Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 8

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs are still looking for their first win after being steamrolled by the Round Rock Express (Rangers), 13-5.

Barret Loux's Cubs debut was one he'd like to forget. He got tagged for six runs in the first inning, culminated by a grand slam by Express first baseman Chris McGuiness. It was the first of two home runs McGuiness would hit today. Loux gave up three hits and he walked three. He struck out two and was done after the first inning.

After Express pitcher Collin Balester had sent the first nine Cubs down in order, second baseman Logan Watkins hit his first Triple-A home run to lead off the fourth inning. Watkins would later double and score in the eighth inning. He was 2 for 4.

Center fielder Brett Jackson was 2 for 4 with a double and a two-run single in the eighth. Shortstop Donnie Murphy was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored and right fielder Brian Bogusevic was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies got wet against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Reds), 2-1.

Starting pitcher Dae-Eun Rhee pitched 4.1 innings and allowed a run on two hits and three walks. He struck out one.

Rhee exited with one out in the fifth, the bases loaded and a 1-0 lead. Reliever Brian Schlitter allowed a single to tie up the game at one, but then got a double play to end the threat. He allowed another run in the sixth when the Blue Wahoo leadoff hitter reached on an error by second baseman Elliot Soto and the next batter doubled him home. Schlitter got the loss after giving up the one unearned run on two hits over 1.2 innings. He didn't strike anyone out and the one walk he gave up was intentional.

Center fielder Matt Szczur is off to a good start this year. Today he was 2 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored Tennessee's only run in the first inning. So far this season, Szczur is hitting .409 with a ,480 OBP. Yep, it's only five games against one team.

Shortstop Arismendy Alcantara was 2 for 4. He also committed his second error.

Daytona Cubs

Probably doing whatever young men in Daytona Beach do on a day off in the spring. Art museums, I'd guess.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars finally got their first Cubs win with a 6-5 win in ten innings over the Clinton LumberKings. (Mariners) It was Kane County's third straight extra-inning game.

Lendy Castillo pitched very well in his season debut. He pitched five innings and allowed only one run on three hits. Castillo walked two and struck out four.

Brian Smith pitched two scoreless innings as the Cougars had a 5-1 lead after seven innings. But reliever Justin Amlung blew the lead when he gave up a two-run home run in the eighth inning and another two runs in the ninth on a solo home run followed by a walk, a wild pitch and a two-out RBI single. But Amlung stayed in the game and retired the LumberKings in order in the top of the tenth and got the win when the Cougars scored in the bottom of the inning. Amlung threw three innings and allowed four runs on four hits, two of which were home runs. He walked one and struck out two.

Right fielder Bijan Rademacher singled home first baseman Rock Shoulders with two out in the bottom of the tenth to end the game. Rademacher was 3 for 5 and had a two-run single as well in the fourth for three total RBI. Shoulders was 2 for 5.

Catcher Chadd Krist had two doubles in a 3 for 5 game. He scored twice. Center fielder Pin-Chieh Chen was 2 for 5 and scored once.

Second baseman Gioskar Amaya was 3 for 5. He tripled and scored in the seventh inning.