Cubs Minor League Daily: The Eugene Emeralds Win It All!

EMS WIN THE TITLE! FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 41 YEARS THE EMS HAVE WON THE NWL TITLE! #GoEms pic.twitter.com/xT9xvYZfWV

— Eugene Emeralds (@EugeneEmeralds) September 14, 2016

It wasn’t an easy win, but the offense was just good enough to back the pitching, and the pitching, as it has been so many times this season, was excellent. The bullpen made a one run lead hold up, and Eugene wins the first title for the Cubs organization in 2016.

Meanwhile, down in Myrtle Beach, the Pelicans’ pitching was completely dominant as the Cubs’ High A affiliate cruised to a Game Three win. The Pelicans can clinch their second consecutive Carolina League title tonight.[adinserter block=”1″][adinserter block=”10″]

High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Myrtle Beach 7, Lynchburg 0
This was the last start of the season for Clifton, and he definitely went out on a high note.

Trevor Clifton: 6 IP, 3 H, 5 K. I strongly suspect he will be organizational Pitcher of the Year.

Tommy Nance: 2 IP, 2 H, 5 K. Remember this name for next season. He has been very effective out of the pen.

Scott Effross: 1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K

Charcer Burks: 2 for 3, 2B

Donnie Dewees: 2 for 3

David Bote: 2 for 4, 2 2B

Jeffrey Baez: 2 for 4, 3B

Bryant Flete: 1 for 4, 3B

Best of Five Championship Series: Myrtle Beach leads 2-1
Next Game: Tonight at 6:30 PM ET in Lynchburg
Matchup: Preston Morrison (MB) against Matt Esparza

Myrtle Beach can win the Carolina League Championship (also known as the Mills Cup) tonight, and in Morrison they have a starter who is very likely to give them an excellent chance to claim that win. Morrison was very good in seventeen games with South Bend (2.24 ERA, 1.74 GO/AO), but he has been even better in six starts with Myrtle Beach (1.77 ERA, 2.75 GO/AO). In High A he has been striking out better than a batter an inning, and in the regular season he has allowed just three home runs. That said, he did give up two long balls as part of a five-run rough game in his last playoff start. I don’t expect a repeat of that performance tonight. Morrison has been consistently good pretty much all season long. Look for him to be getting ground balls and strike outs again tonight.

Matt Esparza followed a similar path to Morrison this season. He also started in the Midwest League for 20 games before moving to the Carolina League for seven. In High A he has an ERA of 3.92, a strikeout rate of 7.38 K/9, and a walk rate of 3.23 BB/9. He faced the Pelicans twice late in the season, and in the second of those games the Pelicans single handedly added a run on to his ERA. On August 20 he allowed 2 runs over 6 innings, and on September 1 he gave up 6 runs over 5 innings. The Pelicans will come into this game knowing what to expect, and having had success against him in the past. That is probably a good sign.

[adinserter block=”2″]

Short Season A: Eugene Emeralds
Eugene 2, Everett 1
It doesn’t matter what the level is, winning championships is awesome.

Manuel Rondon: 5 IP, 1 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K

Duncan Robinson: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 K

Michael Knighton: 1 IP, 1 BB

Wyatt Short: 1 IP, 1 K

Darryl Wilson: 1 for 4

Yeiler Peguero: 1 for 4

Chris Pieters: 1 for 4

Wladimir Galindo: 1 for 4

Kevonte Mitchell: 2 for 3

Other Notes

Behold the power of defense. Eugene turned three double plays in their win, and Kevonte Mitchell gunned down a runner at the plate. The glovework was definitely a factor in Eugene clinching the title.

[adinserter block=”3″]

Speaking of the Emeralds…

Party is on. pic.twitter.com/Gcu3O510P4

— Steve Mims (@SteveMims_RG) September 14, 2016

Taking a victory lap with W flag pic.twitter.com/VEQLq1hBWU

— Steve Mims (@SteveMims_RG) September 14, 2016

The champs pic.twitter.com/UNjrAjRrlV

— Steve Mims (@SteveMims_RG) September 14, 2016

THERE IS A PARTY AT HOME PLAYE AND GOU ARE ALL INVITED LET'S GO EMS pic.twitter.com/aytEoceGIq

— Eugene Emeralds (@EugeneEmeralds) September 14, 2016