Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 2

The Dominican Summer League started today. I don’t link to it because the majority of those players not only won’t make the majors (that’s true of all minor leaguers) but won’t even make it off the island. On top of that, the level of competition there is so uneven that stats don’t even matter. With no video or even publicly-available scouting reports, the numbers from the games are more misleading than anything else. The good ones will become known in due time. But if you really want to torture yourself, the numbers are available on milb.com. Or, fly down to the Dominican Republic and send me back some pictures and video.

Don’t worry, I’m going to have a Player and Pitcher of the Month vote. But we don’t like to do these things on weekends when traffic is low.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were beaten by the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Brewers), 14-11.

Stats shouldn’t count in Colorado Springs.

OK, because someone will complain if I don’t, Duane Underwood Jr. started this game and allowed four runs on five hits over 3.1 innings. He struck out four and walked one. Underwood also hit one batter.

The loss went to Shea Simmons, who gave up four runs on three hits in just one inning. Simmons struck out two and walked one. He also hit one batter. Three of the runs he allowed came after he left the game and Justin Hancock gave up a grand slam to Kyle Wren, but it’s only fair since Simmons allowed two runners he inherited from Anthony Bass to score.

Shortstop Ryan Court was 2 for 5 with a walk. He scored one run and drove in two.

Catcher Taylor Davis was 2 for 3 with two walks and three runs scored.

Left fielder Bijan Rademacher went 3 for 5. He scored one run and drove in one.

Third baseman Chesny Young went 2 for 5 with two runs batted in and one scored.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were put out by the Mobile BayBears (Angels), 1-0.

Great start tonight by Oscar De La Cruz, but Jared Walsh connected for a solo home run off of him in the fifth inning and that was it for the offense in this game. De La Cruz went six innings and allowed one run on just three hits. He struck out seven and walked just one.

The Smokies managed just three hits tonight. Jason Vosler was 1 for 3 with a double and an intentional walk.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans burned the Down East Wood Ducks (Rangers), 6-2.

Birds starter Keegan Thompson (who you may get a chance to vote for on Tuesday) got his third win after allowing just one run on two hits over 6.1 innings. Thompson struck out four and walked three.

Jordan Minch relieved Casey Bloomquist with the bases loaded and two out in the eighth inning and he got a fly out to end the threat. Minch put runners on the corners with one out in the ninth, but a 5-4-3 ended the game and got Minch his first save of the season. The final line on Minch was one hit and one walk over 1.1 innings. He struck out one.

Catcher P.J. Higgins hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning to open the scoring. It was Higgins’ second blast of the season. He was 2 for 3 with a sac fly and three total RBI.

Second baseman Andruw Monasterio was 2 for 3 with a walk and one run scored.

First baseman Austin Upshaw was 2 for 4 and scored once.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs capsized the Lake County Captains (Indians), 3-0.

Jesus Camargo, Brendan King and Brian Glowicki combined on the five-hit shutout. Camargo pitched six innings and gave up four of those hits. He struck out five and didn’t walk anyone.

The win went to King, who allowed one hit over two innings. He struck out four and did not issue a walk.

Glowicki pitched a perfect ninth with three groundouts. Yes, I’m very impressed that these three pitchers did not walk anyone tonight.

Catcher Miguel Amaya broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run in the seventh inning, his eighth this year. Amaya went 2 for 3.

One inning later, Jared Young hit a pinch-hit two-run home run. It was Young’s fifth of the year.