Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 25

There were a bunch of moves in the system today. RHP James Norwood, RHP Craig Brooks and infielder Jason Vosler were promoted from Tennessee to Iowa. RHP Zach Hedges was sent from Iowa to Tennessee. Infielder Christian Donahue was sent back from Iowa to South Bend and RHP Shae Simmons was placed on waivers.

LHP Wyatt Short went from Myrtle Beach to Tennessee and LHP Manuel Rondon went from South Bend to the Pelicans.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs cut the New Orleans Baby Cakes (Marlins), 4-3.

The Cubs went with a bullpen game tonight since scheduled starter Duane Underwood Jr. was otherwise occupied. Brad Markey started and he allowed three runs on five hits over 2.2 innings. Two of those five hits were solo home runs—one in the second inning to Scott Van Slyke and one in the third to Garrett Cooper. Markey struck out two and walked one.

The official scorer seems to have awarded the win to Alberto Baldonado, even though Craig Brooks was the pitcher in the lineup when Iowa took the lead for good. Just in case the decision gets changed, Brooks pitched 1.2 innings and allowed no runs and one hit. He did walk three and he only struck out one, but I’ve never seen a win taken away from a pitcher who didn’t allow a run before. Brooks also had an RBI single, plating what turned out to be the game-winning run. It was Brooks’ first professional hit.

Baldonado was the more effective pitcher, however, giving up just one hit and no runs over 1.2 innings. Baldonado struck out two and walked no one.

Dakota Mekkes pitched the final two innings and got his first ever Triple-A save. Mekkes allowed two hits, both singles in the ninth inning, but no runs. He struck out two and did not walk anyone.

Ryan Court was the fourth batter of the game and he hit a three-run home run in that first inning. It was Court’s sixth home run this year. He was 1 for 4.

Catcher Victor Caratini was 2 for 4 and scored on the Court home run.

Vosler was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in his Triple-A debut.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies mauled the Mobile BayBears (Angels), 11-3.

Duncan Robinson cruised to his fourth win, allowing just one run on five hits over six innings. Robinson struck out four and walked no one.

Left fielder Eddy Martinez had a huge night. Martinez hit a two-run single in the second inning and a three-run home run in the seventh for a career-high five RBI. The home run was Martinez’s fourth this year. He was 2 for 4 with two runs scored.

Shortstop Zack Short was 2 for 5 with a three-run triple in the fourth inning. Short scored once.

Second baseman Trent Giambrone was 2 for 5 with a double and two steals. Giambrone scored twice.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Rained out at home. Doubleheader on Tuesday.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were swept away by the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers), 4-2.

This game was all about Yu Darvish, who went five innings and 57 pitches (41 strikes) in a rehab start. Darvish allowed just one run on a solo home run in the third inning and three hits total. He struck out five and walked no one.

After the start, Darvish said he was “fatigued” after the game, although he gave his night a “12 out of 10” because he was only supposed to pitch four innings and he went five

Also:

It’s tradition for a rehabbing major leaguer to buy dinner for his minor league teammates, but usually it’s not steak and lobster from Ruth’s Chris, nor do they usually buy it for the opposing team.

Javier Assad pitched the next three innings and got the loss when third baseman Austin Filiere threw away what would have been the third out in the eighth inning, leading to two more runs, The final line on Assad was three runs, all unearned, on four hits over three innings. Assad struck out one, walked two and hit one batter.

Catcher Miguel Amaya was 2 for 5 with a double and both South Bend RBI.

Shortstop Delvin Zinn was 3 for 4.

Right fielder Roberto Caro was 2 for 5 with two steals. He also scored one run.

First baseman Jared Young was 2 for 4.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds were swept by the Boise Hawks (Rockies), 7-2.

It wasn’t a good start for Jose Albertos, who didn’t make it out of the third inning. Albertos was touched for for five runs on two hits and four walks over 2.2 innings. He struck out three. Of the 58 pitches Albertos threw in this game, just 27 of them were strikes.

First baseman Rafael Mejia went 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. That was two of Eugene’s four hits. At least they walked six times.

AZL Cubs

Cubs 1 beat the Indians, 5-4.

Cubs 2 were off.