Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 9

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were too slow to catch the Round Rock Express (Rangers), 4-2. Iowa is now 0-6 to start the season.

Chris Rusin allowed three runs in a rough first inning, two of which came off a home run by former Iowa Cub James Adduci. After that he settled down, but Iowa never caught up. Rusin pitched six innings and allowed four runs on seven hits. He walked four and struck out two.

Left fielder Darnell McDonald smashed a solo home run to deep center field in the second inning. He was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Center fielder Brett Jackson tripled and scored in the sixth inning. He was 2 for 4. DH Ty Wright was 2 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

Homeward bound, I wish I was, homeward bound.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were nosed out by the Clearwater Hammerheads (Phillies), 5-4. The loss ended their three-game winning streak.

Starter Zach Cates took the loss. He gave up three runs, only one of which was earned, on six hits over 3.2 innings. Cates was in control of the strike zone though as he struck out seven and walked no one.

DH Zeke DeVoss hit his first home run of the year, a solo home run to left to lead off the fourth inning. DeVoss was 1 for 5.

Right fielder Jorge Soler was 2 for 4 with a walk and a run batted in.

Third baseman Dustin Geiger had a rough day in the field as he made three throwing errors. Geiger was 1 for 4 at the plate.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars chopped down the Clinton LumberKings (Mariners), 6-5. It was their second straight walk-off win.

After his poor first start of the year, Pierce Johnson turned in a good one today as he pitched five innings and allowed only two runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out four.

Kane County scored three times in the second inning and added solo tallies in the sixth and eight to take a 5-3 lead. But Eddie Orozco blew the save when he allowed two runs without the benefit of a hit in the top of the ninth to tie up the game at five. Both of the runs were unearned, but the error was his after he threw the ball away after fielding a bunt. So you know how I feel about that. He also had two wild pitches in the inning. He walked one batter and didn't strike anyone out in the one inning he pitched.

But Orozco ended up with the win when third baseman Jeimer Candelario singled home second baseman Gioskar Amaya to end the game in the bottom of the ninth. Both Candelario and Amaya were 2 for 5 on the day.

DH Rock Shoulders stayed hot to start the season, going 2 for 3 with his second home run of the season; a solo home run in the sixth inning that broke a 3-3 tie. Shoulders also walked once and scored twice.

First baseman Dan Vogelbach was 3 for 5. Shortstop Marco Hernandez was 2 for 4 with a stolen base. He scored two runs.

Right fielder Bijan Rademacher went 2 for 3 with an RBI double and a bases-loaded walk.