Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 29

If the I-Cubs could have just played Nashville tonight, then it would have been an all-Cubs versus all-Brewers night tonight. But no, those Triple-A guys have to be different and played a Royals farm club.

One really wild game in Peoria tonight.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs brought the heavens down on the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 5-4. Iowa has now won five straight.

Chris Rusin pitched the first six innings and allowed four runs on seven hits, including a pair of home runs. Rusin walked two and struck out three.

Jeff Beliveau got his first Triple-A win in relief. He pitched just the seventh inning and allowed only one baserunner, a two-out walk. Beliveau did not have a strikeout.

Scott Maine faced three batters in the ninth inning and got three ground outs to shortstop Luis Valbuena. It was his third save for Iowa.

For the second day in a row and third time in four games, first baseman Josh Vitters homered. It was a solo home run in the fifth inning and he now has seven this season. Vitters was 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored twice and had just the one RBI.

Right fielder Dave Sappelt was 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Anthony Rizzo did not play for the second straight day.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies clouded out the Huntsville Stars (Brewers), 3-2.

It was a great start for Nick Struck today as he pitched six scoreless innings to even his record on the season at 5-5. Struck allowed three hits, He walked one and struck out nine.

Kevin Rhoderick entered the game in the eighth inning with one out, runners on second and third and the Smokies hanging on to a 3-2 lead. Rhoderick got the Smokies out of that inning and then pitched the ninth to get his sixth save. In his 1.2 innings, Rhoderick allowed no runs and one one hit. He did not strike anyone out and he walked one, but it was intentional.

Shortstop Junior Lake was 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored. Jae-Hoon Ha was 2 for 4 and stole a base.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were swept by the Brevard County Manatees (Brewers), 4-1 and 5-2.

Robert Whitenack made his first appearance in a year after Tommy John surgery and he understandably struggled. Whitenack gave up four runs on ten hits over 4.1 innings. One of the four runs was unearned. Whitenack walked one and did not strike anyone out.

First baseman Richard Jones was 2 for 3 with a double. He scored the lone D-Cub run in the first game.

In the second game, P. J. Francescon threw a six-inning complete game, but obviously he took the loss after giving up five runs on eight hits. He walked three and struck out five.

First baseman Greg Rohan provided all of Daytona's offense in game two when he hit a two-run home run in the third inning. Rohan now has nine home runs on the year. He was 1 for 3 tonight.

Shortstop Arismendy Alcantara was 2 for 2 with a walk. He was on first base when Rohan homered.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs outlasted the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 4-3 in 14 innings.

Kyler Burke was nearly unhittable through five inning tonight. That's not necessarily a good thing as one of the reasons he was unhittable was that he was wild and he issued five walks. But he only gave up one hit which, unfortunately, was a second inning solo home run. He also gave up one more unearned run in the second for a total of two runs. Besides walking five, Burke struck out two.

Kenny Socorro is a player-coach for the Chiefs who only plays when they need an extra man. He was an infielder last season for the Chiefs. He was on the opening day roster for Peoria this season. Despite that, Socorro had not entered a game yet this season, although he did have a stint on the DL.

Tonight, the Chiefs needed Kenny and he answered the call. Not as an infielder, but making his season debut as an emergency pitcher. And wouldn't you know, he threw two perfect innings and got the win. He even had one strikeout.

Right fielder Oliver Zapata ended the game in the bottom of the 14th when he hit a bloop single to left field, scoring Pin-Chieh Chen. Zapata didn't have a good day before that as he finished the night with a 1 for 7 line.

DH Ryan Cuneo hit a solo home run in the third inning, his fourth on the year. Cuneo went 2 for 5 and was intentionally walked once.

Left fielder Yasiel Balaguert went 2 for 6 with a double and an RBI. Catcher Anthony Giansanti was 2 for 6 with an RBI.