Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 4

Everyone played a one-run game tonight. Two of them were walk-off games.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth and derailed the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins), 1-0.

Three Iowa pitchers combined to shut out the Zephyrs on three hits, and each pitcher gave up exactly one single. Rodrigo Lopez pitched the first three innings before getting pulled on a pitch count. Lopez walked one and struck out three.

Frankie De La Cruz took over for the next five innings. He walked two and struck out only one.

Blake Parker took over for the top of the ninth inning and got the win with his shutout inning. Parker struck out one Zephyr batter and did not walk anyone.

The Iowa Cubs had more baserunners than the Zephyrs, but they couldn't push anyone across the plate until the bottom of the ninth when second baseman Luis Valbuena opened the inning with a single. The next batter, first baseman Anthony Rizzo then doubled, putting runners on second and third with no outs. After an intentional walk and a force out at the plate, a wild pitch scored Rizzo and won the game.

Valbuena went 3 for 4. Rizzo was 2 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies jumped out to an early 5-1 lead in the second inning, but the rest of the game was just gravy for the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays) who defeated the Smokies 8-7.

Starter Dallas Beeler struggled, but he didn't have much help from his defense either. Beeler lasted five innings and allowed six runs on eleven hits, although three of the six runs were unearned. Beeler walked two and struck out one.

Casey Harman pitched pretty well over three innings of relief, but he wasn't perfect and ended up taking the loss. Harman allowed one run on four hits. He did not walk anyone and struck out one.

Third baseman Matthew Cerda hit a two-run home run in that five run second inning. It was Cerda's first home run of the season. Cerda was 2 for 3.

First baseman Justin Bour hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to tie the game temporarily. Bour's fourth home run of the season was his only hit in five at bats tonight.

Center fielder Logan Watkins was 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI. Second baseman Nate Samson doubled in a 2 for 4 game. Samson scored twice.

Catcher Michael Brenly went 2 for 3 with a walk.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were nailed by the Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins), 6-5.

Daytona scored four runs in the first inning, but starter Zach Cates could not hold the lead. He only lasted three innings and allowed five runs on six hits. One of the five runs was unearned. Cates walked two and struck out one.

Joseph Zeller relieved Cates and took the loss under unusual circumstances. He pitched three innings and allowed one unearned run on one hit, but the hit was a one-out double in the fourth inning. Zeller is a knuckleballer, and backup catcher Sergio Burruel was catching him for the first time. He allowed two passed balls in the next at bat and that scored the go-ahead run. Zeller walked one and did not strike anyone out.

First baseman Greg Rohan was 2 for 4 with two doubles. He scored once and had one RBI.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs were prey for the Kane County Cougars (Royals), 4-3.

Starter Kyler Burke was pretty strong for six innings, but for the first time in his career he pitched into the seventh inning and got into trouble, allowing two more runs. Burke's final line was 6.1 innings pitched and he gave up three runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out three.

The Chiefs scored a run in the top of the ninth to tie up the game at three, but Bryce Shafer couldn't keep the Cougars from scoring in the bottom of the inning. Shafer pitched a third of an inning and gave up the run after a lead-off walk, a sacrifice bunt and a game-ending single.

Shortstop Marco Hernandez was 2 for 4 with an RBI triple. He then scored from third on a passed ball.

Right fielder Taiwan Easterling was 2 for 4 with a double. He also threw out a runner at the plate in the eighth inning.