Cubs Minor League Wrap May 9

First of all, I want to congratulate Peoria Chiefs first baseman Paul Hoilman on extending his hitting streak to a Peoria franchise record 22 games. That's something special, so enjoy it, Paul.

So I went to see the Iowa Cubs tonight in Fresno. It was a lovely game until the bottom of the eighth. I'll have more to say tomorrow, but I want to get the Wrap done before 1 am my time. So I'm just going to say when the sun went down, it was perfect baseball weather. I sat in the second row behind the plate, although one section down the first base line. I appreciated that the Grizzlies have wi-fi. And in an "Only in California" moment, my Diet Coke cost $4.75 and my glass of wine only cost $4. And it came with a complimentary plastic wine glass, perfect for summer nights on the patio. The wine wasn't half bad, either.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs allowed three runs in the eighth inning and three in the ninth to get mauled by the Fresno Grizzlies (Giants), 8-7.

Rodrigo Lopez started and allowed two runs on five hits over three innings. Lopez walked two and struck out three.

Scott Maine entered the game with a man on second in the eighth inning. Frank Batista had already allowed a two-run home run and hadn't recorded an out. Maine allowed the runners on second to score after a stolen base and a ground out, but got into real trouble in the ninth. He got his first loss of the year after giving up three run on three hits and two walks over 1.1 innings. He struck out one.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo hit a monster opposite-field shot in the eighth inning with a man on. It was his tenth home run this year. Rizzo was 1 for 3 with two walks.

Later on in the eighth inning, Jonathan Mota hit a pinch-hit three run home run to dead center for his first home run for Iowa and fourth overall.

Right fielder Alfredo Amezaga was 2 for 4 and scored twice.

You know what happens when a team carries 14 pitchers? Besides obvious stuff like starting Alfredo Amezaga in right field, you had Randy Wells pinch-hitting for Lopez in the fourth inning. I know they expect Blake DeWitt to show up in Iowa eventually, but in the meantime you've got stuff like this.

But Fresno was carrying 14 pitchers too, just to be fair. Either that or it's a trend. They had to pinch-hit with a pitcher, too.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies fell to the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 4-1.

Dallas Beeler started and got his second loss of the season. Beeler allowed three runs on eight hits over 4.2 innings.

Second baseman Logan Watkins was 3 for 4 with a double.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were pinched by the Charlotte Stone Crabs (Rays), 5-1.

Zach Cates pitched the first five innings and allowed four runs on eight hits. Cates walked two and struck out two as his record dropped to 0-5.

Shortstop Arismendy Alcantara was 2 for 4 with a double. Those were the only two hits that Daytona had all night.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs were cut short by the Beloit Snappers (Twins), 2-1.

Starter Kyler Burke pitched pretty well, but ended up with the loss anyway. He gave up two runs on six hits over 6.1 innings. Burke walked one and struck out four.

The Chiefs had nine hits, but could only push one run across. Center fielder Taiwan Easterling is starting to get hot. He was 2 for 4 with a double. Right fielder Oliver Zapata went 2 for 4.

As mentioned earlier, first baseman Paul Hoilman broke the Peoria franchise record with an infield single in the second inning. Just to remove any doubt, Hoilman also tripled in a 2 for 4 game. He scored the lone Chiefs run after the triple in the fourth inning.