Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 30

Congratulations to Tennessee Smokies outfielder Brennen Davis and Iowa Cubs right-handed reliever Manuel Rodriguez, who were both named to the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game today. They’re doing NL versus AL instead of US versus the World this year, so the American Davis and the Mexican Rodriguez will be on the same team this time, as we hope they are for many years to come.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs fell to Indianapolis (Pirates), 2-1 in ten innings.

Mike Hauschild turned in his best start in the Cubs organization, tossing six shutout innings. He allowed just three hits. He struck out five and did not walk anyone.

Justin Steele pitched one inning of a rehab assignment and allowed one unearned run. The first batter reached on an error. Then he went to second on a wild pitch and third base on a ground out. A sacrifice fly scored Indianapolis’ only run in regulation. Steele did not strike anyone out or allow any baserunners other than the runner that reached on an error.

Ben Leeper pitched another scoreless inning in the eighth. He struck out one and walked one. Leeper has now thrown 9.1 innings in Triple-A without allowing a hit. (But one run!)

Manuel Rodriguez celebrated his being named to the Futures Game with a scoreless ninth. He allowed one hit. Rodriguez walked no one and struck out one.

After Iowa failed to score in the top of the tenth, Ryan Meisinger threw the bottom of the tenth and got the loss after failing to retire anyone. The first batter he faced, former Cub Taylor Davis, reached on a bunt single and then Christian Bethancourt ended the game with an RBI single, scoring the ghost runner from third. The run in that situation was unearned, as it always is.

The first three batters of the game for Iowa reached on two singles and a walk and then Michael Hermosillo hit a sac fly to give the I-Cubs an early 1-0 lead. That was the last time they would score.

Left fielder Ian Miller went 3 for 5 and scored that lone run.

Third baseman Abiatal Avelino went 2 for 4. He was also hit by a pitch.

Catcher Erick Castillo had the only other hit for Iowa. He was 1 for 5.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies took out the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels), 7-2.

Erich Uelmen turned in a quality start and picked up his second win of the season. Uelmen tossed six scoreless innings, allowing only three hits. He walked two and struck out four.

The Smokies exploded for six runs in the sixth inning. First baseman Jared Young drove home the first two runs of the game with a two-run double in the sixth. Young went 2 for 4 with the two RBI and one run scored.

Young scored when the next batter up, second baseman Chase Strumpf, doubled him home. Strumpf was 1 for 3 with a walk and one run scored.

Center fielder Brennen Davis hit a solo home run to right-center field in the seventh inning to add on an insurance run. Davis was 1 for 4 and scored twice. He now has four home runs this year and two for Tennessee.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs game at the Lake County Captains was postponed because of a power outage. (Although it had been raining as well.) They will try to make this up with a doubleheader on Sunday. They also have a doubleheader on Thursday to make up Monday’s rain out.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans lost to the Down East Wood Ducks (Rangers), 2-1.

Starter DJ Herz battled control issues early, but settled down and turned in another strong five-inning start, allowing just one run on three hits. The one runs scored on a solo home run in the third inning. Herz struck out eight and walked two.

Bailey Reid took the loss in relief. He allowed one unearned run on one hit over 1.1 innings. Reid walked three and struck out four. The winning run came when Low-A South steals leader Jayce Easley walked to lead off the eighth inning, stole second and then stole third and scored on an error on the throw to third. The Pelicans argued that the batter interfered with the throw, but the umpires weren’t having it.

The only Pelicans run came on an opposite field home run by catcher Ethan Hearn in the seventh inning. It was his first home run of the year. Hearn was 2 for 3 with a walk. He also threw out two runners stealing, including Easley earlier in the game. The Wood Ducks did steal four bases total in this game.

Shortstop Ed Howard went 2 for 5, his first multi-hit game since coming off the injured list on June 17.

Highlights:

ACL Cubs

Did not play.