Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 30

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were blitzed by the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 7-6.

Thomas Diamond's tough April continued tonight as he allowed three runs on four hits over five innings. That part is not too bad, but the six walks he issued were. Diamond did strike out five.

Polin Trinidad got the loss in relief of Diamond. He went 1.1 innings and allowed three runs on two hits and three walks. He did not have a strikeout.

Catcher Welington Castillo hit a solo home run in the ninth inning to make the game close. It was his second home run this year and his first for Iowa. Castillo was 2 for 5 and he scored three times.

Center fielder Tony Campana went 3 for 5 with a triple. He had one RBI and scored twice. Second baseman Bobby Scales went 2 for 5 with an RBI.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies lost to the Carolina Mudcats (Reds), 7-6.

Starting pitcher Chris Rusin lasted six innings and allowed three runs on eight hits. He didn't walk anyone and he fanned four.

The wheels came off in the seventh inning when Rafael Dolis entered the game in relief. After a Nate Samson error, Dolis let four unearned runs score. Dolis took the loss with a final line of two innings pitched, allowing four unearned runs on one hit. He walked four (one intentionally) and struck out one.

Shortstop Ryan Flaherty hit his seventh home run of the season tonight, a solo blast in the bottom of the seventh that got the score back to 7-6. It was his seventh homer of the year. Flaherty was 1 for 4 with a walk.

Right fielder Matt Spencer was 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored. Left fielder James Adduci was 2 for 4 with a double and a stolen base. He scored once and had one RBI. Second baseman Nate Samson was 2 for 3 with an RBI and  a run scored.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs dashed the hopes of the Dunedin Blue Jays, 4-2. The Daytona Cubs record is now 16-6 on the season.

Nick Struck started and collected his third win. He pitched five plus innings and allowed two runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out six.

Frank Batista pitched the final two innings to get his fifth save. Batista surrendered two hits and issued one walk. He struck out one.

Down in Daytona, they're chanting "HOON! HA!" when center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha comes to the plate. Tonight Ha hit his fourth home run of the year with a man on in the fourth inning. Even better, he drew his second walk in three days. Ha was 1 for 3.

DH Justin Bour went back-to-back with Ha in the the fourth inning. It was Bour's sixth homer and he's now hit home runs in four consecutive games. Bour was 1 for 3.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs flipped the Beloit Snappers (Twins) over on their backs, 13-8 in ten innings. This game was played with winds blowing out at 25-30 mph, so maybe it was the wind that flipped Beloit over.

Starter Hayden Simpson allowed two home runs in the first inning, but otherwise settled down for 4.2 innings. Simpson allowed four runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out five.

Marcus Hatley pitched the ninth and tenth innings to improve his record to 2-0. He didn't allow a hit or a run. Hatley walked two, one intentionally, and struck out four.

Right fielder Smaily Borges hit two home runs today and now has three home runs this year. Both of the home runs were solo home runs, one in the eighth inning and one in the tenth. Borges was 3 for 6.

Catcher Micah Gibbs hit his first professional home run in the first inning with a man on. Gibbs went 2 for 5 with a walk and three RBI. 

Center fielder Matt Szczur went 2 for 5 with a double and a walk. He scored three times and stole a base. Second baseman Pierre LePage was 2 for 6 with 3 RBI and one run scored. DH Richard Jones went 3 for 6 with a double and a run scored. Third baseman Anthony Giansanti was 2 for 5 with a double.

First baseman Greg Rohan left Beloit this afternoon with a four-hit day, but a scoring change after the game changed an RBI double to an error. Rohan still had a good game, going 3 for 6 and scoring three times.