Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 17

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs defrocked the St. Paul Saints (Twins), 12-2.

Adrian Sampson turned in a quality start and got his first win of the year. Sampson gave up two runs, one earned, on four hits over seven innings. Sampson struck out eight and walked two. He also hit one batter.

Third baseman Tyler Ladendorf cranked his first home run of the year with the bases empty in the third inning. Ladendorf went 2 for 4 with a double, the home run and a walk. He scored three times and had three RBI.

The game was already 8-0 Iowa when first baseman Nick Martini smashed a grand slam in the top of the fourth inning to make it 12-0. Martini was 1 for 4.

Shortstop Dee Strange-Gordon went 2 for 5 with a double and he scored twice.

Center fielder Michael Hermosillo was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He had one RBI and scored twice.

Catcher Tony Wolters went 2 for 4 with one run batted in.

Left fielder Ian Miller was 2 for 5.

I forgot to mention yesterday that Trent Giambrone played his first game of the year yesterday after being away from the team to deal with family matters. Today he played in the field for the first time, playing second base and he went 1 for 2 with two walks. Giambrone scored two runs.

Here’s Martini’s grand slam:

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies blinded the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), 13-7.

Smokies starter Cam Sanders put the Smokies in a hole early and for a while, it looked like another blowout loss for the Smokies. Sanders allowed six runs on six hits over just three innings. Sanders walked four and struck out five. Sanders also hit one batter.

The win went to Ryan Lawlor, who took over for Sanders in the top of the fourth inning. Lawlor pitched two perfect innings, striking out three of the six batters.

Bryan Hudson had three scoreless innings of relief after Lawlor, giving up just one hit. Hudson struck out four and walked no one.

The Smokies trailed 6-1 after 2 ¹⁄₂ innings, but the Smokies scored in every inning but the first and won going away.

Center fielder Brennen Davis had his first career four-hit game as he was 4 for 4 with his first Double-A home run. It was a solo home run in the second inning. He also walked once and stole a base. Davis scored four times and had two runs batted in.

Left fielder DJ Artis tied the game 6-6 with a two-run home run in the fourth inning. It was Artis’s second home run of the year. Artis went 1 for 2 with three walks.

Shortstop Christopher Morel hit two doubles tonight and had the second four-hit game of his career. Morel was 4 for 5 with a walk and two steals. Morel scored one run and drove in three runs.

Second baseman Carlos Sepulveda was 3 for 6. He scored twice and had two runs batted in.

DH Nelson Maldonado was 3 for 5. He had one RBI and scored three times.

Here’s Davis’s home run:

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were harvested by the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins), 12-4.

Starter Max Bain was given a 3-0 lead after half an inning, but he couldn’t hold it. Bain allowed three runs on six hits over five innings. Bain struck out six and walked three. He also hit one batter.

The loss went to Bryan King, who allowed three runs on three walks, a wild pitch and a single in the one inning he pitched, the sixth. King struck out one.

DH Yonathan Perlaza hit a two-run home run in the first inning. It was his fourth home run this year and his third in four games. Perlaza went 1 for 2 with two walks.

Right fielder Nelson Velazquez went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI single in the sixth.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were shut out by the Charleston RiverDogs (Rays), 5-0.

DJ Herz started tonight for the Pelicans but their ace ended up with the loss after giving up one run on four hits over 3+ innings. Herz walked three and struck out seven.

Jarod Wright got knocked around for four runs over three innings. Gabriel Jaramillo pitched three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk. He struck out five.

The Pelicans had three hits tonight, all singles. Yohendrick Pinango, Luis Verdugo and Ethan Hearn each had one hit.

Shortstop Ed Howard came off the injured list today and played his first game in three weeks. Unfortunately it didn’t last long because after reaching first on a fielder’s choice, he was hit in the back with a pickoff throw. He stayed in the game to run the bases, but he exited the next inning. He was 0 for 2.

Highlights: