Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 5

Some people think Cinco de Mayo is a minor regional Mexican holiday, akin to Patriots Day in New England, that the beer and liquor companies marketed into a reason to sell lots of alcohol before Memorial Day. The Cubs choose to celebrate the Mexican army's defeat of French forces at the Battle of Puebla in the traditional way: by letting major league veterans make rehab starts in the minor leagues.

We're going to put Daytona above the fold today because of Doug Davis's start.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs got stuck in the slow lane against the Round Rock Express (Rangers) 9-2.

Todd Wellemeyer made his first start this afternoon and didn't fare so well. He lasted 3.2 innings and allowed four runs on eight hits. Wellemeyer walked two and struck out two.

Center fielder Tony Campana was 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored both I-Cub runs.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs shut down the Tampa Yankees, 5-0 to improve their record to 20-8.

Doug Davis retired the first 12 batters he faced. After allowing a infield single to start the fifth, he promptly picked that runner off first. He tired a bit in the seventh inning, when he walked two batters before exiting the game. Davis' final line was 6.2 innings pitched, allowing no runs on two hits and two walks. Davis struck out seven.

To inject one note of caution in comparing the pitching lines of  Wellemeyer and Davis: Wellemeyer was facing a pretty good Triple-A team. Davis was facing a pretty bad High-A team. Just keep that in mind.

Shortstop Junior Lake lead off the game with a solo home run, his second of the season. He finished the day going 3 for 5 with a triple. Lake scored twice and had three RBI. And he still hasn't walked in 110 plate appearances.

First baseman Justin Bour was 2 for 3 with a walk. He also had one RBI. Left fielder David Macias was 2 for 5 and scored a run. Catcher Michael Brenly was 2 for 5 with an RBI. Second baseman Jake Opitz was 2 for 4 with a run scored. 

The Smokies scored three runs in the top of the ninth to trap the Mobile Bay Bears (Diamondbacks), 7-6.

Chris Rusin started tonight and he had trouble keeping the ball in the park as he surrendered a pair of two-run home runs. Overall Rusin went five innings and allowed the four runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out six.

Kyle Smit was excellent in relief and picked up a well-deserved win when the Smokies came back. Smit didn't allow a hit or a run over 2.2 innings and he only walked one. He hit a batter, too. Smit struck out four.

Marco Carrillo collected his second save. He pitched a hitless ninth inning, although he walk one. He also fanned one.

The big bat tonight was D.J. LeMahieu, who was 3 for 5 with his second home run and a two RBI single in the ninth to give the Smokies the lead. The home run was a solo homer in the third inning. LeMahieu also doubled. He scored twice and had the three RBI.

Right fielder Matt Spencer hit a two-run home run in the first inning; his fifth this season.  Spencer was 1 for 4.

Center fielder Brett Jackson was 2 for 4 with two doubles and a bases-loaded walk to drive in a run. Jackson also scored once.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs burned down the Clinton LumberKings (Mariners), 4-1.

Hayden Simpson started and pitched 4.2 innings, as he's still on a strict pitch count. But tonight he allowed no runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out one.

Eric Jokisch piggybacked him, as he's been doing all season, and got the win by going the rest of the way and allowing one run on four hits over the 4.1 innings. He walked one and struck out five. Jokisch improved his record to 4-0 in his seventh appearance picking up for Simpson.

First baseman Richard Jones was 2 for 4 with two doubles. Second baseman Pierre LePage was 2 for 3 with a walk. He also scored once.

The Chiefs jumped all over Seattle's first round supplemental pick Taijuan Walker in his professional debut. They scored three in the first and one in the second before Walker settled down to pitch four innings.