Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 11

Happy Mother's Day to everyone out there. The D-Cubs and the Cougars had the day off to spend with their mothers. Or whatever it is that young men do on their day off.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs fell behind the Nashville Sounds (Brewers), 11-4 after 5 1/2 innings, but stormed back for a 12-11 victory.

As you might guess, Dallas Beeler second start against the Sounds didn't go as well as the first. Beeler was hammered for ten runs on ten hits in only three innings. He gave up five runs in the first, three in the second and two in the third. Two of the runs in the first inning were unearned, but Beeler himself was responsible for two of the three errors in the top of the first. Beeler walked two, hit a batter and struck out one.

Carlos Pimentel pitched the next four innings and allowed only one unearned run. Pimentel surrendered three hits but he didn't walk anyone as he struck out six.

Alberto Cabrera pitched the top of the eight and got the win when Iowa took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Cabrera walked two batters with two outs, but got out of the inning with no damage. He didn't allow a hit nor did he strike anyone out.

Blake Parker collected his sixth save and Iowa Cubs career-record 47th save by pitching a scoreless ninth. Parker gave up a one-out single, but got the next hitter to ground into a game-ending 3-6-1 double play.

Iowa finally took the lead in the bottom of the eighth when with two outs, both Matt Szczur and Javier Baez scored on a wild pitch. Szczur was 1 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored twice. Baez was 0 for 4 with a walk. Baez may still be struggling, but that was a heads-up aggressive play to score from second on the wild pitch.

Catcher Eli Whiteside started the comeback in the bottom of the sixth when he hit a two-run home run, his second of the season. Whiteside went 1 for 4.

First baseman Lars Anderson was 2 for 3 with two walks. He had a two-run single in the sixth and a bases-loaded walk in the eighth. He scored twice.

Left fielder Chris Valaika went 3 for 4 with a walk. He scored once and had one RBI.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies nuked the Jackson Generals (Mariners), 17-13.

Like Beeler, you can probably guess that Matt Loosen didn't have a good day. Loosen allowed six runs in the bottom of the first inning and three runs in the third. But thanks to an eight-run fourth by the Smokies, he went into the fifth inning with a lead, but he couldn't last the five innings to get the win. Loosen pitched 4.2 innings and allowed 11 runs on nine hits. Two of the runs were unearned. Loosen walked six and struck out four.

Jose Veras pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief in a rehab appearance. He did allow one hit, a bunt single, and he walked two. Veras struck out one. He was awarded the win.

Jeff Lorick didn't pitch well, but he got his first save anyway. Lorick pitched 2.1 innings and allowed two runs on three hits. Lorick walked three and struck out two.

The most amazing thing about this game is that the Smokies managed to score 17 runs on only 16 hits and none of them were home runs. They did hit five doubles and a triple while walking nine times and taking two bases by getting hit by a pitch.

Center fielder Rubi Silva had the big bat, going 4 for 6 with two doubles and a triple. Silva had five RBI and scored twice.

Catcher Rafael Lopez was a perfect 3 for 3 with a double and three walks. He scored twice and knocked two home.

DH Kris Bryant was 3 for 5 with three RBI and three runs scored.

Right fielder Jorge Soler continued to abuse the Southern League, hitting two doubles in a 2 for 5 game. Soler also walked once. He had four RBI and scored twice.

First baseman Charles Cutler was 2 for 4 with two walks. He scored two runs and had one RBI.