Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 21

The Cubs system is on a roll right now as they've now gone two straight days without losing. I don't remember the last time that happened. Overall, the Cubs system stands at 101-69 overall. That includes Daytona's 31-12 record, which is the best in baseball. 

Even the big boys in blue got into the winning habit tonight.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs defeated the Tucson Padres, 4-3 in a game ended by rain after five and a half innings.

Starter J.R. Mathes was effective through the first five innings, but gave up a two-run home run in the sixth inning and was pulled without getting an out in the sixth. His final line was that he pitched five plus innings, allowing three runs on five hits. Mathes walked three and struck out three.

Marcos Mateo relieved Mathes and got the save when the game was called at the end of the half inning because of rain. He did not allow a hit or a run in the inning he pitched, but he did walk a batter. Mateo also struck out one.

First baseman Bryan LaHair was 2 for 3 with a double. He scored once and had one RBI. Catcher Steve Clevenger was 2 for 2 with a walk.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies crushed the Mobile Bay Bears, 11-2.

Smokies manager Brian Harper emptied out the bullpen tonight, as scheduled starter Chris Rusin was scratched due to injury. So Hung-Wen Chen started and allowed one run on two hits, but mostly on a solo home run. Chen walked one and struck out one.

Kyle Smit was awarded the win with two shutout innings of no-hit relief. He walked one and struck out two.

The five Smokies pitchers combined to allow only three hits.

Center fielder Matt Spencer hit his tenth home run this year and his third in two games. It was a third-inning solo shot. Spencer went 1 for 3 with two walks. He scored twice.

Third baseman D.J. LeMahieu went 2 for 5 with a triple. He had two RBI and scored once.Ryan Flaherty was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk.  Flaherty had three RBI and scored twice. Nate Samson went 2 for 4 with a double and he scored twice.

The Daytona Cubs clipped the wings of the Palm Beach Cardinals, 3-0 completing a four-game sweep.

Starter Dae-Eun Rhee lasted 4.1 innings and allowed three hits and two walks. He struck out two.

Because Rhee didn't go five, the win went to Juan Serrano, who relieved Rhee in the fifth inning. He gave up just one hit and one walk over 2.2 innings. Serrano struck out one.

Frank Batista got his 12th save of the season already with a hitless ninth inning. He did walk a batter with two outs, but struck out the next batter to end the game.

The Daytona Cubs staff outdueled top Cardinals prospect Shelby Miller and hung the loss on him. To be fair, Miller pitched really well, striking out ten in six innings. Just not well enough.

Shortstop Junior Lake went 3 for 5 with a double and two steals. He scored twice. Third baseman Matt Cerda was 3 for 5.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs made sawdust out of the Clinton LumberKings, 5-3.

Hayden Simpson started and almost made it to five innings, going 4.2 innings and allowing three runs on three hits. Simpson walked two and struck out five.

Eric Jokisch has been piggybacked to Simpson all season, and tonight he improved his record to 6-0. Jokisch finished the game, going 4.1 innings without allowing a run. Jokisch gave up four hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out five.

DH Richard Jones hit a solo home run in the third inning; his sixth of the season. Jones was 3 for 5 with two RBI.

Shortstop Eliot Soto was 3 for 5 with a double. He scored once and knocked two in.

Third baseman Greg Rohan was 2 for 5 with an RBI. Left fielder D.J. Fitzgerald went 2 for 2 with a walk and a run scored. Center fielder Kyung-Min Na was 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored once.