Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 18

Happy Father’s Day!

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs drenched the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 16-3.

Casey Kelly started and cruised to an easy win, giving up just one run over six innings. Kelly allowed eight hits (including a solo home run for the only run he allowed) and walked just one. He struck out six.

The I-Cubs hit two home runs in the eighth inning off Royals reliever Brian Flynn on a rehab assignment. Left fielder John Andreoli hit his fifth of the year with two men on in the eighth inning. Andreoli was 2 for 4 with a double and four total RBI. He was also hit by a pitch once.

Later in the eighth inning, third baseman Jeimer Candelario hit his eighth of the season with a man on. Candelario went 2 for 4 with a double and two walks. Candelario scored three times.

Shortstop Elliot Soto went 4 for 5 with a double and three RBI. Soto scored twice.

Center fielder Jacob Hannemann was 2 for 6 with a double and a nice catch on defense. Hannemann scored twice and had two RBI.

Right fielder Bijan Rademacher was 2 for 5 with a double and a walk. He scored twice and had two runs batted in.

Second baseman Stephen Bruno went 2 for 4 with a double and he was hit by a pitch. Bruno scored one run and drove one in.

Catcher Taylor Davis went 2 for 5 with one RBI. He scored twice.

DH Mark Zagunis was 0 for 3, but he walked three times which is such a Zagunis thing to do. He scored twice.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies got badly burned by the Chattanooga Lookouts (Twins), 10-2.

Starter Preston Morrison got hammered for six runs on seven hits over six innings. Morrison struck out four and walked one.

Both of the Smokies’ runs came on solo home runs. Third baseman Jason Vosler tied the game at 1-1 with his home run in the bottom of the first inning. It was his 13th of the year. Vosler was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Catcher Cael Brockmeyer added his fourth home run of the year in the seventh inning. He was also 1 for 3 with a walk.

First baseman Kevin Cornelius went 2 for 3.

The Smokies finish the first half with a 36-33 record

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans stopped the Down East Wood Ducks (Rangers), 8-3.

It was a bullpen game as starter Casey Bloomquist went three innings and allowed two runs on four hits. He walked one and didn’t have a strikeout.

The win went to Dakota Mekkes, who relieved Bloomquist and tossed two innings without allowing a hit. He did walk one and he struck out two.

Third baseman Jesse Hodges gave the Pelicans a 1-0 lead with his sixth home run of the season. Hodges also doubled in a 2 for 4 game. He scored twice.

Left fielder Eloy Jimenez extended the lead in the third inning with a two-run home run. It was Jimenez’s seventh home run in just 28 games this season. He was 1 for 4.

Second baseman Bryant Flete went 2 for 5. He drove in one and scored once.

DH Daniel Spingola was 2 for 4 with one run scored and one RBI.

Catcher Tyler Alamo was 2 for 3 with a double and he scored twice.

The Pelicans finished the first half with a record of 43-27. They ran away with the first-half title, finishing six games above Buies Creek. They finished strong, going 16-2 in June so far.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs mutinied the Lake County Captains (Indians), 9-3.

Bryan Hudson cruised to his first win of the season, allowing just one run on six hits over six innings. He struck out five and walked one.

DH Isaac Paredes gave South Bend and early 2-0 lead when he hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. It was his fourth blast of the season. Paredes also had an RBI double in the sixth inning. He was 2 for 4 with a walk.

Third baseman Vimael Machin hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning, his fifth of the year. Machin went 1 for 5 with three RBI.

South Bend finishes the first half at 39-30 and in third place.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds evened their season record up to 2-2 with a 6-1 win over the Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays).

Enrique De Los Rios started and got the win. He allowed just one run on three hits (really on a fifth-inning solo home run) over five innings. He struck out five and walked just one.

Luis Aquino got the three-inning save. The only baserunner he allowed came on a one-out walk in the ninth. Aquino struck out four.

First baseman Gustavo Polanco scored the first run of the game on a solo home run in the second inning. Polanco went 2 for 3 with two RBI. He also reached after getting hit by a pitch.

Second baseman Jhonny Bethencourt went 3 for 4 with a double and one run scored.

Third baseman Rafael Narea was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored twice and drove home one.

Left fielder Joe Martarano was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Center fielder Zach Davis was 2 for 4 with a double and two runs batted in.