Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 6

I'll try to get my Iowa Cubs preview up as soon as possible. My in-laws are here this weekend, however.

The system goes 2-2 today. Daytona gets their first win and Tennessee picks up where they left off last year, going to 2-0.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs weren't fast enough for the Round Rock Express (Rangers), 4-3.

Casey Coleman started tonight and ran into trouble with the long ball. Coleman gave up four runs on five hits, two of which were home runs. The bright side of his start was that he didn't walk anyone and he struck out five.

After the Cubs fell behind 4-0, they fought their way back into the game. They scored two runs in the eighth inning to make it 4-3, but the potential tying run Tony Campana was thrown out at home trying to score from second on a base-loaded single by Anthony Rizzo. Rizzo was 2 for 4 with the one RBI.

Center fielder Brett Jackson was 1 for 3 with a walk and a triple. He had one RBI. Third baseman Josh Vitters was 1 for 3 with his second walk in two days. Vitters scored once.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies blinded the Chattanooga Lookouts (Dodgers), 1-0.

Smokies starter Trey McNutt was wild, but managed to pitch out of any troubles. McNutt lasted 3.2 innings and allowed two hits and three walks. He also threw three wild pitches. McNutt struck out three.

Jeffry Antigua bailed out McNutt in the fourth and went on to throw 2.1 innings for the win. He gave up two hits but no walks. Antigua struck out two.

"Fireman" Frank Batista collected his second save in as many nights, but it wasn't easy. After getting the first two outs in the ninth, he allowed a walk and a hit before getting a pop up to end the game. Batista threw just the one inning and collected one strikeout.

All the offense in this game came from right fielder Michael Burgess, who crushed a solo home run in the sixth inning. Nothing Burgess hits just barely clears the fence, by the way. Burgess was 2 for 4.

Second baseman Logan Watkins was 2 for 4.

Daytona Cubs

All of yesterday's hand-wringing about the D-Cubs can end now as the Daytona Cubs harpooned the Brevard County Manatees (Brewers), 6-2.

Eric Jokisch was effective in his six inning start, allowing just two runs on four hits. Jokisch walked one and struck out five.

Ty'Relle Harris got the win with an inning of shutout relief. A walk was the only baserunner he allowed. He did not record a strikeout.

Tony Zych got his first professional save by pitching the final two innings without allowing a run. He gave up only one hit and no walks. Zych stuck out one. May this save be the first of many.

The big blow in this game was a three-run home run by shortstop Arismendy Alcantara, which extended the D-Cubs lead to 6-2 in the eighth. The home run hit half-way up the light tower in left. Alcantara was 3 for 3 with a walk. He scored twice and had four RBI.

DH Rubi Silva was 3 for 4 with two doubles and an RBI.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs were burned by the Beloit Snappers (Twins), 6-1.

Starter Patrick Francescon was pretty strong tonight, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing one run on two hits. Francescon struck out nine and didn't walk anyone, although he did hit two batters.

Willengton Cruz took the loss in relief. Cruz allowed four runs on two hits and two walks. Three of those runs scored after he left the game when Twins top prospect Miguel Sano crushed a grand slam off of Bryce Shafer. Cruz did not strike out anyone.

No Chief had more than one hit. DH Eduardo Gonzalez was 1 for 3 with an RBI double.