Cubs Minor League Wrap; April 23

That was a great comeback by the Cubs tonight and that was a great AB by Mather slapping that pitch up back up the middle. But none of that happens without Bryan LaHair drawing a 12 pitch walk. It was around last July that I realized that LaHair was a major league hitter. He's why I don't turn the Minor League Wrap into a prospect watch. LaHair was just a minor league free agent when the Cubs grabbed him, and now he's probably the second-best hitter on the team. So I give the non-prospects an equal chance to shine here, because sometimes they just surprise you.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs lost to the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals), 6-2.

The I-Cubs got behind early as starter Jay Jackson gave up a run in the first and three in the second. Jackson went five innings and allowed five runs on eight hits. One of the five runs was unearned. He walked one and did not record a strikeout.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. Center fielder Brett Jackson was 2 for 4 with a stolen base. Jackson scored once.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies won a game of hide-and-seek against the Chattanooga Lookouts (Dodgers), 5-4 in 12 innings.

Dallas Beeler started and exited in the sixth inning after allowing four runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings. He walked two and struck out three.

After Beeler left in the sixth, Alberto Cabrera allowed an inherited runner to score and that was the last run scored until the twelfth. Cabrera pitched 2.1 innings of shutout ball, allowing two hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out two.

After Kevin Rhoderick pitched a scoreless ninth and Marcus Hatley pitched two perfect innings, the Smokies ran out of pitchers in the pen. So left fielder Jonathan Mota took the mound and gave up a lead-off single. But after a fly out, the Smokies got out of the inning when third baseman Nate Samson made a leaping catch of a screaming liner and then doubled up the runner at first. It was Mota's first professional win as a pitcher in six relief appearances.

The win just topped off a great night for Mota, as he hit his first home run of the season in the first inning. The solo home run capped off a three-run first for the Smokies. Overall, Mota was 2 for 4 with a walk.

Second baseman Elliot Soto doubled to lead off the game and scored on a Logan Watkins triple. Soto also tripled in a 2 for 4 game. Mota walked once and scored twice.

The winning run was scored when Samson walked, Michael Brenly bunted him over and first baseman Justin Bour singled him home. Bour was 1 for 2.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were mauled by the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 7-2.

Zach Cates started and took the loss. He pitched four innings and allowed three runs on six hits. Cates didn't walk anyone and had one strikeout.

The D-Cubs were unable to get a hit off Flying Tigers starter Jacob Turner, who went four innings. They only had one hit through seven and three hits total in the game. They were also caught stealing three times.

Left fielder John Andreoli was 1 for 2 with two walks. He scored once.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs had a screw loose against the Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays), 7-3.

Jose Rosario pitched the first five innings and allowed five runs on nine hits. One of the five runs was unearned. Rosario walked two and struck out two.

Second baseman Zeke DeVoss went 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored the first Chiefs run. Third baseman Wes Darvill was 1 for 2 with two walks and an RBI ground out in the ninth.