Happy Mother's day to every mother out there, but especially to my darling wife and my wonderful mother. A mention in the Minor League Wrap is a lot better than a card, isn't it?
The Tennessee Smokies and Daytona Cubs took the day off to spend with their mothers. No, I am not implying that the Iowa Cubs and the Peoria Chiefs hate their mothers.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were blown away by the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins), 11-8.
The wind was howling out swirling in Des Moines today, but starter J.R. Mathes managed to only surrender one home run. Unfortunately, he had trouble throwing strikes and that home run was a grand slam. Mathes got the loss by allowing eight runs on seven hits over five innings. He walked five and struck out only one. He also hit two batters.
The I-Cubs lost today despite out-homering the Zephyrs five to one. The big bat belonged to first baseman Bryan LaHair, who went deep twice with a pair of two-run home runs in the second and fourth innings. LaHair was 2 for 3 with a walk and now has six home runs this season.
Center fielder Fernando Perez was 2 for 5 with his first home run this season. It was with the bases empty in the third inning. Catcher Welington Castillo hit his solo home run in the fourth inning in his 1 for 3 afternoon. He also walked once. Castillo now has two homers this season.
Finally, right fielder Brad Snyder ended the home run barrage with a solo home run in the seventh. Snyder was 1 for 4.
Third baseman Marquez Smith was 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored twice and had one RBI.
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs trapped the Kane County Cougars, 4-1.
Su-Ming Jung got his first win of the year in his second start with 6.1 strong innings. He allowed only one run after scattering seven hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out two.
Marcus Hatley collected his first save with a perfect ninth inning. Hatley struck out one.
Second baseman Pierre LePage was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. He also stole his third base of the year.