Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 4

The Southern League named Smokies infielder Vimael Machin as their Player of the Month.

Speaking of which, you still have time to vote in our Player of the Month vote.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were yipped to death by the El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres), 6-3.

Starter Matt Swarmer took the loss after allowing six runs on nine hits over five innings. Two of the hits were home runs. Swarmer struck out four and walked one.

All three Iowa runs scored on solo home runs. First baseman Phillip Evans hit his third home run in two games in the second inning. It was his ninth home run of the year. Evans went 2 for 4.

Left fielder Donnie Dewees hit his sixth of the year in the third inning. Dewees was 1 for 4.

Two batters later, center fielder Ian Happ hit his ninth home run for Iowa. Happ went 1 for 3 with a walk.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies lost to the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 1-0.

Justin Steele had his best outing of the year, allowing no runs and just one hit over five innings. Steele walked three and struck out six.

Michael Rucker pitched the rest of the way and gave up a solo home run to Brett Sullivan in the bottom of the eighth for the loss. Rucker allowed one run on one hit over three innings. He walked two and struck out four.

Smokies pitchers gave up just two hits today.

Third baseman Gioskar Amaya went 2 for 4 with a double. The Smokies only had four hits.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans crashed against the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Royals), 4-3.

Alex Lange pitched well tonight, turning in the textbook “quality start” with three runs on seven hits over six innings. Lange struck out seven and walked just one, so that’s a real positive as well.

Ryan Kellogg got the loss in relief after giving up a run on a balk in the top of the ninth. Kellogg surrendered one run on three hits over three innings. He struck out five and walked just one.

Third baseman Cam Balego went 2 for 4 with his fifth home run of the year, a solo shot in the second inning.

Second baseman Carlos Sepulveda was 3 for 4 with one RBI.

Highlights:

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs edged past the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays), 5-4.

Peyton Remy started and got the win. Remy allowed just two runs, one earned, on two hits over five innings. He walked one and struck out three.

Jeffrey Passantino was called upon to get the save in the ninth, but all four batters he faced singled off of him. He was only credited with a third of an inning pitched because one runner was thrown out at the plate after a baserunning mixup. So Passantino left for Ethan Roberts, who got the final two outs and the save with a sacrifice fly and a strikeout.

Left fielder Brennen Davis has been great since his promotion to South Bend and tonight, he hit the second home run of his career, just three days after he hit his first. The blast came with a man on in the sixth inning. Davis was 2 for 4 with three total RBI. It’s only ten games, but Davis’ OPS is currently 1.122.

First baseman Tyler Durna was 2 for 4 with an RBI triple. He scored twice.

Highlights, including Davis’ home run.