Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 9

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs hunted the Fresno Grizzlies (Giants) to extinction, 17-2.

It was an easy win for Tsuyoshi Wada, who gave up a run in the first inning but that was it over six innings. He surrendered eight hits. Wada walked one and struck out two.

Every position player in the starting lineup except Matt Szczur had at least two hits, and Szczur was 1 for 5 with a double and a walk. Forgive me if I miss something.

Third baseman Christian Villanueva turned this game into a laugher when he hit a grand slam home run in the sixth inning, his sixth home run of the season. Villanueva went 2 for 4 with two walks and five RBI.

In the ninth inning, catcher Rafael Lopez tacked on a grand slam of his own, his first for Iowa and fifth overall. Lopez was 2 for 5 with seven RBI. He scored twice.

Shortstop Javier Baez gave Iowa an early 1-0 lead with a solo home run in the top of the first inning. It was his ninth on the season. Baez came a double shy of the cycle as he was 3 for 5 with a triple, the home run and a sacrifice fly. Baez scored four runs. He also stole a base.

Center fielder Ryan Kalish went 2 for 4 with a double and two walks. He scored three times and had one RBI. He also stole a base.

Second baseman Arismendy Alcantara was 3 for 6 and scored two runs.

Logan Watkins played first base tonight, so he's now played every position on the diamond but pitcher and catcher this season. That's a utility guy. Watkins was 2 for 5 with a walk. He scored twice and had one RBI.

Right fielder Brett Jackson went 2 for 4 with two walks. And he didn't strike out, either. Jackson scored once.

Previous obligations kept me from tonight's (and tomorrow's) game. but I'll be at Chukchansi Park for Wednesday and Thursday's games.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies went dark against the Jacksonville Suns (Marlins), 8-7 in ten innings.

Starting pitcher Joe Gardner retired the first ten batters he faced, but then he got into trouble and allowed three runs in the fourth inning. Gardner's final line was 4.2 innings, allowing four runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out one.

Arodys Vizcaino gave up a walkoff home run in the bottom of the tenth to Alex Burg. He faced two batters, getting the first one to ground out to third.

Did Kris Bryant homer? Why, yes he did for the third straight day. Bryant hit a solo home run in the seventh inning, his 22nd on the season. Bryant was 2 for 5 and scored twice.

Shortstop Elliot Soto went 2 for 6 with a double and a run scored. Catcher Charles Cutler was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored once.

First baseman Dustin Geiger went 2 for 5 with two RBI. He scored one run. Second baseman Jeudy Valdez went 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were shut out by the Clearwater Threshers (Marlins), 2-0.

Starter Rob Zastryzny was pretty darn awesome tonight, but he made two mistakes. One was a solo home run in the fourth and the other was an RBI double in the fifth, and that was enough to tag him with the loss. Zastryzny pitched seven innings and allowed two runs on four hits. He struck out nine and didn't walk anyone.

Shortstop Marco Hernandez was 2 for 4 with a triple. Catcher Willson Contreras went 2 for 4 with a double.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars detasseled the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins) 2-1.

Jen-Ho Tseng pitched in his first game since May 9. He pitched the first three innings and allowed one run on two hits. He struck out three and didn't walk anyone.

Michael Heesch got the win with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed one hit. He walked two and struck out four.

Tyler Bremer pitched the top of the ninth and while one batter reached on an error, he didn't allow any base runners that were charged to him. He struck out two.

The Cougars won despite having committed more errors (three) than hits (two) or runs (also two). After Jordan Hankins walked with one out in the fourth inning, Jacob Rogers doubled him home and then went to third on a throwing error. After Cael Brockmeyer was hit by a pitch, Danny Lockhart gave Kane County the lead with a sacrifice fly.

Rogers was 1 for 3. Lockhart had a single in the second inning to go 1 for 2. And that was all of KC's hits.