Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 28

The Cubs are in first place! The Cubs are in first place!

Congratulations to Josh Vitters, who was named a Triple-A All-Star today. This game will be televised by the MLB Network on the day after the Major League All-Star Game, so those of you who haven't seen Vitters play will get your chance.

By a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court declared that Javier Baez is awesome. The four dissenters said he was "super awesome."

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were prey for the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Astros), 3-1.

Chris Volstad pitched really well tonight. Volstad went seven innings and allowed three runs on six hits but honestly, only one of the six hits was really hit hard. One of the three runs allowed was unearned. Volstad struck out seven and didn't walk anyone. He deserved better than his third loss.

Shorstop Matt Tolbert went 4 for 5 with a double and a triple.He also stole a base and scored the lone Iowa run. Second baseman Adrian Cardenas was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk.He also stole a base.

Left fielder Ty Wright was 2 for 4 with a double. First baseman Blake Lalli was 2 for 4.

When you have 12 hits, four for extra bases, and three walks, you really should score more than one run.

Josh Vitters saw his hitting streak end at ten as he was 0 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were smote by the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 13-6.

Trey McNutt couldn't make it out of the first inning today. He was pulled after with the bases loaded after already allowing six runs. Two more of those runners were walked in by Ty'Relle Harris, so McNutt was charged with eight runs on six hits after 0.2 innings. He also walked one and hit a batter. Four of the eight runs were unearned, though. McNutt did not have a strikeout.

The Smokies have now allowed ten or more runs in three of their past four games.

The Boys from Sevierville didn't give up after falling behind eight nothing after half an inning. Right fielder Nelson Perez and catcher Michael Brenly would hit back-to-back solo home runs in the sixth inning. Perez was 1 for 4 on the night and Brenly was 2 for 4. It was Perez's second home run for the Smokies and thirteenth overall, while it was Brenly's third and second in three games.

Center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha was 2 for 5 with an RBI. DH Junior Lake was also 2 for 5 with a run scored and one batted in. Shortstop Elliot Soto was 2 for 4 and scored twice.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs made the Dunedin Blue Jays blue, 14-4.

Robert Whitenack kept moving forward tonight, even though he allowed three runs over four innings. Only one of the three runs was earned. Whitenack allowed six hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out four.

A.J. Morris pitched two perfect innings and got the win because Whitenack didn't go five. He struck out one.

The D-Cubs hit three home runs tonight. The first one was by shortstop Arismendy Alcantara, who hit a fly ball that just carried beyond the fence down the left field line in the second inning. There were two men on when he did that. Alcantara was 3 for 5 with a stolen base. He batted four runs in and scored three times.

The second home run was hit by second baseman Ronald Torreyes, whose solo home run in the sixth inning was his third of the year. Torreyes went 1 for 2 with a walk. He scored three runs.

The final one was by first baseman Rebel Ridling who homered with two on in the eighth inning. It was Ridling's ninth home run this year and first for Daytona. Ridling went 1 for 4 with a walk. He scored once.

Center fielder Matt Szczur has been very good since returning from his injury. Tonight he went 3 for 3 with two walks and three steals. He had two RBI and scored three times.

Right fielder Rubi Silva had two doubles in a 3 for 5 game. He also stole a base. Silva scored once and had two RBI.

With the win, Dayona has a second-half record of 6-2, which puts them in first place in the Florida State League North Division. They still have an overall losing record as they're still recovering for a horrific April, but no team in the system has been hotter than Daytona lately.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs were poisoned by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 7-3.

Gerardo Concepcion has to figure out what he's doing wrong in the first inning. Tonight he got hit four four runs in the first inning and allowed only one more over the next five. So he went six innings and gave up five runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out two. Concepcion's record fell to 2-6.

DH Javier Baez was 3 for 4 with two doubles and a walk. He also stole three bases tonight. Baez scored once.

First baseman Paul Hoilman was 2 for 5.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks smashed the Spokane Indians (Rangers), 12-2.

Starter Ian Dickson got his first professional win after giving up two runs on four hits over five innings. One of the two runs allowed by Dickson was unearned. He struck out six and didn't walk anyone.

The big blow tonight was a fifth inning grand slam by left fielder Dong-Yub Kim. Kim was 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored. It was his second home run of the season.

Catcher Willson Contreras went 4 for 5 with a double and three runs batted in. He scored twice. DH Chadd Krist was 4 for 5 with two doubles. He scored three times and knocked one in.

Third baseman Stephen Bruno was 2 for 3 with a double. He scored a run and batted one in.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Diamondbacks, 11-2.

Jacob Rogers hit his first professional home run. He also hit his second professional home run. He was 4 for 4 with a double and a walk.