Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 15

Iowa Cubs

Steve Clevenger homered three times in two games as the Iowa Cubs swept the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 9-5 and 8-7. Game one was the completion of a game suspended after five innings yesterday.

In game one, Brooks Raley started and got knocked around for five runs on five hits over five innings. He walked two and struck out two.

The game re-started today with the score tied 5-5 after five innings. Jeffry Antigua started the sixth inning today and got the win after tossing three shutout innings. He allowed two hits and didn't walk anyone. Antigua struck out one.

Clevenger hit his first home run in the first inning with a man on. He went 3 for 3 and scored two runs. Clevenger exited this game when it restarted in the sixth inning today.

First baseman Brad Nelson was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He had a two-run single as part of a four-run sixth inning.

Yoanner Negrin started game two and lasted five innings. He exited after allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits. Negrin walked three and struck out two.

Barret Loux got the win with three innings of relief. Loux allowed one unearned run on five hits. Loux fanned three and didn't strike out anyone.

Iowa had an 8-4 lead going into the ninth, but Casey Coleman almost blew it. After allowing three hits and a walk while only retiring one batter, Brian Schlitter came into the game with the score 8-6. Schlitter allowed one inherited runner to score on an RBI single, Schlitter got a strike out and a ground out to end the game and collect his third save.

Clevenger hit two more home runs in this game. The first was a solo home run in the third inning and the second came with a man on in the sixth. Both home runs tied the game. Clevenger was 2 for 3 with two walks and three runs scored.

After Clevenger tied the score at 4-4 in the sixth, later in the inning shortstop Donnie Murphy hit a grand slam to give Iowa the lead. It was Murphy's fifth home run of the season. Murphy was 1 for 2 with three walks.

First baseman Brent Lillibridge was 3 for 4 with a double. Right fielder Dave Sappelt hit two doubles in a 2 for 5 game. He scored one run.

Third baseman Junior Lake was 2 for 4 with a walk and two steals. Lake scored one run.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies slapped down the Mississippi Braves, 5-2.

It was another surgical performance by Kyle Hendricks, who allowed only one run over seven innings. He allowed eight hits but no walks. Hendricks struck out three.

Hendricks improved to 7-2 this season with a 2.07 ERA. It was the first run he'd allowed at Smokies Park since April 23.

First baseman Jonathan Mota gave Tennessee a 2-0 lead in the second inning with his fifth home run of the year. Mota was 2 for 4 with the two RBI.

Shortstop Arismendy Alcantara had two doubles in a 2 for 4 effort. Alcantara scored one run and had two runs batted in. He also stole third base after his two-run double in the eighth and then scored on a sac fly.

Center fielder Matthew Szczur was 2 for 3 and was hit by a pitch. He scored on Alcantara's double in the eighth. Third baseman Christian Villanueva went 2 for 3 with the sac fly that scored Alcantara. He scored on Mota's home run.

Daytona Cubs

The South Division All-Stars trounced the North Division All-Stars, 8-1. (Daytona is in the North.)

The North only managed four hits, but Javier Baez had two of them, both doubles, in a 2 for 4 game. Someone on Twitter claimed that one of the Baez doubles should have been ruled a home run.

Dustin Geiger was 0 for 3 with a walk. John Andreoli was 0 for 4. Frank Del Valle allowed a run on a hit and a walk in the one inning he pitched. He did strike out the side, however.

Jorge Soler started this game, but exited in the second inning without coming to the plate. No explanation has been given so far.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars are snakebit against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 11-5.

Dillon Maples couldn't find the plate and didn't make it out of the first inning. In two-thirds of an inning, Maples allowed four runs on two hits and four walks. He also hit a batter. Maples did not strike anyone out. Maples line could have been better as two of the runs were unearned. But it could have been a lot worse as Justin Amlung got a strikeout with the bases-loaded to end the threat in the first.

Amlung then gave up three runs of his own in the second inning.

DH Bijan Rademacher clubbed a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to get Kane County to within six runs. It was his second home run this season. Rademacher also doubled in a 3 for 5 night. He scored twice and had two runs batted in.

Catcher Willson Contreras was 2 for 4 with a double. He scored one run and had one RBI.

Center fielder Albert Almora was 2 for 5 with a steal and a run scored. Almora has played 21 games so far this season. He was 0 for 1 and left with a minor injury on May 27. He went 0 for 5 in his first game back on May 31. He has at least one hit in the other 19 games he's played in.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks turned green against the Eugene Emeralds (Padres), 1-0.

This was a real pitchers' duel, as Boise starter Paul Blackburn allowed a two-out single and Eugene didn't have another baserunner until Emeralds catcher Miguel Del Castillo hit a walk-off home run to lead off the ninth inning. Blackburn threw five innings and struck out eight.

Corbin Hoffner threw three perfect innings of relief, striking out one. Tyler Bremer faced one batter, Del Castillo, and he ended the game with the home run.

Boise only managed three hits themselves. Shawon Dunston Jr., Jacob Rogers and Jose Dore each singled.