Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 15

It took a dramatic comeback by the Chiefs to keep the Cubs system from getting shut out today.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs slugged out ten runs and twenty-two hits, but they still couldn't catch the Round Rock Express (Rangers), 11-10 in 13 innings.

Randy Wells was given a 2-0 lead in the first inning, a 6-2 lead in the second inning and a 7-6 lead in the third and couldn't hold any of those leads. He only lasted 2.1 innings and allowed eight runs on eight hits. Wells walked three and struck out three.

Esmailin Caridad and Scott Maine were solid in relief, with Caridad pitching two shutout innings without allowing a hit and Maine allowing but one hit and no runs over three. But after Manuel Corpas threw scoreless frames in the eleventh and twelfth, he took the loss when he gave up a run in the thirteenth inning. Corpas was credited with 2.1 innings pitched and he allowed three hits. He did not strike anyone out and the one walk he issued was intentional.

Believe it or not, right fielder Tony Campana opened the game with a home run that actually cleared the right field fence. That was Campana's first career home run that wasn't inside-the-park. Campana was 3 for 4 with a stolen base today. He also had three sacrifice bunts

Luis Valbuena hit a grand slam in the second inning, his first home run of the year. Valbuena went 2 for 4 with three walks. He scored three times.

The third and final I-Cub home run was a seventh inning solo home run by catcher Blake Lalli. Lalli was 1 for 7.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo was 3 for 7 and scored once. Shortstop Matt Tolbert went 2 for 5 with a double and scored twice. Finally, second baseman Alfredo Amezaga had 5 hits, including one double, in 7 at bats. Amezaga scored once and had one RBI. He also stole a base.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies couldn't achieve orbit against the Huntsville Stars (Brewers), 5-4.

Starter Nick Struck had control problems as he walked four batters in his five innings. But he managed to minimize the damage as he allowed only two runs on three hits. Struck struck out one.

Daniel Berlind threw a scoreless inning in relief of Struck, but Marcus Hatley wasn't as lucky. Hatley took the loss after giving up three runs on five hits over two innings. He walked one and struck out three.

Shortstop Elliot Soto hit two doubles in a 2 for 4 game. Soto also walked once.

Second basman Logan Watkins was 0 for 1 with three walks. Watkins stole a base and scored once.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs couldn't fly with the Dunedin Blue Jays, 2-1 in 12 innings.

Austin Kirk was very good today as he allowed only one run over seven innings. Kirk allowed only four hits. He walked one and struck out one.

Larry Suarez took the loss in the twelfth when Blue Jays hitter Marcus Knecht doubled home the winning run. Suarez pitched 1.1 innings and surrendered five hits. He neither walked nor struck anyone out.

Second baseman Rubi Silva was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. Left fielder John Andreoli doubled in a 2 for 5 game.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs scored two in the ninth and two in the eleventh to skin the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 5-3 in 11 innings.

Willengton Cruz pitched the first 5.2 innings and allowed three runs on four hits. He walked three and struck out five.

After that, the Chiefs bullpen was lights out. Luis Liria threw 2.1 innings and Andrew McKirahan pitched 1.2 innings without allowing a run before handing it over to Yao-Lin Wang, who got the win in extras. Wang also did not allow a run over 1.1 innings. He allowed one hit. He neither struck out nor walked anyone.

The unquestioned hero of this game was second baseman Zeke DeVoss, who led off the game with a triple and then scored on a ground out by Pin-Chieh Chen. Then DeVoss hit a two-run single with two out in the ninth inning to send the game into extras. DeVoss was 2 for 5 with a walk.

Left fielder Oliver Zapata joined the Chiefs today as a replacement for the injured Reggie Golden, and made a big impression when he hit the go-ahead solo home run in the eleventh. Zapata was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored twice. He also threw out a batter trying to stretch a double into a triple.