Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 7

First off, we're finished with another draft. Thanks everyone for reading through what is my busiest time of the year. This year, not only did I put my all into the three days of coverage, but my laptop gave its life for the draft as it completely died during Friday's coverage. But I'll try to have a recap up for you by Monday. I should be recovered by then. Also, my wife will let me use her laptop for long enough to get it written.

I'd also like to take the time to thank Tim for all the work he's done on the draft over the past several weeks. I hope you've all been reading his work as well. He knows more about amateur baseball than I do and his work certainly freed me up this season to do things like leave my room.

I'm going to lead with the Kane County Cougars tonight because . . .

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars clinched the first-half division title with a 5-2 win over the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins).

Juan Paniagua flashed some of the talent that made him such a promising prospect tonight. Paniagua pitched six scoreless innings and allowed only three hits. He struck out nine Kernels hitters and walked only two of them.

Tyler Bremer pitched the ninth inning for his sixth save. He gave up one hit and another baserunner reached on an error, but he got his only strikeout to end the game without any runs scoring.

Catcher Ben Carhart hit his first home run of the season in the fourth inning with the bases empty. Carhart was 2 for 4 and he scored twice.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were kept on the ground by the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Rockies), 5-1.

Starting pitcher Eric Jokisch got the loss after he gave up three runs on five hits over seven innings. Jokisch walked three and struck out six.

Iowa had four hits tonight. Shortstop Javier Baez was 1 for 3 with a walk and an RBI single.

Arismendy Alcantara started in center field tonight. Here's what Des Moines Register writer Tommy Birch said about it:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Arismendy Alcantara looking very comfortable in the outfield. Seems like a natural. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Cubs&amp;src=hash">#Cubs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23PCL&amp;src=hash">#PCL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23MiLB&amp;src=hash">#MiLB</a></p>&mdash; Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) <a href="https://twitter.com/TommyBirch/statuses/475458686312542208">June 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

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Nineteen minutes later, he wrote

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Alcantara drops an easy fly ball to center that scores another run to give the Sky Sox a 4-1 lead. Don&#39;t I feel like a moron now. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Cubs&amp;src=hash">#Cubs</a></p>&mdash; Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) <a href="https://twitter.com/TommyBirch/statuses/475463367176753152">June 8, 2014</a></blockquote>

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Alcantara was 0 for 3 with a walk.

Tennessee Smokies

For the second straight day, the Tennessee Smokies shut out the Jacksonville Suns (Marlins) 5-0.

Today's starter Dae-Eun Rhee went seven strong innings, allowing five hits. He walked two and struck out one.

Jeff Lorick and Arodys Vizcaino both pitched a perfect inning to close out the game.

Third baseman Kris Bryant deposited a 2-0 pitch from Suns pitcher Frankie Reed over the left field wall for his 20th home run of the season. Bryant was 3 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored two runs and had the one RBI.

You almost have to feel a little sorry for Reed. Bryant was the first batter he ever faced in Double-A.

Catcher Charles Cutler hit his second home run of the season in fourth inning with a man on to give Tennessee a 2-0 lead. Cutler finished the day going 2 for 4 with three RBI and two runs scored.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were pounded by the Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins), 8-0.

Here are the ugly details. Nathan Dorris started and took the loss after he gave up two runs on six hits over 4.2 innings. He walked three and struck out three.

The game got out of hand when Starling Peralta gave up four runs over 2.1 innings and Jasvir Rakkar, making both his season debut and Daytona debut, gave up two runs in the one inning he pitched.

Daytona had three hits.