Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 1

Some outfield moves around the system today. The Iowa Cubs got some reinforcements as outfielder Trey Martin was promoted to Triple-A for the first time and Chris Coghlan was activated off the disabled list where he had been all season. (Coghlan had played 8 rehab games in Arizona.)

Taking Martin’s place in Tennessee was outfielder Connor Myers and taking Martin’s place was South Bend outfielder Roberto Caro. Zach Davis, who started the season in South Bend before a promotion to Myrtle Beach on June 10, heads back down to South Bend.

Also, Tennessee outfielder Daniel Spingola and Eugene third baseman Ramsey Romano were released.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs lost a doubleheader to the Memphis Redbirds, losing the completion of Saturday’s game 13-2 and today’s regularly-scheduled game 6-1.

Eddie Butler started the first game yesterday on a rehab assignment and gave up three runs on two hits and a walk in one inning. The two hits were an RBI triple to Luke Volt and a two-run home run to Tyler O’Neill. Butler did strike out two. He threw 32 pitches, 17 for strikes.

Left fielder Mark Zagunis went 1 for 4 with an RBI double.

Game two didn’t go much better as Duane Underwood Jr. went 5.2 innings and allowed four runs on 11 hits. The good news is that he struck out seven and only walked one. The other good news is that he allowed his runs in the third, fourth and sixth inning rather than the first-inning jitters he’s had in the past.

Iowa only had three hits in game two. Third baseman Jason Vosler was 1 for 3 with an RBI single.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies clouded over the Chattanooga Lookouts (Twins), 5-3.

Duncan Robinson turned in a strong start and improved his record to 5-1. Robinson allowed just two runs, one earned, on six hits over six innings. He struck out six and walked two.

Jake Stinnett pitched a perfect ninth inning for his fourth save. He struck out one and did not walk anyone.

The Smokies had a pair of solo home runs in this game. Right fielder Eddy Martinez hit his fifth home run this season in the fourth inning to tie the game up at 2-2. Martinez went 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.

One inning later, DH Charcer Burks gave the Smokies the lead for good with his third home run this year. Burks went 1 for 4 with a walk.

Catcher Ian Rice had a pair of doubles in a 2 for 4 game. Rice had one RBI and one run scored.

With the win, the Smokies improve their second-half record to 6-4 and go into a three-way tie for first place in their division. Normally I wouldn’t mention this, but with Iowa, Myrtle Beach and Eugene all in last place, I thought highlighting some good news was in order. (South Bend is in 4th, but that’s good enough for a Wild Card if the season ended today.)

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans vetoed the Potomac Nationals, 6-1.

Starter Bryan Hudson struggled with control again today, as he is known to do. But unlike in previous starts, he didn’t let it cost the team as he pitched out of bases-loaded jams in both the second and third inning without letting a run score.

The final line on Hudson was 4+ scoreless innings, surrendering three hits. Hudson walked four and hit two more batters. He struck out two.

Because Hudson did not go five innings, the win went to Ryan Kellogg in relief. Kellogg allowed one run on two hits over 3.1 innings. He struck out two and didn’t walk anyone, although he did hit one more batter.

Right fielder Luis Ayala went 3 for 4 and scored once.

First baseman Austin Upshaw was 1 for 3 with a triple and a walk. He also scored one run.

Shortstop Aramis Ademan went 2 for 5 with two runs batted in.

DH Jhonny Pereda was 2 for 4. He drove in one run and scored once.

Highlights:

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs fell to the Dayton Dragons (Reds), 5-2.

Javier Assad started and got the loss. Assad allowed four runs on five hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out six and walked one.

South Bend banged out 11 hits today but could only get two runs after going 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position.

Right fielder Brandon Hughes was 2 for 4 with a sacrifice fly.

Left fielder Jared Young was 2 for 5 with a double.

Shortstop Rafael Narea went 2 for 5.

First baseman Austin Filiere went 2 for 4 and scored once.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds swept a doubleheader from the Everett AquaSox (Mariners), 3-1 and 2-1.

Brailyn Marquez was terrific in game one. He went six innings and gave up just two hits, one of which was a solo home run in the fourth inning. Marquez struck out eight and walked just one.

Here’s some video of Marquez’s outing today.

Luis Aquino pitched the seventh inning and go the save. A two-out walk was the only baserunner. He did not strike anyone out as Marquez had done enough of that for one seven-inning game.

DH Nelson Vazquez hit his second home run of the season with the bases empty in the second inning. Vazquez went 1 for 2.

Here’s that home run. It was a blast to center.

Shortstop Nico Hoerner went 2 for 3. He tripled in the sixth inning and then scored the third run of the game on a wild pitch.

Second-round pick Paul Richan made his professional debut in game two and it was an impressive performance. Although it was only two innings, he gave up just one baserunner (a two-out single in the first) and he struck out five batters in those two innings.

Sean Berry got the win in game two, pitching 2.2 innings and allowing one unearned run on three hits. He walked two and struck out one.

After Berry retired the first two batters in the ninth, he got into trouble with a walk and a single. Berry then exited for Eugenio Palma, who got a line out to center field on the only batter he faced to end the game and get the save.

Hoerner was the DH in game two and he was a perfect 1 for 1 with two walks. He also stole two bases, scored once and drove in one.

AZL Cubs

Cubs 1 were losing to Giants Orange, 4-1 in the sixth inning.

Cubs 2 were beating Padres 2, 6-2 in the fifth inning.