Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 21

Pitcher Alex Lange was promoted from Myrtle Beach to Tennessee. Pitcher Jeffrey Passantino was promoted from South Bend to Myrtle Beach.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were late for the Round Rock Express (Astros), 6-5 in ten innings.

Starter Alec Mills allowed four runs on six hits, including two home runs, over six innings. Mills walked three and struck out four.

Craig Kimbrel pitched the eighth inning in his second I-Cubs appearance. He gave up a one-out double to Kyle Tucker (who, to be fair, is a solid candidate for Minor League Player of the Year) and retired the other three batters on ground outs. Kimbrel threw 19 pitches, 12 for strikes. He was at 94-95 mph throughout his appearance and was actually throwing a little harder later in the outing.

Randy Rosario pitched the tenth inning and gave up a run on two hits to take the loss. The run was unearned, of course. Rosario did not walk or strike anyone out.

Shortstop Dixon Machado hit a three-run home run in the second inning, his eighth on the year. Machado also had an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extras. Machado’s final line was 2 for 4 with the four RBI.

DH Jim Adduci went 2 for 4 with a double. He scored on Machado’s single in the ninth. Adduci now has a 17-game hitting streak.

Second baseman Robel Garcia was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored once.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies kicked off the second-half by splitting a doubleheader with the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), losing game one 7-0 and winning the second one 3-2.

Justin Steele started game one and took the loss after he gave up one run on five hits over three innings. He struck out two and did not walk anyone.

The game got out of hand when Bailey Clark gave up four runs in the fourth inning—but to be fair, there were two errors in the inning and three of the four runs were unearned.

Shortstop Vimael Machin was 3 for 3 in game one.

Luis Lugo got the win in game two after allowing two runs on just three hits over five innings. One of the two runs Lugo allowed was unearned. He walked three and struck out four.

Jordan Minch pitched the final two innings for his first save. The only baserunner he allowed came on an error. Minch struck out one.

Center fielder Connor Myers hit a two-run triple in the second inning to give the Smokies a 2-1 lead. Myers went 1 for 2.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were poked by the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Astros), 5-4.

Starting pitcher Erich Uelmen surrendered four runs on six hits over 5.2 innings. Uelmen walked four and struck out four.

Ben Hecht gave up a solo home run in the top of the ninth that proved to be the difference in the game. Hecht pitched two innings and allowed one run on one hit. He struck out three and did not walk anyone, although he did hit one batter.

Shortstop Aramis Ademan hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning, his fourth on the year. Ademan went 2 for 3 with a walk.

DH Cam Balego was 2 for 4. He doubled home the Pelicans first run of the game in the fourth inning and scored on the Ademan blast.

First baseman Luke Reynolds went 2 for 4.

Highlights:

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs siphoned off the gas tank of the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays), 1-0.

Peyton Remy tossed the first five innings and allowed just two hits. He walked two and struck out four.

Jack Patterson pitched the next three innings and got the win. Patterson allowed just two hits. He walked two and struck out two.

Ethan Roberts pitched a perfect ninth inning for his eighth save. He struck out two.

The only run of this game came in the sixth inning. Brennen Davis doubled with two outs and Tyler Durna singled him home. Those were South Bend’s first two hits of the game. Davis was 1 for 2 with a walk and he was hit by a pitch. Durna went 1 for 4.

Highlights:

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds cleaned up the Tri-City Dust Devils (Padres), 5-3.

Ems starter Kohl Franklin dominated the Dust Devils, striking out eight over four scoreless innings. Franklin gave up four hits but issued no walks.

The win went to Blake Whitney. Whitney allowed three runs, one earned, on two hits over three innings. He walked two and struck out three.

Casey Ryan was perfect over the final two innings for his first save of the season. He struck out three.

Catcher Caleb Knight hit his first home run of the year with the bases empty in the seventh inning, giving the Ems a 4-3 lead. Knight was 1 for 3 and he was hit by a pitch.

Shortstop Luis Diaz went 2 for 4 with a double. He scored twice and had one run batted in.

AZL Cubs

Cubs 1 lost to Padres 2, 8-6.

Zack Short played his first game since getting hit in the hand by a pitch on April 9. He was 0 for 1 with two walks.

Cubs 2 were losing to Giants Orange 17-5 after eight innings.

I think we can safely put that one to bed. For the second-straight game, Cubs 2 had multiple position players pitching and it certainly appears that the Cubs don’t have enough quality pitchers to handle two rookie league teams, at least until the 2019 draftees are ready to go.