fielder Brad Snyder was 2 for 4 with a double and he drove two in.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies were buttered by the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays) 10-1.

Brooks Raley pitched the first two innings before a rain delay and got the loss after allowing four runs on three hits. He walked three and failed to strike anyone out.

Shortstop Nate Samson was 3 for 4 with a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning. It was his third home run this season.

Daytona Cubs

The D-Cubs scored ten runs in the fifth inning as they crushed the Tampa Yankees, 12-5.

Brett Wallach started the game and collected his third win. He pitched five innings and allowed two runs on nine hits. He did not walk anyone and he struck out three.

The big blow in that ten run inning was a grand slam by third baseman Rafael Valdes. Valdes was 3 for 3. He also walked and doubled.

Catcher Michael Brenly had two doubles in a 2 for 4 game. He scored once and had two RBI. Left fielder Evan Crawford was 2 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored.

Boise Hawks

Paul Hoilman started the fireworks early with a walk-off home run to give the Hawks a 5-4 win over the Yakima Bears (Diamondbacks) in ten innings.

Starter Austin Reed went five innings and allowed two runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out one.

Charles Thomas pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the top of the tenth to get his first professional win. Thomas pitched one scoreless inning and allowed one hit and two walks. He struck out one.

Hoilman's home run led off the bottom of the tenth and was his third this season. Hoilman was 1 for 2 with two walks. He scored twice.

Center fielder Pin-Chieh Chen was 4 for 4 with a double. He scored once and had one RBI. Shortstop Wes Darvill went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Catcher Yaniel Cabezas doubled and walked in a 2 for 3 game. Cabezas scored two runs.

AZL Cubs

Took the holiday off.

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Comments

Minor Note

Brooks Raley started for Tennessee. Not Rusin.

by Ryno G on Jul 5, 2011 12:03 AM CDT reply actions

Corrected

Thank you.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 5, 2011 12:58 AM CDT up reply actions

And we've discussed this in the other thread

But some moves were made today:
Peralta to Peoria- he’ll start tomorrow
Levitt to Peoria
Hatley to Tennessee
Suarez to Daytona

Not to mention Zeke DeVoss signing. Been lots of news lately. I’m praying Kirk and Szczur are part of it in the next week.

by Ryno G on Jul 5, 2011 12:06 AM CDT reply actions

And Struck to Iowa

by Mulhollandmania on Jul 5, 2011 12:06 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah

Keep forgetting that one. I guess because I’m so surprised.

by Ryno G on Jul 5, 2011 12:12 AM CDT up reply actions

Overall

Solid night. Obviously the great start from Kirk, but also good games from LeMahieu, Crawford, Chen, and so so from Reed and Kim. Terrible night all around for Tennessee.

Colvin 0-4 2 Ks
Jackson 0-3 2 Ks
Lake 0-1
Flaherty 1-4 K
Ha 1-5 RBI
Szczur 1-4 R
Golden 1-4
Kim 3 IP 3 H 2 R 2 ER 3 BB 2 K 2 HRA

by Ryno G on Jul 5, 2011 12:18 AM CDT reply actions

Tonight

Good night for pitching prospects. Cruz, Peralta, Struck all going. Here’s to hoping Nick doesnt get struck!

by Ryno G on Jul 5, 2011 5:25 AM CDT reply actions

Congrats to Kirk

Although, it should be noted that Clinton is the worst offense in the Midwest league.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)

by SackMan on Jul 5, 2011 6:08 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

All hail Captain Kirk!

We'll all miss you Ron.

by alkappy on Jul 5, 2011 7:12 AM CDT reply actions

Awesome game for Kirk.

Also, the Cubs need more Lemahieu.

by SenorGato on Jul 5, 2011 8:56 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

Congratulations to Kirk...

that’s fantastic. I wonder how often we see guys in A ball get to complete a 9-inning no-hitter. Good for him. That’s a great accomplishment!

I also like that LeMahieu is posting a ridiculous average in AAA, just like he did in AA. Hopefully he can start turning those singles into doubles and HR. If he does, he would be a huge offensive upgrade over Barney. As is, he’ll probably still be an upgrade over Barney with another year of development. But man, he could become an impact bat at 2B with just a little more power. And doing so would keep 3B open for another big bat (either internally or via trade/free agency).

It was a tough night for Jackson, but his previous 4 games were fantastic so I’m less concerned about his long-term prognosis as I was a week ago (the prolonged slump after the hand injury still had me concerned).

I’m surprised by how quickly the team is pushing Struck. Hopefully they know what they have in him. Hopefully he responds well to the next challenge. It’d be nice for at least one pitching prospect to have a good year.

Hopefully Szczur gets promoted to Daytona at some point this season…

by SouthernCub on Jul 5, 2011 10:35 AM CDT reply actions

I think Kirk has filled the quota of having "one pitching prospect to having a good year"..

I’d like for Struck to get his H/9 down though.

R.I.P. to my grandfather, Andrew Wiley
The reason I am a Cub fan forever

by Unique on Jul 5, 2011 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions

The whole Smokies team stunk last night

so I’m willing to give him a pass.

by Ryno G on Jul 5, 2011 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Here's a question.

With Struck’s promotion to Iowa, could one safely guess that he’s passed up McNutt in the race for a big league callup? I know Trey has had some injury problems this year.

Baseball is pitching, hitting, baserunning and defense.

by daver on Jul 5, 2011 11:12 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

Probably, but perhaps only temporarily...

At this point, Struck (21) has pitched better than McNutt (21) at AA and gotten a promotion to AAA sooner than McNutt. But those AA comparisons are based on very small sample sizes, and as you know McNutt has been hurt for part of this year (it’s unclear how much if at all the injuries are still bothering him). McNutt pitched better than Struck at every level below AA, and (until this season) has had better peripherals. But the combination of the poor/injured season in AA and perhaps two rushed promotions for Struck, it seems like Struck is currently ahead of McNutt in the “race.”

That said, if Struck struggles at AAA and McNutt rebounds, he could very easily jump back in front of Struck and be in line for a promotion sometime next year. The Struck promotion seems really fast. He didn’t pitch long in A+ ball, and he pitched even less in AA.

by SouthernCub on Jul 5, 2011 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions

Cubs are being EXTREMELY Agressive lately

Matt Loosen just got promoted to AA after TWO starts in Peoria. They were excellent starts but wow. Frank Del Valle was promoted to Peoria. Woo

by Ryno G on Jul 5, 2011 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions

So you don't think either...

…McNutt or Struck could get a callup this season? I ask because many people (including Al) have understandably wondered why the Cubs are wasting starts on retreads such as Ortiz and Lopez instead of giving chances to some of their young pitching prospects. Would the team dare give Struck (or McNutt) an MLB start if, say, Ortiz gets lit up tonight or Dempster is DL’d?

Baseball is pitching, hitting, baserunning and defense.

by daver on Jul 5, 2011 1:30 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

McNutt shouldn't

But Struck and Jay Jackson will probably get a few September starts, I would assume.

by Ryno G on Jul 5, 2011 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Nothing will surprise me

But I don’t think either should get a call this year. Struck started the year in Daytona, so to jump three levels in one year seems excessive. And McNutt has had too much trouble at AA.

Personally, my beef was only with going with Lopez/Ortiz/Davis over Coleman (who has already spent 1+ years in AAA. I don’t think any of the others are ready.

But I won’t be at all surprised if Struck gets a September call-up (even if he’s not ready).

by SouthernCub on Jul 5, 2011 3:19 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I hope Struck doesn't get a September callup.

In addition to the large jump, you also have to consider the innings pitched by September. McNutt doesn’t deserve a callup yet. He needs to pitch well first.

John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.

by rlpete on Jul 5, 2011 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions