Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 29

The Emeralds got some reinforcements today as first-round pick SS Nico Hoerner, second-round pick RHP Paul Richan, 15th-round pick 1B Tyler Durna and 18th-round pick 3B Jake Slaughter were all assigned to Eugene today. The three position players all started today.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs couldn’t fly with the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals), 6-2.

Alec Mills started and gave up all six runs on seven hits over 6.2 innings. Mills struck out five and walked one. He also hit one batter.

Carl Edwards Jr. made a rehab appearance in this game. Edwards faced four batters in the eighth inning, tossing 19 pitches. The first batter singled off of him. The runner went to second on a wild pitch, but Edwards then struck out the next two batters. After a walk to the fourth batter, he left the game.

Center fielder Lane Adams was 2 for 4 with a double.

Catcher Taylor Davis went 2 for 4 and scored once.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies couldn’t hide from the Chattanooga Lookouts (Twins), 7-2.

Starter Oscar De La Cruz had some major control issues tonight and he got the loss. De La Cruz only lasted three innings and he gave up three runs on just three hits. But De La Cruz walked two batters, hit three batters and unfurled two wild pitches. That he only allowed three runs is a pretty major accomplishment. De La Cruz struck out one.

Both Smokies runs came on a two-run home run by second baseman Trent Giambrone in the fourth inning. It was his 11th home run this year. Giambrone was 2 for 4.

Right fielder Jeffrey Baez went 2 for 4 with a double.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were shut out by the Buies Creek Astros, 2-0. It was the Pelicans’ second-straight shutout and sixth-straight loss. They’ve been shut out four times in that six-game losing streak and have scored five runs total in the last six games.

Cory Abbott gave up a solo home run to the third hitter of the game and he did not allow another run in his six innings of work. Of course, that was still enough to get him tagged with the loss. Abbott allowed just three hits. He walked three and struck out seven.

The Pelicans had four hits, all singles.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs pierced the Dayton Dragons (Reds), 4-1.

Starter Rollie Lacy kept the Dragons in check for five innings, giving up no runs and just three hits. Lacy struck out seven, walked four and hit one batter.

The Dragons took a 1-0 lead off of reliever Yapson Gomez in the top of the eighth inning. Ben Hecht relieved Gomez after one run had scored and there were runners on first and second with one out. Hecht retired the next to batters on fly outs and got the win when South Bend struck for four runs in the bottom of the inning. Hecht stayed in the game and pitched a perfect ninth inning, striking out two.

Right fielder Brandon Hughes doubled with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead. Hughes was 1 for 4 and later scored in the inning.

Shortstop Rafael Narea was 2 for 4 and singled home Chris Singleton from third base after Hughes’ double.

Second baseman Delvin Zinn was 2 for 3 and scored on the Hughes double.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds lost their seventh-straight game, 4-3 to the Everett AquaSox (Mariners) in ten innings.

Jeffrey Passantino started and tossed four scoreless innings. Passantino allowed just two hits. That line would be more impressive if he hadn’t walked four and struck out one.

Jake Steffens got the loss after allowing the runner who started the tenth inning on second base to score. Steffens pitched 1.1 innings and gave up the one unearned run on two hits and a walk. He did pitch out of a bases-loaded, no out jam after the first run scored. Steffens struck out the next two batters and then got a fly out to end the inning.

Catcher Jonathan Soto was 2 for 3 with a two-run double in the second inning. He also walked once.

First baseman Tyler Durma tripled and scored on a wild pitch in the fourth inning. Durma was 2 for 4 in his Northwest League debut.

Hoerner went 1 for 4 and was hit by a pitch in his debut. Slaughter was 1 for 3 with a walk. He scored on Soto’s double.

AZL Cubs

Cubs 1 was off.

Cubs 2 beat the Brewers, 7-1.