Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 2

Congratulations to Kyle Schwarber, your choice for the BCB Minor League Player of the Month for May! There were a ton of good candidates last month, but it's hard to argue that Schwarber didn't outshine them all

You still have time to vote for the BCB Minor League Pitcher of the Month.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs blitzed the Albuquerque Isotopes (Rockies), 9-3.

Donn Roach turned in another solid outing as he allowed only one run over six innings, and that came on a fourth-inning home run by Matt McBride. Roach surrendered five hits total and walked only one. Roach is pretty much the perfect starter for Albuquerque as he induced ten outs on the ground and only one through the air. Roach struck out two. He's now 6-0 on the season.

With speculation swirling about a possible call-up, shortstop Javier Baez hit two home runs tonight and both of them were crushed. The first was a two-run smash to dead center field in the seventh inning and the second also came with a man on and was crushed over the fence in left-center. Baez was 4 for 5 tonight. Despite the late start to the season, Baez already has seven home runs this year.

Center fielder Arismendy Alcantara hit the first I-Cubs home run tonight, a solo shot in the third inning to make it 2-0. It was Alcantara's eighth blast of the year. Alcantara was 3 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored all four times he reached base.

Third baseman Christian Villanueva also got in on the act with a two-run home run in the fifth inning. Villanueva was 2 for 5.

Left fielder Adron Chambers was 4 for 5 with a double. He scored twice and had one RBI.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies blindsided the Chattanooga Lookouts (Twins), 9-3.

Starter Frank Batista improved his record to 6-1 after allowing two runs on six hits over 5.2 innings. Batista allowed both runs on a home run in the fourth inning to Adam Brett Walker. Batista walked three and struck out two.

Tayler Scott pitched 3.1 innings in relief and allowed only one baserunner: a solo home run to Adam Brett Walker in the ninth inning. Scott struck out three. It was his third save of the season and first in Double-A.

Wes Darvill entered the game at first base in the third inning when Anthony Giansanti left with an injury after running out a grounder. In the fourth inning, Darvill hit his first home run of the season with a man on. Darvill was a perfect 3 for 3 with a double four RBI tonight.

Albert Almora was 3 for 5 with a double and two runs scored.

With the win, the Smokies get to within a game of first place, although they are two back of Chattanooga in the loss column.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans dropped two games against the Potomac Nationals. They lost the continuation of yesterday's suspended game 4-3 in 11 innings and they lost the regularly-scheduled game 4-3.

In game one, Jen-Ho Tseng started and gave up two runs on ten hits over 5.1 innings. Tseng walked one and struck out one.

Jasvir Rakkar blew a save in the bottom of the tenth inning yesterday, although it sounds like that was due in part to wet grounds. But Rakkar started today where the game left off and allowed three singles in the bottom of the 11th to take the loss. Rakkar threw 1.2 innings and allowed two runs on six hits. Rakkar struck out two and walked no one.

DH Chesny Young was 2 for 4 with a walk and a steal in yesterday's game. He scored twice. Right fielder Mark Zagunis was 2 for 5 with a walk and scored Myrtle Beach's other run. Center fielder Pin-Chieh Chen was 2 for 4 with a walk and a steal.

In game two, the Pelicans wasted a strong start by Jonathan Martinez, who allowed a run on a solo home run in the fifth inning but nothing else. Martinez pitched five innings and allowed one run on five hits. He struck out six and walked no one.

The Pelicans took a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth on a single by Zagunis, but the Pelicans coughed it back up in the bottom of the inning when Zach Cates allowed two unearned runs after an error by catcher Victor Caratini. Cates pitched one inning and allowed two unearned runs on three hits. He struck out one and walked no one.

Third baseman Jeimer Candelario was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. First baseman Jacob Rogers was 2 for 3 with an RBI single that scored Candelario in the second inning.

Caratini was 2 for 4 and scored once.

South Bend Cubs

Off-day. They take on Cedar Rapids at home tomorrow.