Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 2

It was really close, but a lot of late votes came in for Brian Bogusevic, who is your choice for BCB Minor League Player of the Month! So congratulations to him.

Now it's time to vote for the Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Month. The candidates are:

Iowa Cubs Chris Rusin: Rusin bounced back from a lousy April with a very strong May. In what was essentially six starts (He entered in the fifth inning in relief in one game after Matt Garza made a rehab start), Rusin pitched 37.2 innings and allowed only eleven runs, ten earned, for a 2.39 ERA. Rusin succeeded because of great control: he only walked four hitters all month. Rusin struck out 23 and he had a 3-2 record.

Tennessee Smokies Kyle Hendricks: One of the players the Cubs got for Ryan Dempster, Hendricks succeeds with a strong changeup and excellent control. In five starts in May, Hendricks pitched 32.1 innings and went 4.1 with a 1.95 ERA. He did allow three unearned runs along with the seven earned. Hendricks walked only five and struck out 25 for a 5:1 strikeout to walk ratio. Additionally, he held opposing hitters to a .230 batting average.

Tennessee Smokies Alberto Cabrera: The Cubs are moving Cabrera into the rotation, and that move has looked wise after Cabrera posted a 3.47 ERA after pitching 36.1 innings over six starts. (He only allowed one unearned run as well.) Cabrera struck out over a batter an inning with 40 while walking 14 hitters.

Daytona Cubs Kyler Burke: I'm pretty sure Burke was at least nominated for the BCB player of the month award before, since he converted to pitching in 2011 and is working his way back up the system. Burke didn't pitch his first game until May 20, but in the three starts he pitched for Daytona he allowed only four runs over fifteen innings for a 2.40 ERA. He held opposing hitters to a .196 ERA. Burke walked six and struck out 13.

Kane County Cougars Pierce Johnson: Johnson is quickly establishing himself as the Cubs top pitching prospect, at least until after the draft. Over six starts in May, Johnson went 2-3 with a 2.57 ERA over 35 innings. He only gave up one unearned run as well. Johnson struck out 39 and walked only nine while holding opposing hitters to a .243 average. That he was only 2-3 over May shows that he may lack TWTW. (That's just a joke, folks.)

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were blown away by the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins), 5-3.

So Chris Rusin's June didn't start out as well as his May went. Rusin took the loss after allowing five runs on 12 hits over seven innings. He didn't walk anyone and he struck out four.

Center fielder Dave Sappelt was 2 for 4 with a stolen base. He scored one run.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies game was postponed because of wet fields. They'll play a double-header tomorrow.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs shut out the Brevard County Manatees (Brewers), 5-0 in a game that ended after six and a half innings because of rain.

It was a short, complete game shutout for Austin Kirk. In the six innings, he allowed five hits. Kirk walked three and struck out seven.

Two more hits today for shortstop Javier Baez. He was 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI. Third baseman Ben Carhart was 2 for 3 with a walk and two stolen bases. Carhart scored twice.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars ground the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins) into cornmeal, 3-2 in ten innings.

Michael Heesch pitched the first six innings and allowed two runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out four.

Steve Perakslis kept the game tied with three shutout innings of relief. Perakslis allowed two hits and one walk while striking out three.

Eddie Orozco pitched a perfect top of the tenth for his third win. He struck out one.

The Cougars won in the bottom of the tenth when Albert Almora hit a one out double. After an intentional walk to Dan Vogelbach, Jeimer Candelario loaded the bases with a single. Then Rock Shoulders drew the walk-off walk to score Almora and end the game.

Almora was 3 for 4 with a double and a walk. Candelario was 3 for 5. Shoulders was 0 for 3 with two walks.

Vogelbach hit a solo home run in the third inning, his eighth of the year. Vogy went 2 for 4 with a double and scored two runs. He had that one intentional walk.