Cubs Minor League Wrap -- April 17

by Josh Timmers on Apr 17, 2009 11:57 PM CDT in Minor Leagues

You're going to be proud of our arms down on the farm tonight. Two teams allowed only thee hits each. And Jake Fox just keeps on rolling.

Iowa Cubs

The I-Cubs home opener tonight was a successful one as the Iowa Cubs blasted the Round Rock Express, 8-3.

Starter Randy Wells got the win with a yeoman-like five innings of work. Wells allowed three runs on six hits and two walks. He struck out six and didn't allow a home run.

Kevin Hart got back on track tonight by pitching the ninth inning and striking out all three batters he faced swinging.

Jake Fox continues his torrid start to the season even after leaving Albuquerque for Des Moines. Fox hit his fifth home run of the season, a fourth inning solo shot, in a 2 for 5 showing. Fox had two RBI.

Second baseman Bobby Scales had three doubles tonight. He was 3 for 4 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored. Shortstop Andres Blanco went 3 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Third baseman Luis Rivas went 2 for 4 with a double, a walk, two runs scored and an RBI. Left fielder Jason Dubois had a 2 for 4 night with a double, an RBI and a walk.

Right fielder Brad Snyder hit his first home run of the year tonight. He was 1 for 4 with a walk and two RBI. He also stole a base.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies defenestrated the Birmingham Barons, 9-0.

Casey Coleman had a dominating start tonight, going seven innings and allowing only three hits and a walk. He struck out four en route to his second victory of the young season. More importantly, his page on milb.com now has a picture of him on it rather than his dad, former pitcher Joe Coleman, who played with the Cubs in 1976. All last season it looked like the Cubs had a 61 year-old prospect toiling away down on the farm.

Jon Glaub and Jayson Ruhlman each threw a scoreless inning of relief without allowing a hit. Glaub walked one but struck out the side.

Shortstop Darwin Barney got moved into the three hole in the lineup and responded with a 2 for 4 night. He had a double, a walk, a run scored and a stolen base. The bad news on Barney tonight is that he made two throwing errors.

Right fielder James Adducci was 1 for 2 with two walks, a double and a stolen base. Adducci had three RBI and scored once.

Daytona Cubs

Daytona's pitchers also held the opposition to three hits and grounded the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 5-1.

Starter Dan McDaniel moved to 2-0 on the young season by allowing only one hit and one run over 5.1 innings. McDaniel struck out two, walked two and hit a batter.

Steve Vento closed out the game by pitching the final two innings. He allowed one hit. He struck out one and didn't walk anyone.

Catcher Mark Reed was 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Center fielder Drew Rundle may have broken out of his early season funk by going 2 for 4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

DH Tyler Colvin drew another walk in a 1 for 3 night.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs got some good starting pitching too, but the bullpen got plundered and the Chiefs were cleaned out by the Quad City River Bandits, 4-2.

Starter Chris Archer went five and allowed only one run on three hits and a walk. He struck out three and left with a lead that Alberto Cabrera couldn't hold. Cabrera gave up three runs over 2.1 innings. Cabrera gave up only one hit, but it was a home run. Additionally, he handed out three walks while striking out only one.

DH Josh Harrison was 2 for 4 with a triple and an RBI. Catcher Michael Brenly was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. The big question on Brenly: Will Bob mention Michael's throwing error tomorrow?

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Comments

The Kyler Burke double that scored Brenly...

…was a very catchable fly ball that was comically misplayed by… I think it was Cruz, the left fielder. The Bandit’s pitcher – think it was Fick – managed to get a glove up to keep from being hit by a liner – don’t know who the batter was.

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by cwyers on Apr 18, 2009 12:14 AM CDT reply actions

Defenestration!

Add to that, “cleaned out”, “grounded”… you’re too good, Josh. :)

by Pat19 on Apr 18, 2009 12:22 AM CDT reply actions

Taguchi got 2nd WC ring

by Taguchi99 on Apr 18, 2009 2:18 AM CDT reply actions

Report from Sec Taylor

Beautiful night for a ballgame last night. The wind died at game time, keeping the weather pleasantly in the middle of the shirt sleeve range. 9541 announced attendance, which is unheard of for a ballgame in Iowa in April.

Wells looked shaky in the first, loading the bases and walking in one of the two runs that innning. He settled down nicely after that, though, and seemed to be getting pretty much what he wanted for location and action for the next few innings. The relievers came in and threw well.

The bats looked really good. Every position player had at least one hit last night, and they were doing a pretty good job of hitting the ball hard at holes (or, the case of Jake Fox and Brad Snyder, over the wall). There was one questionable decision in the 7th to send Andres Blanco to third on a steal; he was cut down (barely), but at that point the I-Cubs were up 4, so no harm done. Aside from that the baserunning was textbook.

The defense was a mixed bag; Brad Snyder had a few very good lines to balls in RF in the first that particularly impressed me (he dealt with the bullpen mound on one just like a seasoned vet). On the flip side, the middle infield felt a little porous, especially on the SS side; Andres Blanco didn’t look like he was hustling at the start of the game.

I will probably try to make the Sunday game, but the weather may not cooperate. Much as I would like to see Shark tonight, I have band practice, though I may hijack the radio when we take breaks, and I’m not sure the game will be played anyway (rain expected).

How long should we give sig lines at the bottom of the comments?
Bradley watch -- out 2 games of 9

by znohitter on Apr 18, 2009 9:51 AM CDT reply actions

textbook baserunning

i thought this was a cubs blog.

thanks for the update. so many informed contributors make this site a necessity.

by tim815 on Apr 18, 2009 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Thanks for the report

I’m keeping track of all these now.

by Josh Timmers on Apr 18, 2009 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh, dear.

Now there will be proof I can do semi-serious reporting. Thanks for ruining my rep. :P

Massive props on these reports, BTW. I look forward to your descriptors now every time I come here.

How long should we give sig lines at the bottom of the comments?
Bradley watch -- out 3 games of 10

by znohitter on Apr 18, 2009 7:12 PM CDT up reply actions

There's rain on the way...

…but I’m going to try and make a Chiefs game either tonight or tomorrow; I have a 10-pack of redeemable ticket vouchers (I guess in theory I’m a “season ticket” holder now for the River Bandits) so I can go to either or both.

I has a blog. | Ask a sabermagician!

by cwyers on Apr 18, 2009 11:14 AM CDT reply actions