Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 26

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs outlasted the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Rockies), 9-6 in 13 innings.

Starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks pitched six innings and allowed four runs on ten hits. Hendricks walked two, one intentional, and struck out four.

Jeffry Antigua was pretty darn good in his first appearance of the season. Antigua entered the game in the top of the ninth and stayed in to pitch four innings of scoreless relief, allowing three hits and a walk.  Antigua struck out three as he got his first win of the year in his first game.

Blake Parker pitched the bottom of the thirteenth and got his second save. He gave up a leadoff single, but then retired the next three batters to close out the game. It was his second save of the season and the 43rd in his Iowa Cubs career, extending his team record.

Second baseman Arismendy Alcantara was Iowa's big hero today. Not only did he have an RBI single with two out in the top of the ninth to tie the score and send the game to extras, he had an RBI triple in the 13th inning that gave Iowa an insurance run. Alcantara went 5 for 7 with three RBI. He scored once.

Right fielder Jonathan Mota was 3 for 6 with a two-run home run in the third inning. Mota also walked once and he scored three times.

First baseman Chris Valaika hit a solo home run in the third inning, his second of the season. Valaika went 3 for 7 with two RBI.

Catcher Eli Whiteside hit his first home run of the season with the bases empty in the sixth. Whiteside was 1 for 6.

Center fielder Logan Watkins was 1 for 4 with two walks, extending his hitting streak to 12 games.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies lost to the Huntsville Stars (Brewers), 4-3 in 13 innings as well.

Jake Arrieta finished his rehab assignment with a two-inning start. He allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits. He walked one and struck out two.

Dae-Eun Rhee was the real starter of this game, entering in the third inning and pitching seven innings, allowing one run on three hits. He walked three and struck out four.

Ryan Searle bounced back from his last two disastrous outings with three scoreless frames. But P.J. Francescon relieved Searle to start the 13th inning and he took the loss when he allowed a one-out home run to Nick Ramirez. Francescon would allow one more hit in the inning for two total hits. Francescon did not walk anyone and he struck out two.

Third baseman Kris Bryant hit a solo home run in the sixth inning, his fifth blast of the season. Bryant was 2 for 6 and extended his hitting streak to nine games.

Shortstop Jeudy Valdez hit a home run, also with the bases empty, in the fifth inning. It was his second home run this year. Valdez went 3 for 5 with a double and a walk.

Rubi Silva was 2 for 5 with the other RBI in this game. Second baseman Wes Darvill was 2 for 6.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs won their third game in a row over the Brevard County Manatees (Brewers), 2-0.

Jose Rosario got his second win with six innings of work, allowing five hits. Rosario walked three and struck out six.

Austin Reed pitched two innings, allowing only one hit. Andrew McKirahan threw a perfect ninth inning for his first save. He did not have a strikeout.

Both Iowa runs scored on a triple by DH Tim Saunders in the fourth inning. Saunders went 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base.

Left fielder Rock Shoulders was 2 for 4 with a double. Catcher Chadd Krist was 2 for 4. Both of them scored on Saunders' triple.

Right fielder Bijan Rademacher was 2 for 4.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to stun the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 5-4.

Starter Duane Underwood pitched 3.2 innings and allowed four runs on five hits. One of the runs was unearned. Underwood struck out three and walked three.

I've got to give Gerardo Concepcion some credit. He pitched 4.1 innings in relief and didn't allow a run.

Nathan Dorris pitched the top of the ninth and got the win as the beneficiary of the Cougars rally. Dorris walked one and struck out two, but did not allow a hit.

The killing blow in this game was when right fielder Yasiel Balaguert came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, the bases loaded and Kane County trailing 4-3. Balaguert delivered with a two-run walkoff single. Balaguert was 1 for 5.

DH Jordan Hankins went 2 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.