Minor League Wrap--May 2

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs doubled up on the Sacramento River Cats, 12-6.

Randy Keisler got his first win of the year with good control and a lot of run support. Keisler pitched six innings and allowed four runs on six hits, with two home runs being most of the damage.  But Keisler struck out nine River Cats and walked only one.

Geoffrey Jones got his first save of the season by pitching the final three innings and allowing two runs.

"Doubling up" on the River Cats was exactly what first baseman Jake Fox had in mind tonight.  Fox had four doubles in five at bats.  Fox had five RBI, scored three times and walked once.

Left fielder Andres Torres went 4 for 5 with a double and a home run.  Torres scored three times and knocked two in.  Center fielder Sam Fuld went 2 for 4 with 2 walks.  Third baseman Casey McGehee went 3 for 6 with a home run and two RBI.   Second baseman Bobby Scales went 2 for 5.

And as a personal note, I will be attending tomorrow night's I-Cubs/River Cats game.  That means I will be doing a personal recap of the game but I won't be doing the organizational recap.

Tennessee Smokies

Tennessee's bullpen collapsed late, and the Smokies were stopped by the Jacksonville Suns, 4-1.

James Russell continued to be the early leader for Minor League Pitcher of the Year and didn't let the promotion to AA slow him down a bit.  Russell pitched six innings and allowed one run on seven hits and no walks.  Russell struck out five.  Ed Campusano collected the loss by allowing two runs in 1.1 innings.  Rocky Roquet was also responsible for one run in two-thirds of an inning.

The Smokies only managed one unearned run off of Dodgers phenom Clayton Kershaw.  Right fielder Ryan Harvey didn't have any problems though, going 3 for 3 with two doubles and the lone RBI.  Both doubles came off of Kershaw.  Harvey went 3 for 4 with three doubles the last time he faced Kershaw too. Just for the record, this season Ryan Harvey has five doubles off the #1 pitching prospect in the entire minor leagues, and zero off of every other pitcher in the Southern League.  Weird.

Daytona Cubs

It's not often that a team can score six runs in the ninth inning and never even bring the tying run to the plate.  But that's what happened tonight as the D-Cubs lost to the St. Lucie Mets, 11-8.

Marco Carillo started and gave up two runs on six hits and three walks in 4.2 innings. Carillo struck out one.  Jeremy Papelbon had problems and allowed four runs in 2.1 innings.  Marco Mateo gave up five runs in the eight inning, but four of those were unearned after two Cub errors.

First baseman Blake Lalli had the big night with the stick, going 3 for 5 with 2 doubles and two RBI.  He also pitched a scoreless inning of relief.  Third baseman Josh Lansford went 3 for 4 with a double and 3 RBI.  However, Lansford also made two errors, although neither one was in the five-run eighth.

Jim Adduci went 2 for 5 and Darwin Barney went 2 for 4.  Left fielder Mark Reed had a 2 for 3 night with a double and a walk.

Peoria Chiefs

Peoria lost to the South Bend Silver Hawks, 8-5.

Chris Siegfried saw his record fall to 0-3 by getting tagged for six runs in four innings.  Siegfried allowed eight hits, two of which were home runs, and one walk while fanning three.

Third baseman Marquez Smith came a single shy of the cycle.  Smith went 3 for 5 with two runs scored and two RBI.  He struck out as the last batter of the game, needing only the single to hit for the cycle.  The home run was his fourth on the season.

Catcher Josh Donaldson hit his second home run of the year in a 1 for 4 night.  Shortstop Nate Sampson went 2 for 5 with a double. DH Elvis Lara went 2 for 4.