Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 4

Congratulations to Tennessee Smokies pitcher Alex Lange, who was your choice to be the BCB Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June. Lange beat out South Bend’s Sean Berry by one vote. So every vote really does count.

Four of the Cubs top five draft picks—RHP Ryan Jensen, INF Chase Strumpf, RHP Chris Clarke and RHP Josh Burgmann have all reported to short-season Eugene. Additionally, five other 2019 picks OF Darius Hill, OF Nelson Maldonado, OF Zac Taylor, OF Jacob Olson and C Jake Washer have been assigned to Eugene.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs made the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals) blue, 5-4 when Phillip Evans singled home Mark Zagunis in the bottom of the ninth with the walk-off victory.

Starter Trevor Clifton allowed four runs on six hits over six innings. All four runs scored on a pair of two-run home runs. Clifton walked one and struck out four.

Carl Edwards Jr. pitched a perfect seventh inning in a rehab assignment. He struck out one.

Rowan Wick entered the game in the top of the ninth inning and got the win with a perfect frame. Wick struck out two Redbirds.

The I-Cubs scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth. The first came when Jacob Hannemann reached on an error, stole second base, went to third on a wild throw and then scored on a fielder’s choice by Zagunis. Zagunis then stole second, setting up Evans’ game-winning single.

Hannemann was 1 for 5 with two steals and two runs scored.

Zagunis was 1 for 5 with the one run scored and one RBI.

Evans was 2 for 5 with two runs batted in.

Shortstop Dixon Machado was 2 for 3 with a two-run triple in the second inning. Machado walked once.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were shut out by the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 4-0.

Starter Cory Abbott allowed three runs on three hits over six innings. All three hits and all three runs, including a two-run home run, came in the third inning. Abbott struck out eight and walked four.

The Smokies had just four hits today, all singles. But Nico Hoerner returned to the Smokies lineup for the first time since April 23 and went 1 for 4.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans put the Lynchburg Hillcats (Indians) out for the night, 6-0.

Erick Leal pitched seven innings and allowed just three hits. Leal walked two and struck out eight. It was Leal’s first win of the season.

Catcher Miguel Amaya had a huge night, going 4 for 5 with a solo home run in the seventh inning. It was his seventh home run this year. Amaya scored twice and had three runs batted in.

Center fielder Jimmy Herron also had a big game, going 4 for 6 with a double and a triple. Herron also stole one base. Herron scored twice.

DH Delvin Zinn was 2 for 5 with one run batted in and one run scored.

First baseman Wladimir Galindo was 2 for 5 with one run batted in.

After losing the first five games of the second half (part of a stretch of losing 15 of 16 games that stretched back into the first half), the Pelicans have now won nine of their last ten games and have moved into first place all by themselves in their division.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were carried out to sea by the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers), 6-4.

South Bend starter Derek Casey allowed four runs on seven hits over 5.2 innings. Two of the four runs were unearned. Casey struck out five and did not walk anyone.

After the Cubs tied the score in the top of the eighth, Fauris Guerrero gave up two runs in the bottom of the inning and took the loss. Guerrero’s final line was two runs on one hit and four walks over 1.1 innings. Guerrero struck out one.

Right fielder Jonathan Sierra hit a solo home run in the fifth inning, his third on the year. Sierra went 3 for 5 and drove in two runs.

Center fielder Cole Roederer went 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. Roederer scored once.

Eugene Emeralds

The Eugene Emeralds were soaked by the Everett AquaSox (Mariners), 13-4.

Starter Yunior Perez took the loss after he allowed four runs on five hits over just 1.2 innings. Perez walked one and struck out three.

Left fielder Jose Gutierrez hit a two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. It was his first home run of the season. Gutierrez went 2 for 3 with a walk.

Right fielder Everett Americaan went 2 for 3 with a double and one run scored. He was also hit by a pitch.

Second baseman Chase Strumpf was 1 for 4 with an RBI in his first game with the Ems.

AZL Cubs

Cubs 1 beat the Mariners, 4-0.

Cubs 2 beat the Angels, 8-2.