Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 1

The voting remains open for the Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Month until sometime tomorrow.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs split a doubleheader with the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), winning game one 1-0 and dropping the second game 8-6.

Game one saw Tsuyoshi Wada toss another dominant performance on the way to fourth win. Wada threw five scoreless innings, giving up only two hits. He struck out eight and walked only one. Wada's ERA on the season dropped to 0.57 with the win this morning.

Blake Parker pitched a scoreless top of the seventh inning for his fourth save. He allowed a leadoff bunt single, but retired the next three batters to end the game. Parker struck out one.

Matt Szczur singled home Chris Valaika in the fourth inning for the only run of the game. Both hitters were 1 for 3.

In the second game, the I-Cubs jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the third inning, but starter Carlos Pimentel and reliever Yoanner Negrin couldn't take advantage. Pimentel pitched 3.2 innings and allowed five runs on six hits over 3.2 innings. Two of the five runs were unearned. Pimentel walked three and struck out five.

Negrin took the loss after he was touched for three runs, two earned, over 3.1 innings. Negrin allowed six hits, including a solo home run. He struck out five and didn't walk anyone.

Shortstop Javier Baez was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch and two stolen bases. Baez scored two runs. On the hit by pitch, Baez actually briefly argued with the umpire about the call, preferring to stay at the plate and swing the bat to taking his free base.

The loss in game two snapped Iowa's seven-game winning streak.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies blew open a close game with five runs in the top of the ninth to burn down the Chattanooga Lookouts (Dodgers), 7-2. With the win, the Smokies go over .500 for the first time this season at 14-13.

Matt Loosen had a good start as he improved his record to 2-2. Loosen allowed only one run on three hits over five innings. Loosen struck out eight and walked only one.

Tony Zych got a two-inning save tonight. He allowed one run on four hits. Zych struck out two and walked nobody. He also hit a two-run single as a part of that five-run top of the ninth.

Catcher Rafael Lopez was 3 for 4 with a double and a walk. Lopez scored once and knocked one run home.

Third baseman Kris Bryant was 2 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored.  Second baseman Wes Darvill was 2 for 2.

Daytona Cubs

Rained out. Doubleheader tomorrow.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars finished April with an 18-7 record, the best start to a season in franchise history. So far, May hasn't been as kind to them as they dropped a doubleheader to the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins), 5-2 and 5-4.

Game one was started by Daury Torrez, who took his first loss of the season. Torrez allowed four runs on five hits over four innings. His defense didn't help much as Kane County made three errors, leading to two unearned runs. Torrez struck out three and walked one.

DH Cael Brockmeyer was 2 for 3.

In game two, starter Juan Paniagua pitched 4.2 innings and gave up three runs on six hits. Two of those runs scored on a fourth inning home run. Paniagua walked three and struck out three. He also hit a batter.

Gerardo Concepcion took the loss in relief. He pitched the final 1.1 innings and allowed two runs on one hir. Concepcion walked one batter and hit another. Both runners would come around to score in the sixth inning. Concepcion struck out two.

Center fielder Jacob Hannemann was 1 for 4 and scored two runs. Third baseman Jordan Hankins was 1 for 2 with a walk and an RBI.