Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 25

After today, I'm not going to list how many hits a batter had or how many runs a pitcher allowed. Instead, I'm just going to tell you each player's "The Will To Win" number. For example, Dallas Beeler's TWTW number tonight is five.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs caught the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 9-3.

Starter Barret Loux pitched 4.2 innings and allowed three run on eight hits. He had some control issues as he walked four and struck out three.

Since Loux came one out short of qualifying for the win, it was awarded to Esmailin Caridad. However, Caridad truly earned it with 2.1 innings of hitless baseball. He did walk two and struck out three.

Rafael Dolis entered the game with the bases-loaded and two out in the eighth inning and he got Xavier Nady to ground out to end the inning. He then pitched the ninth to collect his first save. He did walk two batters in the ninth but didn't allow a hit. Dolis fanned two.

Ryan Sweeney was a one-man wrecking crew at the plate tonight as he just missed hitting for the cycle; going 4 for 5 with a triple and a home run. The home run came with two on in the first inning and gave Iowa an early 3-0 lead that they would never relinquish. It was Sweeney's fourth home run this year. He had four total RBI and scored two runs. He also walked once.

Left fielder Brent Lillibridge was also 4 for 5 with a walk, although for him it was four singles. He had two RBI.

DH Darnell McDonald was 2 for 5 with a double. He scored two runs and had one RBI. Shortstop Edwin Maysonet was 2 for 4 with a triple and a walk. He batted one run in.

Third baseman Ian Stewart went 1 for 3 and scored a run in a rehab game.

The Iowa Cubs drew ten walks tonight. Four of them came from second baseman Logan Watkins, who was 0 for 2 otherwise. Watkins scored one run.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies reeled in the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Reds), 2-1.

Great start for Dallas Beeler, as he scattered seven hits over seven shutout innings on the way to his second win of the year. He walked one and struck out two.

The Smokies have had some issues this year closing out games, but tonight Brian Schlitter had a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save of the season. Schlitter had one strikeout.

Second baseman Ronald Torreyes was the big bat tonight, going 3 for 3 with a double and a triple. He scored in the third inning after the triple. He also walked once.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs grounded the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 5-3.

Zach Cates had five shutout innings as he got his second win. Cates allowed four hits and walked one. He struck out four.

David Cales pitched the final two innings without allowing a hit or a run for his first save. He walked two and struck out four.

Shortstop Javier Baez hit one of his tremendous bombs over the scoreboard in left field in Daytona. It came in the bottom of the first with no one on. Baez was 2 for 4.

Catcher Chad Noble chipped in with his first home run of the season in the second inning. It was a solo shot as well. Noble went 2 for 3 with a walk.

DH Anthony Giansanti was 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored in the second inning on a triple by Tim Saunders.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars were cooked by the Fort Wayne Tincaps (Padres), 6-4.

Starter Lendy Castillo got rocked for six runs on eight hits, including two home runs, over six innings. Castillo struck out three and did not walk anyone. One of the six runs allowed was unearned.

Right fielder Bijan Rademacher was 2 for 4. He had an RBI single and later scored as part of a three-run eighth inning for Kane County.

First baseman Dan Vogelbach was 0 for 4 with a walk, but he also stole his second base of the season. If you would have told be that after 17 games that Vogelbach would have as many steals as home runs, I wouldn't have believed you. Actually, I would have believed you and assumed the number was zero.