Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 13

The Smokies snapped their long losing streak today on the first day I took off from watching the games in a week. So the rules of baseball superstition is going to make it hard for me to do my job going forward.

They were, however, the system’s only win of the day.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were run aground by the Columbus Clippers (Cleveland), 6-3.

Starting pitcher Cory Abbott was touched for three runs on five hits over six innings. Two of those five hits were solo home runs. Abbott struck out eight and walked just one, so he did show good command of the strike zone. He hit one batter, however,

Brad Wieck entered the game in the top of the ninth with the score tied 3-3. Wieck struggled to throw strikes as he walked the bases loaded and then gave up a bases-clearing double to give the Clippers the lead. Wieck’s final line was three runs, two earned, on one hit and four walks over two-thirds of an inning. Wieck had one strikeout.

DH Trayce Thompson hit two home runs today to account for all three Iowa runs. Thompson connected for a two-run home run in the second inning and a solo shot in the sixth. Thompson now has six home runs on the season. He was 2 for 4.

First baseman Nick Martini went 2 for 4 with a double and scored on Thompson’s first home run.

Third baseman Tyler Ladendorf went 2 for 4 with a double.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies trapped the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels), 6-0. The win snapped the Smokies’ nine-game losing streak.

Starter Javier Assad kept the Trash Pandas off the board for six innings. He allowed four hits. He struck out four and did not walk anyone, although he did hit one batter.

Ryan Lawlor threw the next two innings and got the win. He allowed just one baserunner, a one-out walk to former Cubs minor league catcher Michael Cruz. Lawlor struck out three.

Juan Gámez pitched the ninth and completed the shutout. He gave up a leadoff single, but then retired the next three batters. He struck out one.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the seventh inning when the Smokies loaded the bases on three walks. Then catcher Erick Castillo hit a sacrifice fly and shortstop Reijaj Garcia followed that with a two-run double. Right fielder Darius Hill then singled home Garcia to make it 4-0.

Castillo was 2 for 3 with the sac fly and he added an RBI single in the eighth for two total RBI. Garcia went 2 for 4. Hill was 1 for 4 with a walk. He also stole one base.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were swallowed whole by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 7-4.

Ryan Jensen didn’t make it out of the first inning today. He walked the first three batters he faced and things went downhill from there, as they are wont to do when you walk the first three batters of the game. Jensen took the loss after allowing five runs on three hits and three walks over two-thirds of an inning. He did not strike anyone out.

Scott Kobos relieved Jensen and pitched 2.1 innings without allowing a run, which ups his total to 17.1 innings this year without allowing a run between both Myrtle Beach and South Bend. Kobos allowed one hit. He struck out four and walked no one.

All four South Bend runs came on home runs. Third baseman Josue Huma hit a solo home run in the second inning off of former Cubs farmhand Zach Mort. It was Huma’s first homer on the year. Huma went 2 for 4.

Left fielder Yonathan Perlaza hit South Bend’s second home run of the game with a solo home run off Mort in the fourth inning. It was also Perlaza’s second home run of the year. He was 1 for 4.

The third South Bend home run this afternoon was a two-run home run by second baseman Matt Burch. It was Burch’s first professional home run. He went 2 for 3 with a walk.

Shortstop Delvin Zinn was 2 for 4.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were stung by the Augusta GreenJackets (Braves), 4-2.

It was a bullpen game for the Pelicans today as Jose Miguel Gonzalez got his first start of the year. He surrendered one run on five hits over two innings. Gonzalez walked one and struck out one.

Joe Nahas was dominating over the next four innings. He allowed no runs and only one hit. Nahas struck out nine and walked no one.

Bailey Reid entered the game with the score tied 2-2 with two out in the bottom of the eighth and no one one. He allowed two runs, three singles and a walk before finally getting out of the inning with a fly out.

Catcher Pablos Aliendo hit a solo home run in the seventh inning, his first on the year. He was 1 for 4.

The Pelicans only had four hits in this game. They hit for the cycle as a team, though.