Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 17

Spent the evening at my daughter’s tap dancing performance.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs caught the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 8-1.

Aaron Brooks was terrific tonight as he allowed just one run, on a home run to Bubba Starling, as he got his fourth win. Brooks went seven innings and gave up just four hits. He struck out six and walked one.

The I-Cubs scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back. Catcher Victor Caratini plated the first run with an RBI single, scoring center fielder Jacob Hannemann. Caratini was 3 for 4 tonight and had three RBI. He scored in the first inning when the next batter, second baseman Stephen Bruno, hit a two-run double. Bruno was 1 for 4.

Hannemann was 2 for 5 with a stolen base. He scored twice.

Right fielder Mark Zagunis hit a two-run home run in the third inning, his tenth of the season. Zagunis was 2 for 5 and he scored twice.

In his return to Principal Park, Storm Chaser Jorge Soler was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were spotted by the Chattanooga Lookouts (Twins), 7-5.

Jen-Ho Tseng started and took the loss. Tseng pitched six innings and allowed seven runs on seven hits. However, the four runs he allowed in the sixth inning were all unearned, thanks to a pair of Smokies errors. Tseng struck out five and walked two.

DH Ian Rice hit a two-run home run in the second inning. It was Rice’s ninth this season. Rice was 2 for 4.

The next batter after Rice, shortstop Carlos Penalver, went back-to-back with his second home run of the season. Penalver was 1 for 4.

Center fielder Trey Martin was 3 for 5 with a double and an RBI.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans carved the Down East Wood Ducks (Rangers), 4-2 in ten innings.

Starter Ryan Kellogg pitched six innings and gave up one run on just three hits. He walked three and struck out four.

Pedro Araujo, who was named to the Carolina League All-Star Game today, blew a save when he gave up a run in the bottom of the eighth inning. In fairness to Araujo, the run was unearned. His final line was two innings pitched, allowing an unearned run on one hit. He struck out four and did not walk anyone.

Scott Effross pitched the bottom of the tenth and got the save. Effross put two men on with a walk and a single after one out. But he retired the next two batters to end the threat. He struck out one.

Pinch-hitter Bryant Flete broke the 2-2 tie with an RBI single in the top of the tenth, although he was thrown out trying for second on the play. The next batter, Trent Giambrone, then added an insurance run with a solo home run, his seventh of the season. Giambrone was 2 for 4 with a walk.

First baseman Matt Rose hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning to give the Birds a temporary 2-1 lead. It was his 11th blast of the season. Rose was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Andruw Monasterio was 2 for 4. He led off the game with a double and then later scored in the top of the first.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were sunk by the Lake County Captains (Indians), 5-3 in ten innings.

Jose Paulino pitched the first six innings and allowed just two runs on three hits. Both runs scored on a pair of solo home runs by leadoff hitter Junior Soto. Paulino struck out seven and walked nobody.

Wyatt Short pitched the final two innings and took the loss. Short allowed three runs on two more home runs. Soto tied the game 3-3 in the top of the ninth on his third home run of the game, although it was a controversial one in which the umpires reversed their initial call of a triple. Soto had two home runs all season coming into tonight’s contest. He’d never hit more than two home runs in an entire season before.

Then in the tenth, Short gave up a two-run blast to Logan Ice. The final line on Short was three runs on five hits in two innings. He struck out one, walked one and hit one.

Right fielder Chris Pieters was a perfect 3 for 3 with two walks. He stole one base and scored once.

Catcher Jhonny Pereda was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He also scored one run.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds beat the Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays), 4-2.

Ems starter Bailey Clark went 3.2 innings and allowed two runs on just two hits. He walked two and struck out four.

Yapson Gomez took over for Clark and got the win after pitching 3.1 innings and not allowing a hit. He did walk one while striking out four.

Michael Knighton pitched the final two innings and got the save. He gave up just one hit. Knighton struck out one and didn’t walk anyone.

The Ems took their first lead of the season when they scored three runs in the sixth inning. DH Gustavo Polanco hit a two-run double to tie the score at 2-2. Polanco was 2 for 4. He later scored on a two-out double by catcher Jhonny Bethencourt, who was 1 for 4.

First baseman Miguel Amaya was 2 for 4 with an RBI single in the seventh inning. He also scored on the Polanco double.