An Iowa infielder put on a slugging display in Salt Lake City last night, finishing 2 for 4 with a pair of home runs. It wasn’t Jeimer Candelario (who was in St. Louis), and it wasn’t Ian Happ (who also had a nice game).
The fireworks in this one was provided by Stephen Bruno, a small utility infielder type who has put up some pretty good offensive numbers throughout his minor league career. The 26-year-old is now within one long ball of matching his career high for homers.
Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Salt Lake 13, Iowa 11
When we say the Pacific Coast League is hitter-friendly, games like this out west are the reason.
Alec Mills: 3 IP, 5 R (1 ER), 3 H, 2 BB (had been on the DL)
Zac Rosscup: 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 5 K
John Andreoli: 1 for 5, 2B
Bijan Rademacher: 1 for 4, BB
Mark Zagunis: 2 for 4, 2B, HR, BB
Ian Happ: 3 for 5, 2B
Victor Caratini: 1 for 4, 3B, BB
Chris Dominguez: 2 for 3, 2 2B, BB
Taylor Davis: 2 for 4, 2 2B, BB
Stephen Bruno: 2 for 4, 2 HR
Double A: Tennessee Smokies
Tennessee 7, Jackson 2
Yet another encouraging outing for Smokies’ pitching.
Zach Hedges: 7 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 2 BB, 6 K
Justin Hancock: 1 IP, 2 K
Ian Rice: 2 for 5
Yasiel Balaguert: 1 for 4, 2B, BB
Jeffrey Baez: 3 for 4, 2B, SB
Carlos Penalver: 1 for 3, BB
Cael Brockmeyer: 1 for 1, 2B
High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Lynchburg 3, Myrtle Beach 1
Three errors hurt the Pelicans.
Justin Steele: 5 IP, 3 R (0 ER), 5 H, 3 BB, 3 K
Tommy Thorpe: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Daniel Spingola: 1 for 3, 2B, and two outfield assists
Matt Rose: 1 for 3, 2B
Low A: South Bend Cubs
South Bend 4, Peoria 3
Seven more strikeouts for Cease.
Dylan Cease: 3.2 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 1 BB, 7 K
Matt Swarmer: 3.2 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 3 K
Zack Short: 1 for 3, 2 BB, SB
Alberto Mineo: 2 for 4, 2B, BB
Other Notes
Given the sheer depth at the top of the Cubs’ organization, I don’t see Bruno getting a shot in Wrigley this year or next. With some thinner organizations, though, he could be viable as a 25th man type. I could also imagine a few seasons in Asia in his future.
Rosscup has recorded 35 outs, and 20 of them have been strikeouts.
His hitless inning yesterday marked the Cubs’ debut for Justin Hancock. He was the return in the Matt Szczur deal.
Cease was pulled at 89 pitches yesterday. So, despite tossing under four innings, he still hit his usual pitch count. It was the fourth inning that bogged him down: