Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 10

I sure picked a good night to take off. My in-laws are leaving in the morning, so we spent the evening out.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were atomized by the Albuquerque Isotopes (Dodgers), 6-5.

Randy Wells took his second start of the year and allowed four runs over six innings. Wells did not walk anyone and struck out five.

Jeff Beliveau made only one mistake this afternoon, but it cost him and the I-Cubs the game. After pitching out of the eighth inning, Beliveau took the mound for the ninth and allowed a solo home run to pinch-hitter Josh Fields. It was the only baserunner he allowed over 1.1 innings of work. Beliveau did not record a strikeout.

Iowa temporarily tied the game in the bottom of the eighth inning when second baseman Adrian Cardenas hit a two-run home run. It was Cardenas' first blast of the season. Cardenas also doubled in a 2 for 4 game. He scored twice.

The good news is that Josh Vitters went 2 for 3 with a walk and an RBI. That raised his batting average to .412 and his OBP to .500. The bad news is that all seven of his hits so far this season are singles. The most likely explanation for this is sample size, but it's something that bears watching.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were court-martialed by the Jackson Generals (Mariners), 5-1.

Nick Struck had a pretty good start tonight, but got hung with the loss anyway. Struck pitched six innings and allowed two runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out five.

Left fielder Jim Adduci led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run that tied the game at one. Two hitters later, Center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha doubled. The Smokies did not get another hit the rest of the game. Adduci was 1 for 4. Ha walked in a 1 for 3 game.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were done in by Dunedin Blue Jays, 4-2.

Austin Kirk was strong in his first start of the season, throwing five shutout innings. Kirk allowed four hits and walked two. He fanned three.

Tony Zych earned the loss in relief. He was tagged for three doubles surrounded by two errors in the top of the eighth inning, which turned a 2-0 D-Cubs lead into a 4-2 deficit. Three of the four runs he surrendered were unearned. Zych neither walked nor struck anyone out in his two innings of work.

Right fielder Nelson Perez tripled twice in a 2 for 4 game. He scored both of Daytona's runs.

Center fielder Elieser Bonne went 2 for 4 with both RBI. He also stole two bases and got picked off second once.

Shortstop Ronald Torreyes was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. Center fielder Matt Szczur was 2 for 5.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs were mugged by the Quad City River Bandits (Cardinals), 7-1.

Willengton Cruz started and took the loss. He lasted only 3.2 innings and gave up five runs on seven hits. Only two of the runs were earned, however. Only two of the five runs were earned. He walked one and struck out two.

The Chiefs only managed three hits. (One more than the Smokies, I'm sure they'd say.) Second baseman Zeke DeVoss was 1 for 4 with the lone Chiefs RBI.