Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 6

If you haven't read about the Myrtle Beach Pelicans giveaway tomorrow, go check it out now. That is, unless you don't want a chance to win a trip to Myrtle Beach.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were grounded by the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals), 7-2.

Let me just give you one line from starter Carlos Pimentel. One strikeout, eight walks. Pimentel gave up six runs in three innings, although only two of the six runs were earned thanks to errors by third baseman Javier Baez and first baseman Christian Villanueva. Pimentel only allowed two hits, so there's that.

Yoervis Medina pitched two perfect innings of relief, striking out two.

All of Iowa's runs came on a two-run home run by Baez in the eighth inning, his eighth on the year. Baez was 2 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were subjugated by the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 4-3.

Starter Jeffry Antigua pitched 3.2 innings and allowed three runs on eight hits. He struck out two and walked one.

Andres Santiago relieved Antigua in the fourth inning and got out of a two-on, two-out jam with a strikeout. But then he allowed a double to lead off the fifth inning, and that runner scored on a single two batters later and Santiago got the loss. His final line on the night was allowing one run on three hits over 2.1 innings. He struck out two and walked one.

Catcher Willson Contreras continued his hot streak by going 2 for 4 with a two-run single in the first inning. Right fielder Billy McKinney was 2 for 4 and doubled home Contreras in the first.

Shortstop Elliot Soto was 2 for 5.

The Lookouts won, so the Smokies fell one game out of first with nine to play.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans dropped a doubleheader to the Carolina Mudcats (Braves), 1-0 and 4-2.

Tyler Skulina started game one, gave up a solo home run with two outs in the first inning, and that was pretty much ballgame. Skulina was great otherwise, going six innings and allowing just three hits and a walk. Skulina struck out eight.

Catcher Victor Caratini was 2 for 3 with a double. That was two of the Pelicans four hits.

In game two, Fernando Cruz waited until the fifth inning to give up his solo home run. Cruz allowed two runs on only two hits over five innings. One of the runs was even unearned. Cruz struck out four and walked three.

Juan Paniagua pitched the final two innings and got the loss after allowing hits to the first three batters he faced, including a triple. Paniagua allowed two runs on four hits over two innings. He struck out one and walked no one.

Right fielder Mark Zagunis was 1 for 2 with a walk and a stolen base in game two. He scored twice.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs arrested the Quad City River Bandits (Cardinals), 2-1.

Jeremy Null improved his record to 6-1 after giving up just one run on five hits over six innings. Null struck out four and, of course, walked nobody.

James Farris pitched the ninth and notched his league-leading eighth save. He allowed a leadoff single, but erased him the next batter with a double play. A ground out to second base ended the game.

First baseman Cael Brockmeyer tied the game 1-1 with a solo home run in the fourth inning. It was his fourth home run of the season. Brockmeyer was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Second baseman Andrew Ely un-tied the game with an RBI single in the fifth, scoring Charcer Burks. Both Ely and Burks were 1 for 4.

Third baseman Jason Vosler was 2 for 4 with a double.

Once the dark spot in the Cubs system, the SB Cubs have now won 7 of 8. Probably too late for the first half, but they're building momentum for the second half.