Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 4

It's a new season here in the Minor League Wrap. You're going to have to forgive me if I'm a little rusty. After months of writing up MLB Bullets, WBC coverage and filling in on various things here and there, it's time for me to get back to my main task here: doing recaps of each night's minor league games.

If you're not following me on Twitter, you can at @CubsMinorsWrap. (I really need to shorten that.) On the nights that I'm following the minor league games, which is most nights, I'll do regular updates of the games. I gained five followers tonight and then lost three when they saw how much crap I was filling up their timeline with.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were blasted by the Albuquerque Isotopes (Dodgers), 10-3 after a seven-run seventh inning.

Chris Rusin started for Iowa and didn't get any help from his defense early. Iowa committed two errors in a three-run first inning to put them behind early. Rusin settled down after that and went five innings without allowing another run. One of the three runs Rusin allowed in his five innings of work was unearned. He was touched for four hits. He walked two and struck out four.

With the scored tied at three in the bottom of the seventh, Jensen Lewis made his Cubs debut, and it was disastrous. Lewis allowed five runs on four hits over only a third of an inning. The one out he recorded was even a sacrifice bunt, but the inning was also extended on an error by first baseman Brian Bogusevic, so two of the five runs he was charged with were unearned. Lewis did not walk anyone, so there's that.

Iowa had eleven hits tonight, but all eleven were singles. Bogusevic led the attack by going 3 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored. Left fielder Ty Wright was 2 for 4 with an RBI and catcher J.C. Boscan was 2 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were swallowed whole by the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Reds), 7-3.

Dallas Beeler started for the Smokies and had gopher ball issues. He took the loss after going 4.1 innings and allowing four runs on seven hits, three of which were solo home runs. Beeler struck out five and only walked one, although he did hit two more batters.

The Smokies took a brief 2-1 lead in the third inning when shortstop Arismendy Alcantara hit a two-run home run to dead center field. Alcantara went 2 for 3 with a walk. He also had all three Smokies RBI. Alcantara also stole a base.

Left fielder Matt Szczur was 3 for 4 and scored on the Alcantara home run.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were shipwrecked by the Brevard County Manatees (Brewers), 4-3.

Ben Wells got the opening night start and left with the score tied 2-2 after four innings. Wells gave up seven hits and struck out four. He didn't walk anyone but like Beeler, he hit two batters.

Sheldon McDonald relieved Wells and took the loss when he gave up two runs in the seventh innings. He pitched 2.2 innings of relief and allowed those two runs on seven hits. He struck out four and didn't walk anyone.

Right fielder Jorge Soler was 2 for 4.

Kane County Cougars

In their debut as a Cubs affiliate, the Kane County Cougars were mugged by the Quad City River Bandits (Astros), 7-2.

Pierce Johnson was very good in the first inning, retiring the side in order and striking out two. Then the second inning came when he got rocked for five runs. Johnson got the loss after allowing five runs on six hits over 2.1 innings. Johnson walked one and struck out four.

DH Rock Shoulders hit the first home run of the Cubs minor league system when he cranked a two-run shot in the fourth inning, which accounted for all of Kane County's runs. Shoulders was 1 for 4.

First baseman Dan Vogelbach was 2 for 4. Third baseman Jeimer Candelario went 1 for 3 with a walk and scored on the Shoulders home run.