Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 24

I thought I would be miserable going to my daughter’s piano recital rather than watching baseball today. Turns out, I made the right call.

Yu Darvish will make a rehab assignment start in South Bend on Monday.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were shut out by the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Rockies), 2-0. It was the second straight game that Iowa was shut out and the eighth time this season.

Don’t blame starter Kyle Ryan, who got the loss after he gave up a third-inning solo home run to Quintin Berry. That was one of just three hits Ryan allowed over five innings. Ryan struck out three and walked one.

Zach Hedges pitched the other four innings and allowed one run on two hits and two walks. He struck out three.

Iowa had three hits today, all singles.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were shut out by the Mobile BayBears (Angels), 9-0.

Matt Swarmer started and gave up three runs in the bottom of the first inning and it was pretty much over after that. The final line on Swarmer was five runs on seven hits over five innings. He struck out six and walked two.

The Smokies had two hits. Ian Rice was 1 for 2 with a double and a walk. The double was the only hit the Smokies got of starter Jesus Castillo, whom the Cubs traded to the Angels in 2016 for reliever Joe Smith.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans spit a doubleheader with the Lynchburg Hillcats (Indians) winning game one 5-3. In game two, the Birds were shut out 8-0.

Erich Uelmen started game one and he got his first High-A win in his first start for the Pelicans. Uelmen went 5.1 innings and allowed three runs on five hits. But really, he gave up three runs on that three-run home run that Li-Jen Chu hit off him in the sixth inning. That was the last batter Uelmen faced. He walked two and struck out two.

Erick Leal pitched the final 1.2 innings and he got his first save since 2013. Leal allowed two hits. He struck out one and did not walk anyone, although he did hit one batter.

DH P.J. Higgins had a sacrifice fly in the first inning and a two-run double to drive in three runs. He was 1 for 3.

In game two, starter Casey Bloomquist got the loss after he surrendered two runs on four hits over 3.1 innings. He walked three and struck out four.

The Pelicans had three hits in game two.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs swept a four-game series with the Dayton Dragons (Reds), 10-4. South Bend is now 4-0 and tied for first place in the second-half.

Starter Erling Moreno only lasted four innings and he allowed three runs on seven hits. Moreno did strike out five and he only walked one.

Because Moreno didn’t go five innings, the win went to Brendan King, who, in all honesty, pitched better anyway. King gave up just one run on one hit and one walk over three innings of relief. King also struck out five and walked just one.

In the fifth inning, left fielder Chris Carrier hit a grand slam, which is not only his second home run of the season but his second grand slam of the season. Carrier was 2 for 5 with an RBI double in the second inning, giving him five RBI on the day. Carrier scored twice.

In the third inning, Miguel Amaya hit his tenth home run of the year with the bases empty. Amaya was 1 for 3 with two walks. He scored twice.

Center fielder Chris Singleton had a pair of doubles and a sacrifice fly in a 2 for 3 game. Singleton scored one run and had just the one run batted in.

Third baseman Austin Filiere went 3 for 5. He drove home one run and scored one himself.

Second baseman Cam Balego was 3 for 5 with a double. He scored twice and had one RBI.

Eugene Emeralds.

The Eugene Emeralds were scratched by the Boise Hawks (Rockies), 5-1.

Brailyn Marquez started and allowed four runs on four hits over 3.1 innings. However, three of those runs scored in the first inning after an error by catcher Jonathan Soto and they were all unearned. Marquez struck out six and walked one.

With two out in the bottom of the ninth, third baseman Ramsey Romano scored on a wild pitch to prevent the fourth shutout in the Cubs system today. Romano was 0 for 3 with a walk.

Center fiedler Fernando Kelli was 2 for 5 with two steals. Kelli already has seven steals this season in just ten games..

Luis Diaz entered the game as a pinch runner when Luis Vazquez left with an apparent injury. Diaz stayed in the game and was 2 for 3 with a double.

Right fielder Jonathan Sierra went 2 for 4. First baseman Gustavo Polanco was 2 for 4 with a double.

AZL Cubs

Cubs 2 were losing to the Padres 3-1 in the fourth inning.

Cubs 1 had the day off.