Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 19

I hope Al doesn’t mind me borrowing his headline for the Minor League Wrap, but the symmetry on the front page was too inviting to pass up.

Yeah, everyone in the Cubs system lost today. Also, the Cubs put Pelicans pitcher Sam Thoreson on the 60-day injured list today.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were excommunicated by the St. Paul Saints (Twins), 10-2.

Starter Kohl Stewart left after only five pitches tonight. He walked the first batter on four pitches, threw one more ball and exited. It appeared to be something with his hand. That runner came around to score, so Stewart took the loss.

Scott Effross got forced into an emergency almost-start, and he got creamed for five runs (and one inherited run) on nine hits over 3.1 innings. He struck out five and walked no one.

First baseman Nick Martini had an RBI single in the sixth inning. It was also Iowa’s first hit of the game. Martini was 2 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies couldn’t hide from the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), 8-4.

Javier Assad turned in a strong start tonight, allowing just one run on seven hits over six innings. Assad walked one and struck out three.

Garrett Kelly relieved Assad in the seventh and things didn’t go well. Kelly allowed six runs on three hits, including a grand slam. He only managed to retire one batter and that was a sac fly. So his final line was six runs, five earned, over one-third of an inning. Kelly also walked two batters.

Center fielder Brennen Davis had an RBI single in the sixth inning and scored on a sacrifice fly in the ninth. He was 2 for 4.

Left fielder DJ Artis was 2 for 3 with a double and the sacrifice fly. He scored one run as well.

Second baseman Carlos Sepulveda went 2 for 5.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were popped by the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins), 10-2.

Starter Ryan Jensen was cruising through five innings. He faced just one batter over the minimum—he gave up a solo home run to lead off the second inning and then walked the leadoff batter in the fourth, but that runner was erased by a double play.

Jensen then came out to pitch the sixth inning and struck out the first batter in that inning. Then the wheels came off. He gave up a triple and then hit the next batter. The next two batters singled off of him and that was followed up by a three-run home run.

Jensen’s final line doesn’t look good. He allowed six runs on five hits, including two home runs, over 5.1 innings. He walked two, hit one batter and struck out five. But if he had been pulled after five innings, we’d all be talking about Jensen’s great start.

Burl Carraway had a bad game as well. Carraway retired only one batter and gave up three runs, two earned, on one hit. Carraway walked four and struck out none. Even the unearned run came on his own fielding error. Carraway threw 32 pitches and had only 13 strikes.

Third baseman Jake Slaughter was 3 for 4 and scored once.

Shortstop Delvin Zinn went 0 for 1 with two walks and a sacrifice fly. He stole his 26th base of the season, but he was also caught stealing for the first time this year. Zinn scored once.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were bitten by the Charleston RiverDogs (Rays), 7-3. It was Myrtle Beach’s sixth-straight loss.

Richard Gallardo started and took the loss. Gallardo pitched four innings and gave up four runs on six hits. One of the four runs was unearned. Gallardo struck out three, walked two and hit one batter.

Right fielder Jacob Wetzel hit a solo home run in the second inning, his second on the year. Wetzel was 2 for 4 and scored twice.

Highlights: