Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 6

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs couldn’t hold a tune against the Nashville Sounds (Athletics), 4-1.

After a one hour and 12 minute rain delay, Duane Underwood Jr. started and took the loss. Underwood pitched five innings allowed four runs: two in the first and two in the fifth. (Underwood’s issues with the first inning and the third time through the order continue.) Underwood gave up five hits, he walked five and he struck out five.

Dillon Maples pitched the seventh inning. He walked three batters and he struck out three batters. No hits and no runs. Two of the strikeouts came after he loaded the bases with walks.

Iowa had four hits in this game, all singles. Second baseman Ryan Court went 1 for 3 with a walk and he scored the lone Iowa run.

Tennessee Smokies

Rained out in Jackson. Doubleheader on Saturday.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

(At the risk of antagonizing the Pelicans, they lost to the Buies Creek Astros 11-0. Erich Uelmen started, walked the first batter of the bottom of the first inning and then left the game after a 52 minute rain delay. Jose Paulino got called in to pitch and he got rocked for 10 runs on 11 hits in 2.1 innings. Aramis Ademan was 2 for 4 with a double. Kevonte Mitchell was 2 for 4.)

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were wrenched by the Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays), 3-1.

Starter Erling Moreno held the Lugnuts scoreless for 6.1 innings. He allowed four hits, walked two and struck out three.

Garrett Kelly was the victim of poor defense and that got him tagged with the loss. After retiring the first two batters in the seventh inning, two South Bend errors led to a two-run inning. The final line on Kelly was two unearned runs on two hits over 1.2 innings. He struck out one and walked nobody.

Second baseman Rafael Narea went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI single.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds clipped the wings of the Boise Hawks (Rockies) 4-3.

Zach Mort, the Cubs’ 8th-round selection out of George Mason, made his professional debut tonight. He pitched the first two innings and allowed just one baserunner, a two-out single in the second inning. Mort struck out three. Overall, an impressive debut.

Jeffrey Passantino got the win after pitching the next five innings. Passantino allowed three runs on eight hits. He struck out four and did not walk anyone.

Carlos Vega, the Cubs 21st-round pick out of Southeast Missouri State, got his first professional save in his second pro game and first game with the Emeralds. He pitched the final two innings and allowed just one hit. But that hit was a leadoff single in the ninth inning, which meant he retired the next three batters in a high-pressure situation. Vega struck out three and did not walk anyone.

The Ems scored four runs in the top of the first inning and hung on for the 4-3 win. The highlight of that inning was a double-steal of home and second by center fielder Fernando Kelli and DH Nico Hoerner.

Kelli was 3 for 4 with the steal of home. Hoerner, in his first game back from a minor injury, was 2 for 4 with a walk. He later scored in the first inning. He stole two bases total tonight.

Right fielder Jonathan Sierra was a perfect 4 for 4 with one run scored.

Shortstop Christopher Morel was 2 for 4 with one run batted in and one run scored.

AZL Cubs

Cubs 1 were beating Indians 1, 9-0 in the 7th inning.

Cubs 2 were beating Giants Orange 9-4 in the 8th inning.

Second-round pick Cole Roederer made his pro debut for Cubs 2 tonight.