Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 26

Extended Spring Training got rained out today, so a couple of the players decided to spend the evening increasing the number of their Twitter followers. (Honestly, kids today. Old Hoss Radbourn would teach them a thing or two.) Anyway, Brett got involved in it and I sort of chipped in, although I was actually working by trying to listen to three games at once. (Sorry Smokies, but I'd go crazy if I actually tried to listen to four at a time. You got left out tonight.) But if you're interested in following me on Twitter, I'm still at @Cubsminorswrap. I'm thinking I should shorten that a little.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs silenced the Nashville Sounds (Brewers), 7-1.

Frankie De La Cruz made his second start tonight and picked up his first win. He went five innings and allowed one run in the first inning.

Third baseman Adrian Cardenas swung the mighty bat tonight. He was 2 for 3 with a bases-loaded double in the bottom of the first to clear the bases. He walked once and scored once. He had four total RBI.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo was 2 for 4. He scored once and had two RBI.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were pacified by the Jackson Generals (Mariners), 7-2.

Nick Struck matched up with Generals pitcher James Paxton and ended up on the short end of the decision. Struck went 5.1 innings and gave up all seven runs. The Generals got nine hits off of him, including two home runs. Struck walked one and struck out three.

First baseman Justin Bour hit his second home run of the year. It was a solo home run in the seventh inning. Bour was 1 for 4.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs mounted a two-out, top of the ninth rally to send the game into extra innings, but ended all wet against the Clearwater Threshers (Phillies), 5-3 in 11 innings.

Austin Kirk turned in a quality start tonight, allowing two runs, only one earned, over six innings. He gave up six hits and walked two. Kirk fanned six.

Ty'Relle Harris retired Clearwater 1-2-3 in the tenth, but gave up a mammoth home run in the eleventh to Anthony Hewitt to end the game. The final line for Harris was 1.1 innings pitched, allowing two runs on one hit. He walked one and struck out three.

The comeback in the ninth was a pair of two-out triples by third baseman Arismendy Alcantara and center fielder Matthew Szczur. Alcantara was 2 for 4 and just scored the one time. Szczur was 1 for 4 with a walk and a run scored. He also stole his league-leading eleventh base of the year.

Shortstop Ronald Torreyes was 2 for 3 with an RBI. He was also hit by a pitch.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs were sunk by the Lake County Captains (Indians), 7-6 in 11 innings.

Michael Jensen had been off to a great start this season, but he didn't have it tonight. Jensen gave up five runs over five innings. He allowed six hits and issued three walks. Jensen struck out four.

Jeffrey Lorick came on for the save with a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, but walked two and allowed a bunt single to load the bases with no one out. Lorick was lucky to only allow one run in the inning after getting a strikeout, a sacrifice fly and another strikeout.

Austin Reed gave up the losing run in the bottom of the eleventh. He allowed a single to the leadoff hitter and then threw the ball away on a sacrifice bunt attempt. A sacrifice fly then ended the game. Reed pitched one inning and allowed the one unearned run on one hit. Here's where I make my plea that if it's the pitcher that makes the error, the run ought to be earned. Reed did not have a walk or a strikeout.

Third baseman Wes Darvill was 2 for 6 with his first professional home run. It came with a man on in the third inning.

Center fielder Pin-Chieh Chen was 2 for 5 with a double and two runs scored.