Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 3

Congratulations to a pair of Smokies, Matt Szczur and Kyle Hendricks, whom you voted as the BCB Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Month! The Cubs official awards went to Javier Baez and Chris Rusin, so congratulations to all four of those players.

Bookkeeping note: I'm heading to Boise tomorrow to see my in-laws and, more importantly, catch the Boise Hawks. I'm going to be traveling tomorrow, so Tim is going to write up the next Minor League Wrap. Be sure to treat him with all the respect you treat me. No. Check that. Treat him with a lot MORE respect than you treat me. :-)

Have a safe and happy Independence Day, everyone.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs lost to the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals), 6-5.

Starter Yoanner Negrin pitched 5.1 innings and allowed five runs on eleven hits. Negrin struck out six and walked only one, so there is that.

Brian Schlitter allowed a run in the ninth for his first Iowa loss of the season. He pitched one inning and gave up the one run on two hits. He struck out one and did not issue a walk. Ahh, the perils of using a closer in a non-save situation.

All five of the Iowa runs scored on four home runs. The Cubs hit back-to-back-to-back solo home runs in the fourth inning when first baseman Brad Nelson, right fielder Junior Lake and left fielder Ty Wright all went deep. Nelson and Lake were both 1 for 4 and Wright was 1 for 3 with a walk. That makes 15 home runs for Nelson, three for Lake and two for Wright at Iowa and five overall.

Then in the fourth inning, center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha hit a two-run home run, his first ever at the Triple-A level. Ha also doubled in a 2 for 4 night.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies beat the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 3-1.

Great start for A.J. Morris, who allowed six hits over six scoreless innings. Morris walked one and struck out two.

Zach Rosscup allowed a run in the ninth inning, but that was enough for his second save. Rosscup pitched 1.1 innings and surrendered two hits and a walk. He struck out three.

Third baseman Christian Villanueva hit a solo home run in the seventh inning, his tenth of the year. Villanueva was 1 for 4.

First baseman Justin Bour hit a solo home run in the eighth inning, his sixth this year. Bour was also 1 for 4.

Right fielder Matt Szczur went 2 for 4 with a double. He scored the other Smokies run in the third inning. First baseman Jonathan Mota was 2 for 4 with a double. Shortstop Elliot Soto was 2 for 3.

Just an aside, the Smokies won this game having only ten position players on their bench. That's eight starters, a DH and a backup catcher.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were submerged by the Brevard County Manatees (Brewers), 5-1.

Matt Loosen started and pitched five scoreless innings, giving up four hits. He walked two and struck out six.

Eduardo Figueroa got the loss. He allowed five runs, all in the seventh inning, on seven hits. He pitched two innings and one of the five runs was unearned.

The D-Cubs had four hits, all singles, and three errors. Shortstop Javier Baez was 1 for 3 with a walk. He did not have one of those errors.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars lost to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 4-2.

Michael Heesch started and took the loss. Heesch pitched six innings and allowed four runs on eight hits. He walked one and didn't strike out anyone.

First baseman Dan Vogelbach went 3 for 4 with a double and two RBI.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks were buried under the lava of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants), 11-3.

It was a bad day for Loiger Padron, who didn't make it out of a seven-run second inning. Padron allowed seven runs on six hits over 1.2 innings. Padron walked three and struck out two.

Catcher Justin Marra was 1 for 3 with a walk and a two-run double. First baseman Jacob Rogers was 2 for 3 with a walk.

AZL Cubs

Off-day.