Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 21

I'm diverting from my normal formula on the Daytona Cubs game to give you a detailed description of the wild end of the game. I'm doing this because it was a bizarre and thrilling game that can't be captured by just reading the batting lines and because I think we all need to read about a Cubs victory right about now. So be sure to follow the jump and read about the game.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs had a rocky time against the Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners), 8-2.

Jay Jackson started and took the loss, primarily because he allowed two two-run home runs to Carlos Peguero in the first three innings. Jackson was pulled after three innings, having allowed six runs on nine hits, including those two home runs. Jackson walked one and struck out two.

Right fielder Alfredo Amezaga was 2 for 3 with a double and two walks. He scored twice. Catcher Juan Apodaca went 2 for 3 with two walks.

Second baseman Blake DeWitt was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a double.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies lost to the Mississippi Braves, 8-5.

Dae-Eun Rhee started and gave up three runs on eight hits over six innings. Rhee walked two and did not record a strikeout.

Brian Schlitter relieved Rhee and pitched an easy 1-2-3 seventh inning. But disaster struck when he walked the first batter in the eighth. A pinch runner promptly stole second base and the next Braves hitter, catcher Christian Betancourt, bunted the ball back to the pitcher. Schlitter went to third on the play and threw the ball all the way down the line and into the left field corner. It was so bad that the batter (remember: he's a catcher) was able to circle the bases for the go-ahead run. The Braves would go on to score five runs in the bottom of the eighth and put the game away. Schlitter took his second loss after allowing four runs, three of which were ruled earned, on two hits. He walked one and struck out one.

Left fielder Rebel Ridling hit his third home run in two days with a man on in the third inning. Ridling was 1 for 4 and now has four total homers this season.

Center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha was 2 for 3 with two walks. He scored once with one RBI. Third baseman Junior Lake went 2 for 4 with a walk and he scored one time.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs won a wild one over the St. Lucie Mets, 4-3.

Matt Loosen started and was nearly perfect tonight. He allowed only one hit before he gave up a solo home run in the seventh inning. Loosen was pulled one out later, giving him 6.2 innings pitched, allowing one run on two hits. He walked one and struck out eight.

The D-Cubs fell behind 3-1 in the top of the eighth when Ty'Relle Harris allowed a two-out double and a walk. Next he threw a wild pitch to put runners on second and third with two out, followed by walking the bases loaded. With two out and two strikes on the batter, Harris threw a second wild pitch to allow the go-ahead run to score. Harris then induced an easy ground ball to shortstop Arismendy Alcantara that would have gotten him out of the inning, but Alcantara threw the ball into the stands. In what seems to have been a horrible call by the umpire, the runner on second base was only awarded third base, rather than being allowed to score. Harris then struck out the next batter, so the Mets never scored that extra insurance run.

Harris pitched 1.1 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on one hit. He walked two and struck out two.

The Cubs came back in the bottom of the ninth to score three runs and win the game. Catcher Chad Noble singled and left fielder John Andreoli walked. Then center fielder Matt Szczur singled and Cubs manager Brian Harper held Noble up at third base. However, Andreoli continued on to third base and had to quickly throw on the brakes and go back to second. But after Mets first baseman Richard Lucas cut off the throw to the plate, he threw the ball into center field, failing to get Andreoli, who was dead-to-rights, and scoring Noble.

Now with runners on first and second and no outs and the D-Cubs down a run, Alcantara twice failed to get a bunt down. So with two strikes he swung away and singled to left field, scoring Andreoli and tying the game.

So with runners on first and second, right fielder Nelson Perez was hit by a pitch on an 0-2 count to load the bases. Honestly, there is no way the pitcher was throwing at Perez in that situation, but somehow Perez took exception, words were exchanged and benches cleared, although the kerfuffle was limited to words. Finally, with the bases loaded and no outs, third baseman Greg Rohan hit a fly ball to medium center field, which almost certainly would not have scored any runner on third except Szczur, who beat the throw home to win the game.

The Mets left the field yelling at the umpire and maybe the Cubs as well. They play again tomorrow morning at 10:35 eastern time. Some bad blood might spill over.

Ryan Searle pitched a 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning to get the win. He had one strikeout.

Matt Szczur was 2 for 4 with a walk and an RBI, as well as scoring the winning run. Arismendy Alcantara was 2 for 5 with that RBI single in the ninth. Catcher Chad Noble was 2 for 4 and scored twice and John Andreoli went 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs got lost in a corn maze against the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Angels), 5-4.

Michael Jensen started the game and pitched 5.1 innings, giving up two runs on three hits. He was awfully wild though as he walked three and hit three batters. Jensen struck out four.

Larry Suarez entered the game in the bottom of the eighth and gave up a three-run home run to take the loss. Suarez pitched the one inning and allowed the three runs on three hits. He walked one and struck out two.

DH Paul Hoilman was 2 for 5 with a double. Right fielder Oliver Zapata was 1 for 1 with three walks. He scored two runs and batted one in.