Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 29

Iowa Cubs

When I was a little kid, I hated Joe Rudi. I had no reason to hate Joe Rudi, except that I decided I liked the Cincinnati Reds (Hey, I was very, very young) and Joe Rudi robbed the Reds in the 1972 World Series. As I got older, I realized that several of the players on the Big Red Machine were jerks and that the Swingin' A's were actually pretty cool. That includes Joe Rudi.

So I take no pleasure in telling you that Joe Rudi Day at Principal Park today was rained out. If I still lived in Iowa, I would have been there and I would have proudly asked Joe Rudi for his autograph.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies counterattacked the Jackson Generals (Mariners), 5-3 in ten innings.

Dae-Eun Rhee started today and exited with the score tied 3-3 in the fifth inning. His final line was allowing three runs on six hits over 4.1 innings. Rhee walked four and struck out five.

Scott Weisman entered the game with two on and one out in the fifth and threw a wild pitch and then walked the first batter he faced to load the bases. But after a foul out and a strikeout, Weisman retired the Generals with no further damage. He didn't allow a hit in his 1.2 innings, but he did walk two. Weisman struck out one.

The Smokies bullpen shut down Jackson after the fifth. Primarily Marcus Hatley, who threw the final three innings to get his first win of the year. He gave up one hit and walked one intentionally while striking out four.

The Smokies broke the tie in the top of the tenth with a two-run home run by Jonathan Mota. Mota was 3 for 5 with a double. The home run was his second this season.

Catcher Michael Brenly was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. I should add that Brenly is currently the only catcher on the Smokies roster.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs lost a dogfight to the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 6-4.

Zach Cates started and saw his record fall to 0-4. He pitched five innings and allowed three runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out two.

Center fielder Matt Szczur was 2 for 4 with a double. He scored twice. DH Nelson Perez went 2 for 4 with a triple. Perez scored once and batted two in.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs cooked the Fort Wayne Tin Caps (Padres), 5-2.

Ben Wells started and threw 5.1 scoreless innings. Wells allowed only two hits. He walked three and struck out three.

Kyler Burke allowed two runs over 3.2 innings of relief of Wells, but he got his first save because he pitched more than three innings. Burke allowed the two runs on five hits and two walks. He did strike out four.

The Chiefs did all of their damage in a five-run third inning, highlighted by a grand slam by DH Taylor Davis. It was Davis's first career home run. Davis also had a double and a walk in a 2 for 3 game.

Shortstop Wes Darvill was 2 for 5 and scored on the Davis granny. Darvill now has a 13 game hitting streak.