Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 13

When I do these nightly recaps, I keep starting the Cougars recaps by typing "Peo" before catching myself. It's going to take some getting used to.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs finally beat the Albuquerque Isotopes (Dodgers), 6-1. Iowa had lost the first five games against the Isotopes this season and 16 of their last 17 games dating back to 2011.

Starter Barret Loux's second start of the season went a whole lot better than the first. He got the win after allowing only one run on six hits over five innings. He walked two and struck out five.

Yoanner Negrin was very impressive over three innings of scoreless relief. He gave up two hits and got one batter out with a ground ball, but he struck out the other eight batters he faced. He threw 48 pitches, 32 of which were strikes.

Iowa went ahead for good in the third inning when first baseman Brad Nelson singled home shortstop Logan Watkins to give Iowa a 2-1 lead. Then in the fourth inning, Watkins hit his first home run of the season with a man on to make it 4-1 and Albuquerque never got close again.

Nelson was 2 for 4. Watkins was 1 for 3 with two walks. He scored two runs.

Rehabbing Darwin Barney played six innings at second base and went 1 for 4. He scored a run on a Brett Jackson triple in the fourth. Jackson was 1 for 4 with a walk.

Catcher J.C. Boscan was was 2 for 4 with a run scored and a run batted in. Left fielder Brian Bogusevic entered the game on a double-switch in the sixth and went 2 for 2 with an RBI double that scored Boscan in the eighth. He also stole a base.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies blinded the Chattanooga Lookouts (Dodgers), 8-6.

It was a strong start tonight for Kyle Hendricks, who picked up his first win of the season. Hendricks pitched six innings and gave up only one unearned run on five hits. He did walk three, however, and he struck out only one batter.

Hendricks left with an 8-1 lead that was cut to 8-6 when A.J. Morris allowed three runs in the seventh and two in the eighth. But Frank Batista got his first save after a rocky start. He allowed an RBI triple with one out to the first batter he faced, but kept any more runs from scoring after that. He pitched 1.2 innings and allowed no runs on one hit. He didn't walk anyone and struck out one batter.

Shortstop Arismendy Alcantara hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning that gave Tennessee that 8-1 lead. It was Alcantara's second home run this season. He was 2 for 5 and scored twice.

Right fielder Rubi Silva was 3 for 4 with a double and a triple. He had two RBI. Second baseman Ronald Torreyes was 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs got bounced by the Tampa Yankees, 9-4.

P.J. Francescon had a lot of trouble with the Yankees #3 prospect (according to Baseball America) Gary Sanchez. He gave up two home runs to him; one with two men on and one with the bases empty. Francescon took the loss after tossing five innings and allowing six runs on eight hits. He did not walk anyone and struck out five.

Shortstop Javier Baez went 2 for 4 with a double and a triple. He scored two runs.

Second baseman Stephen Bruno was 2 for 4. He scored one run and knocked two home. I think in one of my pre-season previews I said to keep on eye on Bruno but that he wasn't going to hit .361 again. That's right. So far in Daytona, he's hitting .371.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars split a double-header to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, losing 7-6 in the first game and winning 3-1 in eleven innings in the second one.

Ian Dickson started the first game and got his first loss of the season. He allowed seven runs on eight hits over five innings. He struck out three and didn't walk anyone, although he did hit two batters.

First baseman Dan Vogelbach connected for his first home run of the year in the seventh inning with the bases empty to get Kane County to within a run. Next up, third baseman Jeimer Candelario doubled, followed by a Rock Shoulders walk. One out later, shortstop Marco Hernandez walked to load the bases with one out and the tying run on third, but Bijan Rademacher and Trey Martin both struck out to end the game.

Vogelbach was 1 for 2 with two walks and two runs scored. Candelario was 1 for 2 with two walks and one run scored. Shoulders was 1 for 3 with a two-run double in the third inning. Shoulders just had the one walk.

In the second game, Felix Pena started and allowed only one unearned run over six innings. He was touched for five hits while walking one and striking out three.

Justin Amlung got the win with four innings of scoreless relief. Amlung allowed two hits, both singles. He walked one and struck out one. Eddie Orozco pitched the bottom of the eleventh for his first save of the season. He allowed a one-out single, but nothing else. Orozco struck out one.

Willson Contreras hit a two-run home run in the top of the eleventh to give Kane County the win. It was his first on the season. Contreras entered the game in the seventh inning after catching the whole first game and was 2 for 2.

Third baseman Jeimer Candelario was 2 for 3 with two walks. He scored on Contreras's home run. Shortstop Wes Darvill was 2 for 4.

Rock Shoulders was 0 for 5 in the second game; the first time this season he went without a hit.