Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 11

Congratulations to catcher P.J. Higgins, who was promoted from High-A Myrtle Beach to Double-A Tennessee. Higgins was hitting .289/.381/.401 this year in Myrtle Beach.

Additionally, the Cubs sent first-round pick Nico Hoerner from Eugene to South Bend.

Iowa Cubs

The Pacific Coast League All-Stars beat the International League All-Stars, 12-7.

Iowa manager Marty Pevey was the winning manager in this game.

Reliever Alberto Baldonado was the only I-Cub in this game. He faced two batters in the eighth inning, retiring them both. He struck out Kean Wong from the Durham Bulls and the Rays.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies dunked the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 4-2.

Michael Rucker started and got the win. Rucker allowed just one run over six innings and it was unearned. he surrendered just three hits, struck out three and walked no one. He did hit one batter.

Jake Stinnett pitched the ninth inning and gave up a run on a solo home run by Nathaniel Lowe, but he nailed down the save anyway. Stinnett gave up two total hits. He struck out one and walked no one.

DH Trent Giambrone and shortstop Zack Short hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the first inning.

Giambrone’s home run was his 15th of the season, which is three more than he hit all of last season in almost 200 more at-bats. Giambrone went 2 for 3 with a sac fly for two total RBI.

Short’s home run was his 11th. He was 1 for 4.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans deep-fried the Carolina Mudcats (Brewers) 6-3.

Rollie Lacy was strong in his first appearance with the Pelicans, giving up just one unearned run on four hits over 5.1 innings. Lacy struck out seven and walked just one.

Jose Paulino entered the game with the bases loaded and one out in the eight and recorded a five-out save. Paulino allowed one inherited runner to score, but otherwise kept the Mudcats off the board. Paulino gave up one single and no walks in his 1.2 innings. He even erased the guy who singled in the ninth with a game-ending double play, which came after an error put runners on first and second with no one out. He struck out one.

First baseman Jared Young went 2 for 3 with a walk and one run scored. He was also hit by a pitch.

Third baseman Wladimir Galindo was 2 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored.

DH Kevonte Mitchell went 2 for 4 and scored once.

Highlights:

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were bitten by the Beloit Snappers (Athletics), 10-3.

Ryan Lawlor started and got the loss. He allowed four runs on five hits over five innings. Lawlor walked two and struck out two.

Catcher Miguel Amaya hit his 12th home run of the year with the bases empty in the sixth inning. Amaya went 2 for 4.

Center fielder Zach Davis went 2 for 3 with two walks and two steals. Davis scored once.

Second baseman Christian Donahue went 2 for 4.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds were beaten by the Spokane Indians (Rangers), 8-7.

Ninth-round pick Derek Casey made his pro debut in this game, pitching the first two innings and allowing no runs and just one hit. He struck out two and did not walk anyone.

The Ems bullpen blew a 7-1 lead in this game. The chief offender was Carlos Vega, who was rocked for four runs on three walks and a home run over 1.1 innings. (No, it wasn’t a grand slam. The four runs came over two different innings.) But the loss went to Cam Sanders, who loaded the bases on two walks and a single with the game tied 7-7 in the eighth inning. After he exited with two outs, Luis Aquino walked in what proved to be the winning run.

Shortstop Luis Vazquez hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning, his second on the season. He was 1 for 4.

Left fielder Nelson Velazquez came to bat in the third inning with the bases loaded and emptied them with a three-run double. He was 1 for 4.

Catcher Brendon Kaleiwahea went 2 for 4.

AZL Cubs

Cubs 1 lost to Giants Black, 12-5.

Cubs 2 lost to Indians 1, 8-1.