NEWSLETTER
Individual performances in All-Star games are sort of like most individual performances in spring training: something fun to talk about, but not generally all that meaningful in most cases. That disclaimer is important because some Cubs’ prospects did very well in the minor league All-Star games yesterday.
In Double A, the North Division (featuring some Smokies) stomped all over the South Division 9-0. Willson Contreras caught about half the game and finished 1 for 2 with a walk at the plate. Dan Vogelbach was the lone first baseman, and he also hit the lone home run for the North. He finished 1 for 4 with a walk and three batted in.
On the mound, four Smokies’ pitchers contributed to the shutout. Frank Batista pitched the third inning and allowed a hit and a walk, Felix Pena gave up nothing and struck out one in the fourth inning, Corey Black got the last two outs of the eighth inning without giving up anything and by striking out one, and P.J. Francescon allowed two walks and earned a strikeout to open the ninth. In total, that is one third of a Double A All-Star game shutout pitched by Cubs’ pitching prospects.
The High A All-Star Game between the Carolina League (featuring some Pelicans) and the California League ended in a 9-2 loss for the Carolina League. Duane Underwood pitched the second inning and allowed the first California run to score on a hit and a walk, and Jonathan Martinez tossed a scoreless seventh that included a hit and a strikeout.
At the plate, the two Cubs’ prospects contributed forty percent of Carolina’s hits. Mark Zagunis, the leadoff man, finished the game two for five with the only RBI in the lineup, and Jeimer Candelario doubled as he finished two for four. Zagunis also picked up an outfield assist on a play at second base.
And in the Midwest League, it was the East Division (featuring some Cubs) who shutout out the West 5-0. Jeremy Null was the starter for the East, and in his one inning of work he allowed a hit and struck out three. The Cubs’ closer, James Farris, struck out the first two batters in the ninth. That means, even though they accounted for just one and two thirds of the nine innings pitched, the Cubs’ pitching prospects tallied five the East’s sixteen total strikeouts.
The Cubs were quiet at the plate, though. Gleyber Torres (who was batting second) struck out and went hitless in three at bats. Charcer Burks walked in his two trips to the plate, and Cael Brockmeyer struck out twice.
All in all, it was a pretty great day for the Cubs’ representatives. A lot of them played, and a lot of them played pretty well. That doesn’t mean anything, but it is a lot of fun to see.
Scores From Yesterday
Iowa – The Cubs never recovered from a first inning deficit as they lost 4-2.
Tennessee – All-Star break.
Myrtle Beach – All-Star break.
South Bend – All-Star break.
Eugene – The Emeralds lost their home opener 4-2.
Arizona – The Cubs got their first win of the season in this 8-4 final.
Performances of Note
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