Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 5

I'm a little late on the BCB Minor League Player of the Month awards because of my trip to Seattle and the holiday. But here are the candidates for June.  Remember, this is intended to be an award for performance and not prospect status. Still, you can vote for whomever you want.

The Candidates:

Iowa Cubs first baseman Bryan LaHair: LaHair could have won the award every month this season, but he's been edged out by Lou Montanez and DJ LeMahieu in April and May. LaHair had his best month yet in June as he hit .370/.435/.740 with ten home runs and 25 RBI. He was voted the starting first baseman in the Triple-A All-Star game.

Tennessee Smokies utility player Ryan Flaherty: I don't think Flaherty really has one position anymore as he's played every position for the Smokies this season but center field, pitcher and catcher. But there's been no question about his bat as he hit .318/.388/.511 with three home runs. His versatility may get him to the majors sooner rather than later.

Daytona Cubs shortstop Logan Watkins: Watkins had played second base his first two years in the Cub system to accommodate Hak-Ju Lee, but with Lee gone he's gone back to his natural position at short. He started off this season miserably and hit .128 in April. His May was just a little better but something clicked in June. For the month, Watkins hit .433/.519/.552 with a home run and four stolen bases. That's right; he reached base more often than he made an out.

Peoria Chiefs center fielder Matt Szczur: It wasn't a good month for the Chiefs, but Szczur managed to keep hitting in June with a .301/.327/.456 line with three home runs and three steals. That was his worst month as far as batting average and on-base percentage goes, but the three home runs give some hope that the power might be coming.

Boise Hawks center fielder Pin-Chieh Chen: The Hawks only played half the month, but the 19 year old Taiwanese outfielder distinguished himself for the month by hitting .385/.421/.500 in 13 games. He hasn't hit a home run yet, but he's had four doubles, a triple and four steals. He's off to a good start in July, too.

Scores after the jump.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs couldn't fly with the Oklahoma City Redhawks, 7-6.

Alberto Cabrera started and went 5.2 innings.  He gave up four runs on six hits and five walks. One of the four runs was unearned. Cabrera struck out three.

Justin Berg got the loss when he gave up a run in the eighth and a run in the ninth without retiring a batter. Berg was given credit for one inning pitched and two runs on three hits, a walk and a hit batsman. One of the runs was considered unearned. Berg did not have a strikeout.

Third baseman Scott Moore was 2 for 4 with his seventh home run of the season: a solo home run in the sixth inning. Moore scored twice.

Shortstop Marwin Gonzalez was 3 for 5 with a double and a triple. He scored twice.

Catcher Welington Castillo was 2 for 4 with an RBI. He also had a big passed ball in the bottom of the ninth.

Tennessee Smokies

Brett Jackson's two homers led the Tennessee Smokies to a 2-1 win over the Montgomery Biscuits in ten innings.

Ryan Searle pitched the first four innings, allowing one run on three hits. Searle walked three and struck out four.

Jeff Beliveau took the win with two shutout innings of relief. Beliveau gave up only one hit and two walks, one of which was intentional. Beliveau struck out two.

Jeff Stevens got his first save with a perfect tenth inning. He struck out two.

All the offense for the Smokies tonight came from center fielder Jackson, who hit two solo home runs, one in the third inning and one in the tenth. Jackson now has ten home runs this year. Jackson was 2 for 3 with two walks, one of which was intentional. 

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were downed by the Tampa Yankees, 8-5.

Angel Guzman threw two perfect innings to start the game. He struck out two.

Guzman was relieved by Casey Harman, who got hammered for seven runs on nine hits over the two innings he pitched. Harman allowed three home runs in those two innings. He did not walk anyone and struck out one.

Right fielder Michael Burgess hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, his tenth on the year. Burgess was 2 for 4 with a walk.

Second baseman Matt Cerda was 2 for 4 with two doubles. Cerda also walked once and scored one run.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs were cut down by the Clinton LumberKings, 5-3.

Starling Peralta made his Peoria debut a good one, but he got tagged with the loss anyway. Peralta pitched five innings and allowed only one run on a solo home run in the fourth. It was one of only two hits he allowed. Peralta walked one and struck out six.

Pete Levitt relieved Peralta and got hit for four runs in the one inning he pitched. It was also his Peoria debut.

Center fielder Matt Szczur was 3 for 4 with a walk. He scored once. DH Ryan Cuneo was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He also scored once. Third baseman Brandon May went 2 for 4 with a double.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks skinned the Yakima Bears, 5-4 in ten innings.

Wilengton Cruz started and threw four shutout innings. He allowed four hits and issued three walks while striking out four.

Cruz was piggybacked by Joseph Zeller, who allowed only one run on five hits over four innings. Zellar did not walk anyone and struck out two.

Bryce Shafer blew the save in the bottom of the ninth when he gave up three runs in in the inning

Dustin Fitzgerald collected the win with a scoreless top of the tenth. He allowed one hits. He did not walk anyone and struck out one.

Kenny Soccoro hit the game-winning single, scoring Wes Darvill who reached on an error with two outs and went to second on another error with a bad pick off throw. Darvill then advanced to third on a wild pitch.

First baseman Paul Hoilman was 3 for 5 with a double. He knocked one in and scored twice.

Second baseman Brad Zapenas went 2 for 4 with a walk and an RBI. DH Ben Klafczynski was 2 for 5.

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Angels, 7-4.