Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 30

In case you hadn't heard, the Cubs released infielder Edgar Gonzalez so that he could sign with the Yomiuri Giants. Good luck in Japan, Edgar.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs lost to the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals), 5-4.

Travis Wood started and got in trouble early as he gave up singles to the first two hitters and then capped it off with a three-run home run to Allan Craig. Wood settled down after that, at least until the fifth inning when he gave up a second, two-run home run to Craig. He pitched five innings and allowed five runs on seven hits, including the two home runs. Wood walked one and struck out four.

Second baseman Adrian Cardenas temporarily tied the game in the fourth inning with a solo home run. It was his second home run this year. He was 2 for 3 with a walk.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo was 2 for 4 with two RBI.

Tennessee Smokies

On the bus back home to Sevierville. Tennessee is a very long state.

Daytona Cubs

A four-run eighth inning by the Lakeland Flying Tigers grounded the Daytona Cubs, 8-6.

Frank Del Valle put the D-Cubs in a position to win after allowing only two runs over the first five innings. He allowed five hits, including a solo home run in the fourth, but didn't hand out any free passes. Del Valle struck out three.

Entering the eight inning leading 5-4, Eduardo Figueroa took the mound for the Cubs and struck out the first batter he faced and then issued three straight walks to load the bases. Then Tony Zych entered the game and got three shallow fly balls to the outfield. Unfortunately while the first one was caught for the second out and no runners advanced, the next two dropped in for bloop singles, scoring four.

So Figueroa's final line was 0.1 innings, allowing three runs on no hits and a walk and the only out came from a strikeout. All three inherited runner were allowed to score by Zych, who allowed a run of his own on two hits over two-thirds of an inning. Zych got a strikeout to end the inning.

DH Rubi Silva was 3 for 4 with two RBI. Right fielder Elieser Bonne went 2 for 5 with one RBI.

Center fielder Matt Szczur led off the game with a bunt single that started a three-run first inning. Szczur was 2 for 5 with a triple and two runs scored. He also stole his league-leading thirteenth base of the season. (Bakersfield's Billy Hamilton leads High-A and all of baseball with 29 steals already.)

Left fielder John Andreoli was 2 for 4 with two stolen bases.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs got hammered for seven runs in the first inning and were topped by the Fort Wayne Tin Caps (Padres), 8-4.

Geraldo Concepcion is not finding the Midwest League to be very easy. Especially those first innings. After a shaky first minor league start, today he couldn't get out of the first inning as he was hammered for seven runs over two-thirds of an inning. Concepcion allowed five hits, walked one and hit one batter. Three of the five hits were for extra bases and one of them was a home run.

Concepcion wasn't helped out by reliever Willengton Cruz, who entered the game with the bases loaded and gave up a bases-clearing triple to the first batter he faced. After that, Cruz was fine, pitching 3.1. innings and allowing only two hits and no runs of his own. Cruz walked two and struck out four.

Second baseman Zeke DeVoss was 2 for 3 with a double and two walks. He scored twice and stole two bases.

Catcher Rafael Lopez was 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored. Left fielder Ryan Cuneo had a double and walked once in a 2 for 4 game.

First baseman Paul Hoilman extended his hitting streak to 14 games by going 2 for 5 with a double. He scored once and knocked one in. Shortstop Wes Darvill's hitting streak came to an end though as he was 0 for 5.