Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 8

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs shattered the Colorado Sky Sox (Rockies), 8-6.

Barret Loux came off the disabled list and threw the first four innings this evening. He allowed four runs, all in the third inning, on eight hits. Loux walked three and struck out four.

Esmailin Caridad collected the win after throwing two scoreless innings without allowing a hit in relief of Loux. Caridad walked one and struck out one.

Blake Parker got save number four. He pitched 1.1 innings without allowing a hit or a run. He walked one and struck out one.

Shortstop Alberto Gonzalez had four hits in his first eight games in Iowa since being demoted. Tonight he doubled that total, going 4 for 5 with a double and a walk. He scored one run and had one RBI.

Right fielder Brian Bogusevic kept his batting average above .400 by going 2 for 5 with a double and his second home run of the year. The home run was a solo home run in the eighth inning off former Cub Manny Corpas. Bogusevic also walked once and scored twice.

First baseman Brad Nelson hit two doubles in a 3 for 5 game. Nelson scored twice and had one RBI. Catcher J.C. Boscan went 3 for 4 with a walk and a run scored. Left fielder Darnell McDonald was 2 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. McDonald batted two runs in and scored once.

The start of this game was delayed by four hours and eight minutes due to rain.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies snapped their 29 inning scoreless streak in a big way, but still lost 12-11 in 14 innings to the Birmingham Barons (White Sox).

Dallas Beeler put the Smokies in an early hole when he was hammered for six runs in the first inning. After that he settled down and didn't give up another run until the fifth. Even that seventh run scored after two Smokies errors and after he exited the game. His final line was seven runs, four of which were earned, over 4.2 innings. Beeler walked three, hit a batter and struck out four.

The big news in this game was the two scoreless innings pitched by Kyuji Fujikawa in a rehab appearance. He retired the side on only six pitches in the seventh inning, so he pitched a second inning. He gave up a leadoff single in the eighth, but picked the runner off and then retired the next two hitters to end his day. Fujikawa threw 16 pitches, 10 for strikes. He is due to come off the DL on Friday.

Frank Batista relieved Fujikawa and gave up one insurance run in the ninth that ended up being huge when the Smokies scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth. Batista then allowed two runs in the top of the tenth, which the Smokies then matched again. He gave up three runs on four hits and two walks over two innings. Batista struck out one.

Marcus Hatley gave up a run in the top of the 14th to take the loss. He went one inning and allowed the one run on two hits and a walk. Hatley struck out one.

First baseman Tim Torres hit his first home run in the Cubs organization when he cracked a two-run shot in the fourth inning. Torres was 2 for 7 with two runs scored.

Right fielder Rubi Silva hit his fifth home run of the season when he went over the right-center field wall with a man on in the fifth inning. Silva was 2 for 7 with three total runs batted in, including a game-tying single in the bottom of the tenth.

Catcher Rafael Lopez went 3 for 5 with a double and two walks. He scored twice and knocked home the tying run in the bottom of the ninth.

Second baseman Arismendy Alcantara went 2 for 5 with a double and two walks. He scored two runs and had one RBI. Center fielder Matthew Szczur was 2 for 7 with a run scored.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs got swept by the St. Lucie Mets, 6-5 in ten innings.

Starter Austin Kirk had gopher ball problems as he gave up three in his five innings on the mound. Kirk allowed five total runs on nine hits. He walked one and struck out four.

Luis Liria got the loss when he gave up a two-out single in the bottom of the tenth. He threw 2.2 innings and gave up the one run on the one hit. He walked one and hit one batter in the tenth before the winning hit. Liria struck out three.

Right fielder Jorge Soler stayed hot as he went 3 for 4 with two doubles and his fifth home run of the year. It was a solo home run in the fourth inning. Soler scored two runs and knocked two home.

Third baseman Tim Saunders went 2 for 5 with a triple. He scored two runs.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars were stung by the Burlington Bees (Angels), 4-0.

Starter Pierce Johnson allowed more than two runs in a start for the first time since opening day. He allowed four runs on five hits over four innings. He walked three and struck out five.

Right fielder Bijan Rademacher was 2 for 2 with a walk.