Minor League Wrap--April 3

I still intend to do the preview of the Peoria Chiefs--hopefully I will do it later tonight if a baby girl cooperates.  But I wanted to quickly recap the opening of minor league season tonight.

Bad start to the minors tonight.

Iowa Cubs:

The I-Cubs were rained out, although I believe it was IowaCubs that pointed out that it was actually snowed out.

Tennessee Smokies:

The Smokies bats are still in Arizona as they lost to the Birmingham Barons 3-0.

Justin Berg got the opening day start and went 4.1 innings, surrendering two runs, only one of which was earned.  He gave up six hits and a walk while striking out only two.  Matt Avery managed to throw 1.1 innings of relief, walk four batters and not give up a run.  Tanner Watson gave up a run in 2.1 innings of work.

On the offensive side, Tyler Colvin had a single.  That's it.  That was the only hit the Baron pitchers surrendered, led by Barons starter Lucas Harrell, who was a top prospect in the White Sox organization before missing all of last season with arm problems.  Hopefully he's back, or it's a sign that the Smokies are going to struggle to score runs this year.

Nate Spears made two errors at second base.

Daytona Cubs:

The D-Cubs got off to a 6-1 lead, but the bullpen couldn't hold it as they lost to the Brevard County Manatees, 8-6.

Esmailian Caridid started and pitched well, going 5.1 innings and only gave up one run on three hits.  He struck out three and walked no one in his US professional debut. (He briefly pitched for Hiroshima last season.)  But the bullpen procession of Casey Lambert, Mike Phelps, Jayson Ruhlman, Ryan Meyers and Jeremy Papelbon gave up seven runs.  They all allowed at least a run with the exception of Ruhlman, who only faced two batters but gave up a double.  Meyers took the loss with three earned runs in two thirds of an inning.  Jeremy Papelbon blew the save, but it is interesting to see the Papelbon is closing and not starting.

The D-Cubs hitters are mostly off to hot starts, however.  Catcher Wellington Castillo went 3 for 4.  The 1-2-3 hitters in Daytona's lineup, Tony Thomas, Jonathan Wyatt and Ty Wright, each had two hits.  Designated hitter Yusuf Carter hit a two run home run.

Peoria Chiefs:

The Chiefs bats are also still in Arizona as they lost to the Burlington Bees, 2-0.

Ryan Acosta started but only went three innings, but gave up no runs on two hits and no walks.  He didn't strike out anyone either.  Craig Muschko (that name has potential) pitch three outstanding innings of relief, giving up no runs and one hit.  He walked no one and struck out five.  Jordan Latham took the loss, giving up two runs, one earned, in an inning and a third.

Shortstop Marwin Gonzalez had a single.  So did first baseman Jovan Rosa.  That was it for the Chiefs offense.