Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 21

There were a few moves today, the biggest being Kyler Burke's promotion to Daytona from Peoria. Rebel Ridling and Brian Schlitter were demoted to Daytona, while Nelson Perez was promoted from Daytona to Tennessee. First baseman Richard Jones was released.

Tomorrow is my first night with six games. It was nice while it lasted.

Tomorrow night in Boise is "Bring Back the 'Stache" Night, in honor of Hawks hitting coach Bill Buckner, who had to shave his famous mustache in accordance of Cubs team policy. For those of us who fondly remember Billy Buck from his playing days with the Cubs, he just looks wrong clean-shaven. The Minor League Wrap fully supports the Hawks' effort. You also get into the game cheap if you have a mustache. I guess I shouldn't have shaved mine. The Cubs were never going to offer me a coaching job anyway.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were late for the Round Rock Express (Rangers), 6-2.

Frankie De La Cruz started and took the loss. He allowed five runs on eight hits over 4.2 innings, but three of the five runs were unearned. De La Cruz walked two and struck out six.

The Cubs were held to three hits by the Rangers #2 prospect Martin Perez, who threw his first professional complete game. Third baseman Josh Vitters hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, his eleventh on the year. Vitters was 1 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies blacked out the Jacksonville Suns (Marlins), 3-1.

Nick Struck was strong tonight as he improved his record to 8-6. Struck gave up only two hits over six innings, one of which was a solo home run. He walked two and struck out seven.

Marcus Hatley threw the final 1.2 innings to get his third save. He allowed only one hit. Hatley did not walk anyone and struck out one.

The Smokies banged out 12 hits but only got three runs. Third baseman Junior Lake went 4 for 5 with a double, the Smokies only extra base hit of the night. Lake scored once and stole a base.

Shortstop Logan Watkins was 2 for 4 with a walk. He had one run scored and one batted in. First baseman Justin Bour was 3 for 5 with a stolen base. Second baseman Matt Cerda was 2 for 4 and scored once.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs thrashed the Clearwater Threshers (Phillies), 3-0.

Austin Kirk continues to pitch well this year and tonight his offense scored enough for him to qualify for the win and his bullpen didn't blow it. Kirk pitched seven innings and allowed only four hits. He walked two and struck out three. Kirk's record on the year improved to 3-1 while his ERA fell to 2.42.

Jeff Lorick pitched a perfect ninth inning for his first Daytona save and seventh overall. Lorick struck out two.

Ronald Torreyes put the Cubs on top in the top of the first inning with a solo home run, his second of the season. Torreyes also doubled and walked in a 2 for 4 game. Torreyes scored twice.

Newly-demoted first baseman Rebel Ridling went 3 for 4 with a double. He scored once.

Peoria Chiefs

The team is heading back to Peoria as the All-Star Break ends tomorrow.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks scored two in the ninth to cut the Eugene Emeralds (Padres), 5-4.

James Pugliese started and struggled in the first inning, but settled down after that. Pugliese allowed three runs, two of which scored in the first inning, on five hits. He did not walk anyone and struck out four.

Hayden Simpson piggybacked Pugliese and was dominating for four innings. He allowed one unearned run in the ninth inning after a double, the only hit he allowed. Simpson walked one and struck out seven. Because of the unearned run, he was looking at the loss, until the Hawks came back in the bottom of the inning to give him his first Boise win and third of the year.

It's a step.

First baseman Rock Shoulders ended the game in the bottom of the ninth when he singled home pinch-runner Brian Inoa home from third. The ball hit the warning track and would have likely been a double if there wasn't a runner on third. Shoulders was 1 for 2 and walked three times.

Third baseman Jeimer Candelario hit his second home run in as many nights when he hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. Candelario was 3 for 4 with a double and the homer. He had two RBI.

Second baseman Gioskar Amaya went 2 for 5 with a one-out triple in the bottom of the ninth. He scored twice, including the tying run when catcher Willson Contreras singled him home in the ninth. Contreras was 2 for 5 with two total RBI. Left fielder Xavier Batista was 2 for 4.

Right fielder Eduardo Gonzalez was 1 for 4 with the first Hawks stolen base of the season.

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Athletics, 5-1.

Ben Carhart, Jacob Rogers and Carlos Escobar all got their first professional hits.