Cubs Minor League Update (5.30.16)

Albuquerque Isotopes 4, Iowa Cubs 6

Willson Contreras and Albert Almora got the day off, but the Iowa Cubs came back late anyway. John Andreoli led off and went 2-4 with a run scored and 2 strikeouts. Matt Murton was 3-4 with an RBI and 2 runs scored. Arismendy Alcantara was 1-3 with an RBI and strikeout. 

Rob Zastryzny threw 5 innings, allowed 6 hits, 3 runs, a walk and a home run while striking out 4. Brandon Gomes threw 2 innings, struckout 3 and walked a batter. Gerardo Concepcion got the win. He pitched 2 innings, gave up 2 hits and a run while striking out 2. 

Tennessee Smokies 5, Chattanooga Lookouts 1

Jacob Hanneman was 2-5 with a run scored. Mark Zagunis was 3-4 with 2 RBI, a walk and a run scored. Bijan Radenmacher was just 1-4, but he added a walk and a home run. Cael Brockmeyer was also 1-4 with a home run. Jeimer Candelario was 2-5.

Brad Markey threw 6 innings, allowed only 2 hits, walked 3, surrendered 1 run and struckout 1. Markey is off to a 5-1 start with a 2.52 ERA, but slow down. He's 24 years old, his strikeout rate is 4.2 per 9 and he's walked 3.5 per 9. He's had really good control in his career (it was under 1 last year at High A in 55 innings). His strikeout rates have been a bit higher, but nothing spectacular. Due to his weak strikeout and walk rates, and the fact that he's allowed 8 home runs already, his FIP is 5.57. 

Juan Paniagua walked 2 and struckout 3 in his scoreless inning. 

Wilmington Blue Rocks 3, Myrtle Beach Pelicans 1 (Game 1, 10 innings)

The Pelicans only had 5 hits and a run so this will be easy. Jeffry Baez was 2-4 and the following players each had hits: Rashad Crawford (1-5, 2K), Gleyber Torres (1-4, K) and Ian Happ (1-4, BB, R, 2K). 

Zach Hedges threw innings, allowed only a hit and an unearned run. He walked 1 and struckout 3. James Farris threw 3 innings, allowed 4 hits, 2 runs, walked a batter and struckout a batter. 

Wilmington Blue Rocks 8, Myrtle Beach Pelicans 4 (Game 2)

Gleyber Torres was 1-4 with a strikeout and Ian Happ was 2-3 with a walk. 

Happ doesn't turn 22 until August 12th and the switch hitter is off to a good start in his career. He was the Cubs first round pick a year ago (9th overall). In 49 games so far this year, he's hitting .287/.403/.448 with a .394 wOBA and 146 wRC+. He's walked in 16.1% of his plate appearances and struckout in 25.1% of them. He's hit 5 home runs, has 6 stolen bases and his ISO is .161. I expect he'll hit for some more power as the season and his career moves along. That walk rate is fantastic.

Jonathan Martinez threw 5 innings, allowed 8 hits and 5 runs on 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. Tommy Thorpe pitched 2 innings, gave up 2 hits and 3 runs. He walked 2, struckout no one and gave up a home run. 

Lansing Lugnuts 0, South Bend Cubs 1

This one was scoreless until Eloy Jimenez hit a walk off home run in the 9th. The only players with hits were Andrew Ely (1-3, BB), Daniel Spingola (1-4, K), and Eloy Jimenez (1-4, HR). 

Carson Sands threw 6 innings, allowed just 2 hits, walked 4 and struckout 5. Craig Brooks (2 IP) and Scott Effross (1 IP) finished the game and combined with Sands for a 3-hit shutout.