Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 24

Still taking nicknames for Matt Spencer, who was promoted to Peoria.

For the first time since August 24, 1997, a player named Shawon Dunston homered for the Cubs organization tonight.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were tied to the tracks by the Round Rock Express (Rangers), 5-2.

Starter Rodrigo Lopez only made one real mistake, but it was a doozy: a grand slam by Brad Nelson in the sixth inning. Lopez pitched six innings and allowed four runs on three hits and three walks. Lopez struck out five.

Center fielder Brett Jackson homered for the third straight game. Jackson's home run came with the bases empty in the seventh. Jackson went 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base. He now has eleven home runs this year.

Catcher Welington Castillo was 3 for 4 with an RBI. Second baseman Blake DeWitt went 2 for 4.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo was 0 for 3 with a walk.

Tennessee Smokies

Game against Jacksonville suspended with the Smokies leading 2-1 in the third inninng.

Daytona Cubs

Game at St. Lucie rained out. Double-header tomorrow.

Sometimes I wonder how the people of Florida don't have gills.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs apprehended the Quad City River Bandits (Cardinals), 12-11.

Michael Jensen had a rough start, allowing seven runs on seven hits over four innings. Jensen walked one and struck out three. He also hit two batters.

Hunter Cervenka allowed his first earned runs since May 18, but got the win anyway. Cervenka gave up three runs on six hits, including a two-run home run, over 2.1 innings. He walked one and did not strike anyone out.

Yao-Lin Wang was the only Chiefs pitcher to not allow a run, and he had a perfect ninth inning for his tenth save. Wang struck out one.

Second baseman Zeke DeVoss led off the bottom of the first inning with his second home run of the season. DeVoss went 1 for 3 with two walks. He scored three times and also stole a base.

Third baseman Dustin Geiger cranked a three-run home run in the third inning. It was Geiger's third home run this year. Geiger went 1 for 4. He scored twice and had the three RBI.

Center fielder Pin-Chieh Chen went 4 for 5. He scored three times and had one RBI. First baseman Paul Hoilman had two doubles in a 2 for 5 game. He scored once.

Left fielder Anthony Giansanti played in his first game since June 11 and was 2 for 5. He scored once and batted two in.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks hung on to beat the Eugene Emeralds (Padres), 14-11.

Willengton Cruz started and got the win, giving up three runs over five innings. Cruz allowed eight hits. He walked one while striking out two.

The Hawks scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth, and they need them as the Emeralds came back to score six runs off of reliever Pete Levitt. Levitt only retired one batter before giving way to Bryce Shafer, who didn't qualify for a save but did bail the Hawks out by getting the final two outs and allowing only one hit.

Four Hawks homered tonight. Two Hawks homered back-to-back in the bottom of the first inning. Shortstop Marco Hernandez started with a solo home run, his third on the season and first for the Hawks. Hernandez went 2 for 4 with a sacrifice fly. He had the two RBI and scored three times.

Coming up right after Hernandez was the Candy Man, third baseman Jeimer Candelario. Candelario hit his fourth home run of the year, giving the Hawks an early 2-0 lead. Candelario went 2 for 5 and scored twice.

In the second inning, center fielder Shawon Dunston Jr. hit his first professional home run with the bases empty. Dunston went 2 for 4 and also had a leg double. Dunston scored twice.

The Shawon-O-Meter is up to .250 and rising.

Finally, DH Gioskar Amaya hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, his first of the season. He also tripled and walked in a 2 for 4 night. Amaya scored three times.

First baseman Willson Contreras went 2 for 5 with two RBI. He also scored once. Second baseman Stephen Bruno was 2 for 4. He scored twice and knocked two in.

AZL Cubs

Night off.