Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 10

Some movement in the Cubs system today. Outfielder Daniel Spingola went from High-A Myrtle Beach to Double-A Tennessee. Outfielder Zach Davis went from low-A South Bend to Myrtle Beach.

Iowa Cubs first baseman Efren Navarro has signed with the Hanshin Tigers of NPB. Good luck to him over there. Beat the Yomiuri Giants.

A mini-sweep tonight.

Iowa Cubs

Rained out. They’ll play a doubleheader on Monday starting at 9:30 am. So go have brunch at Principal Park.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies usurped the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 3-2.

Duncan Robinson was absolutely dominating today, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning. His final line was one unearned run on two hits over six innings. Robinson struck out a career-high 11 and didn’t walk anyone, although he did hit one batter.

The win went to Zach Hedges, who pitched the final two innings without allowing a run. He gave up one hit and no walks while striking out three.

Along with Jake Stinnett (who gave up the other run on a solo home run to the first batter he faced after relieving Robinson in the seventh), the three Smokies pitchers struck out 15 and didn’t walk anyone.

Shortstop Zack Short hit a two-out, walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to score Trent Giambrone with the winning run. Short was 1 for 4 and Giambrone was 2 for 4.

Third baseman Jason Vosler was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. DH Vimael Machin was 2 for 4 and scored once.

Here’s Short’s walk-off single.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans won their ninth-straight game, 4-3 over the Salem Red Sox.

Erick Leal got his first start of the season and was great, throwing four innings of no-hit, no run baseball. The only baserunner he allowed was a two-out walk in the second inning. Leal struck out four.

Because Leal didn’t go five innings, the win went to Casey Bloomquist. Bloomquist relieved Leal and gave up two runs on four hits over three innings. He walked one and struck out two and while he didn’t pitch poorly, he was a great example of the silliness of the “starter must go five innings” rule for wins, especially in the minor leagues.

Jhon Romero pitched the final two innings and got his fourth save. Romero allowed one unearned run on four hits. He struck out three and didn’t walk anyone.

Shortstop Andruw Monasterio was 2 for 5 with one run scored. DH Kevonte Mitchell went 1 for 3 with an RBI double and a walk.

Highlights:

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs calmed the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers), 5-4.

South Bend starter Javier Assad gave up four runs in his five-inning start, but all four of the runs were unearned. Assad struck out four and walked one.

After Manuel Rondon tossed two perfect innings of relief while striking out four, the win went to Jeffrey Passantino, who pitched the eighth and ninth innings while allowing just one baserunner, a two-out single in the eighth. Passantino struck out three.

Catcher Miguel Amaya (who may end up as the Cubs’ top prospect by the time the season is over) hit his ninth home run of the year with the bases empty in the sixth. Amaya was 1 for 4.

DH Michael Cruz was 3 for 4 with an RBI double in the first inning and an RBI single that tied the score in the top of the eighth.

First baseman Jared Young was 2 for 5 with a double. He had two runs scored and one RBI.

Left fielder Roberto Caro was 1 for 2 with three walks and two steals. Also one caught stealing. Caro scored once.

Second baseman Christian Donahue led off the top of the ninth with a walk and would later score what turned out to be the winning run on a passed ball. He was 0 for 3.