Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 1

If you haven't yet, be sure to vote for the Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Month. I'll leave the voting open at least another 24 hours.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs swept a day/night doubleheader from the Omaha Storm Chasers, 5-3 and 7-4 in eight innings.

Kyle Hendricks started game one and got his tenth win, allowing three runs on eight hits over six innings. Hendricks struck out seven and didn't walk anyone.

Zac Rosscup pitched a perfect top of the seventh for his first save of the season. He had one strikeout.

Iowa took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when Brett Jackson singled home Logan Watkins. Earlier, in the second inning, Jackson hit a two-run triple that bounced off the top of the center field wall. Jackson was 2 for 3.

But Jackson wasn't done for the day. In game two, Iowa fell behind 4-2 in the top of the eighth. They tied it up on RBI infield singles by Kris Bryant (that went about 12 feet) and Matt Szczur. Then, with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Jackson sent a 2-0 pitch over the right field wall for a walk-off three-run home run.

That was Jackson's fourth home run of the season. He also doubled in the fifth inning, meaning he hit for the cycle on the day. Jackson was 2 for 3 with a walk.

Zak Hermans came up from Kane County to make the start for Iowa in game two in the Triple-A equivalent of what Dallas Beeler did over the weekend. Hermans allowed two runs on four hits over 3.2 innings. Not bad for a guy who got to Principal Park just a few minutes before the game.

Alberto Cabrera didn't allow a hit or a run over the next 2.2 innings, although he did walk three and strike out two.

Armando Rivero was the happy beneficiary of Jackson's heroics and got his second win for the club. Rivero pitched two innings and allowed two runs in the top of the eighth on a home run to Carlos Peguero. Rivero allowed three total hits. He did strike out five batters and not walk anyone.

Bryant was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI. He scored twice. Szczur was 2 for 4 with two RBI and he scored on the Jackson walk-off. Arismendy Alcantara was 2 for 4 with a stolen base.

Javier Baez was 0 for 2 with two walks and two runs scored. He's now walked nine times in the last nine games.

With the two wins, Iowa has opened up a 1.5 game lead over second-place Oklahoma City.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies scored three times in the bottom of the eighth inning to burn the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 6-5.

Starter Corey Black tossed 4.2 scoreless innings, giving up just four hits. Black did have some control problems, as he walked four and struck out only one. He was pulled when he reached 80 pitches.

Zach Cates pitched the top of the eighth inning and walked two and struck out two, but didn't allow a hit or a walk. He got his second win of the season, and first for Tennessee, when the Smokies came back in the bottom of the inning.

Frank Batista threw a perfect top of the ninth for his fourth save and third for Tennessee. He struck out one.

Shortstop Elliot Soto hit the go-ahead single in the bottom of the eighth. He was 3 for 4 with a double and a walk. Soto also scored one run of his own.

Third baseman Jonathan Mota went 3 for 4 with a double and a run scored.

DH Charles Cutler was 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.  Left fielder Kevin Brown went 2 for 4 with a two-run triple in the sixth inning.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were shut out by the Brevard County Manatees (Brewers), 3-0.

Starter Jose Rosario allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits over 5.2 innings. He walked two and struck out two.

Tyler Bremer pitched a scoreless inning in his Daytona debut, although he did allow two hits.

Right fielder Pin-Chieh Chen was 2 for 3.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars are off to a 9-2 start to the second-half of the season with a 6-1 dousing of the Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals).

Paul Blackburn cruised to his seventh win with six scoreless innings, allowing only four hits. He struck out three and didn't walk anyone.

The Cougars put this game away early as they scored all six of their runs in the second inning. Second baseman Ben Carhart hit a three-run home run in that inning, his second of  the season. Carhart was 1 for 4.

DH Shawon Dunston was 2 for 4 and stole three bases. He scored once.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks crushed the Tri-City Dust Devils (Rockies), 14-3.

Tyler Ihrig pitched the first six innings and allowed two runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out five and didn't walk anyone.

This game was 4-2 after seven innings, but the Hawks scored seven runs in the eighth and three more in the ninth to make the game a laugher.

Third baseman Jesse Hodges had not one but two three-run home runs. One in the eighth inning and one in the ninth. He now has three homer this season. Hodges was was 3 for 5 with three runs scored.

As well as the home run by Hodges in that seven-run eighth, right fielder Jeffrey Baez also hit a two-run home run in that inning. It was Baez's fourth of the season. Baez also doubled in a 3 for 5 game. He scored two runs and drove in three.

First baseman Danny Canela was a perfect 4 for 4 with a walk. Canela scored three times and had one RBI.

Center fielder Rashad Crawford was 2 for 5 and scored one run. Left fielder Mark Zagunis was 2 for 4 with a triple and a walk. He scored two runs and drove two in. Second baseman Zak Blair was 2 for 5 and scored one run.

DH Mark Malave was 2 for 5 with a double. However, the first two times he came to bat, the results were less than ideal. In the first inning, Malave grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. OK, that's not too bad, but in the fourth inning he grounded into a 5-4-3 triple play. So yeah, five trips to the plate, three total bases and six total outs. He did score one run and have one RBI.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Reds, 6-4.

Jorge Soler went 0 for 3 with a walk, but more importantly played the entire game in right field. Eloy Jimenez made his stateside debut and was 2 for 4 with a double. Gleybar Torres was 3 for 3 with a walk.