Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 19

I came this close to making up a fictional Boise Hawks game where they won 16-0 and Javier Baez hit for the cycle, Dan Vogelbach homered twice, Shawon Dunston Jr. stole four bases and Dillon Maples had a no-hitter broken up with two out in the ninth. Just to cheer everyone up. So I guess I just did there. Enjoy it.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were unstable against the Albuquerque Isotopes (Dodgers), 4-3.

Travis Wood got the loss. He pitched 6.1 innings and allowed four runs on nine hits. He walked one and struck out five. He actually pitched pretty well for Albuquerque. He cruised along in the early innings and at one point retired eleven straight.

The big man tonight was Anthony Rizzo, Rizzo homered the first two times he came to the plate He knocked home Edgar Gonzalez in the first inning and led off the fourth inning with home run number two. Rizzo now leads the Pacific Coast League with seven home runs in his first 14 games.

Right fielder Dave Sappelt was 2 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were outshone by the Huntsville Stars (Brewers), 9-7.

Dae-Eun Rhee started and allowed five runs on six hits over five innings. Rhee walked two and struck out four. All five runs were allowed in his first two innings as the Smokies fell behind 5-0.

Daniel Berlind relieved Rhee and took the loss in relief. He pitched two innings and allowed two runs on two hits. He walked three and struck out one.

Third baseman Nate Samson had a big day, going 4 for 4 and hitting his first home run of the season. The home run was a solo home run in the third inning that put the Smokies on the board for the first time. Samson also hit two doubles and walked once. He had three RBI.

Left fielder Ty Wright was 2 for 5 with a double. He scored once and had one RBI. First baseman Justin Bour went 2 for 4 with a walk and a run batted in. Catcher Michael Brenly was 2 for 5 with an RBI.

The Smokies trailed 9-6 heading to the ninth inning. They scored one run and then had the bases loaded with two out, but Jae-Hoon Ha lined out to end the game.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs lost their fifth straight game, falling to the Tampa Yankees, 5-2. Daytona is now 2-11 on the year.

Starting pitcher Eduardo Figueroa gave up four runs in the first inning, aided by an Arismendy Alcantara error that made three of the four runs unearned. He didn't allow another run in his five innings of work. He gave up six hits and he walked four. Figueroa struck out three Yankees.

Right fielder Nelson Perez hit a solo home run with out out in the ninth inning. It was his first home run of the season. Perez scored both D-Cubs runs.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs got all wet chasing the Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers), 11-4.

Ben Wells did not have a good start tonight, highlighted by a seven-run fifth inning. Wells lasted 4.2 innings and allowed ten runs on nine hits. At least only six of the runs were earned. Wells walked one and struck out three.

Left fielder Oliver Zapata stayed hot with a 3 for 5 night. He had one RBI. Shortstop Wes Darvill tripled in a 2 for 5 game. He had one RBI and he scored once.

Third baseman Brad Zapenas was a perfect 2 for 2 with two walks. He scored once.

First baseman Ryan Cuneo was 2 for 5 with an RBI. He also made two of Peoria's four errors.