Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 9

Don’t forget, the Iowa Cubs play on Marquee Sports tomorrow (Thursday) night at 7 pm Central.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs got their hair cut by the Columbus Clippers (Cleveland), 8-4. The loss was Iowa’s sixth-straight and 15th of their last 16.

Matt Swarmer made his 2021 Iowa debut and it did not go well. Swarmer was knocked around for six runs on six hits over 2.2 innings. All six runs scored on a pair of three-run home runs in the third inning. Swarmer walked three and struck out two.

All of Iowa’s runs came on a grand slam in the fifth inning by Michael Hermosillo. Hermosillo was a perfect 2 for 2 with a double, the grand slam and two walks tonight.

First baseman Nick Martini was 2 for 4.

Here’s Hermosillo’s home run.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were extinguished by the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels), 10-9. It was also Tennessee’s sixth-straight loss.

Starter Luis Lugo had a tough night. He loaded the bases in the first inning with one out but pitched out of it, but he failed to retire anyone in the second inning before getting pulled. The final line on Lugo was four runs on five hits over 1+ inning. Lugo walked four and struck out just one.

Bryan Hudson took the loss in relief. He allowed one run in the seventh inning to tie the game and then a two-out error in the eighth inning opened up the gates to the go-ahead run. Hudson pitched two innings and gave up two runs, one earned, on three hits. He walked one and struck out two.

Left fielder D.J. Artis’s first home run of the year was a grand slam in the fifth inning. Artis was 2 for 5 with a double, the home run and two runs scored.

One inning earlier in the fourth, shortstop Christopher Morel hit a solo home run, his fourth this year. Morel was 1 for 4 and was hit by a pitch. He scored twice.

First baseman Tyler Payne went 2 for 5 and scored one run.

Right fielder Darius Hill stayed hot, going 3 for 5 with an RBI.

Here’s the slam by Artis:

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs outlasted the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 13-12 in 12 innings.

Starter Chris Kachmar lasted 4.2 innings and allowed four runs on six hits. One of those hits was a home run to lead off the game. Kachmar walked two and struck out seven.

The Cubs had a 10-6 lead with two outs and nobody on in the top of the ninth inning when Eury Ramos walked a batter. After that he was relieved by Samuel Reyes, who allowed two singles and a grand slam to tie up the game.

Ramos was charged with two runs, one earned, over 1.2 innings. He did not allow a hit, but he walked two and struck out two.

Reyes stayed in the game and pitched the tenth and eleventh innings. His final line was four runs, three earned, on five hits over 2.1 innings. He walked two and struck out three.

Jose Albertos pitched the top of the 12th and got the win. Albertos allowed one unearned run (the ghost runner) on one hit and two walks, one of which was intentional. Albertos struck out three, including two batters after there were runners on second and third and no outs.

Third baseman Jake Slaughter had a walk-off two-run, two-out single in the bottom of the 12th. Slaughter was 2 for 5 and also had one run scored. Slaughter was hit by a pitch twice. He also stole a base.

Center fielder Edmond Americaan hit a solo home run in the third inning, his first for South Bend and fourth on the year. Americaan went 2 for 6 with a walk. He scored twice and had one run batted in.

Shortstop Josue Huma went 3 for 6 with two doubles, a walk and four runs scored, including after being the ghost runner in the 12th.

Right fielder Nelson Velazquez scored the second and winning run in the 12th after a walk. Velazquez was 2 for 6. He drove home two runs and scored two runs. He stole two bases.

Left fielder Yonathan Perlaza went 2 for 5 with three RBI. He was intentionally walked twice.

First baseman Tyler Durna was 1 for 3 with three walks and a hit by pitch. He scored twice and had two RBI.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were stung by the Augusta Green Jackets (Braves), 3-1.

Impressive start by Manuel Espinosa tonight. Espinosa pitched five scoreless innings, surrendering just three hits. He struck out ten batters and walked just one.

A leadoff error in the bottom of the eighth inning eventually led to two runs and the loss for reliever Joe Nahas. Nahas pitched one inning and allowed two unearned runs on one hit and one walk. He also hit one batter. Nahas struck out one.

The Pelicans only run in this game came in the eighth inning when Yohendrick Pinango hit into a double play, so no RBI. Pinango was 2 for 4.

Third baseman Luis Verdugo was 2 for 3.