Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 9

Iowa Cubs

Rained out in New Orleans. They'll play a doubleheader on Wednesday, July 30.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were vassalized by the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 6-4.

Corey Black had a really rough start to this game. He walked the first three batters he faced and then a bases-loaded error by second baseman Stephen Bruno gave Birmingham a 2-0 lead. Black allowed a two-run double to the next batter he faced to make it 4-0 before he had even recorded an out.

After that, Black struck out the next three batters to get out of the inning. He was pulled from the game after the leadoff hitter in the fourth inning reached on another error. His final line was 3+ innings, allowing five runs on three hits. Three of the five runs were earned. Black walked three and struck out five.

The Smokies scored two runs in the second inning on a double by DH Rubi Silva. Silva finished 2 for 4. They made it close when they scored two runs in the ninth inning on a double by catcher Charles Cutler. He was also 2 for 4, and he scored a run on Silva's double.

Jorge Soler will not bat 1.000 this season. Tonight he went 1 for 4 with a double and a run scored.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were tossed overboard by the Brevard County Manatees (Brewers), 5-2.

Starter Felix Pena continued his streak tonight of allowing one earned run or fewer in each of his seven starts this season. Unfortunately, he gave up four unearned runs and took his fourth loss. Pena pitched four innings and allowed five runs, one earned, on five hits. Pena walked two and struck out two.

Left fielder Pin-Chieh Chen was 2 for 2. First baseman Rock Shoulders was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored, but it was his error that opened the door to the four unearned runs on the third inning.

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning to topple the Burlington Bees (Angels), 5-2.

Starter Jen-Ho Tseng pitched 5.2 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits, including a home run to lead off the bottom of the first. Tseng struck out five and walked no one.

Gerardo Concepcion got his first win since 2012 with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. Concepcion struck out five and the only baserunner he allowed was an infield single.

Nathan Dorris pitched the bottom of the ninth and had a very interesting save. He walked the first two batters he faced, and then got two outs on a 5-4-3 double play. Then he walked a third batter in the inning before striking out the final batter of the game.

The Cougars took the lead in the top of the eighth when third baseman Jordan Hankins hit a two-run home run, his first of the season. Hankins was 2 for 3 with a walk and three RBI.

Shortstop Carlos Penalver was 2 for 4 with an RBI.

The Cougars are now 25-10 with a six-game lead in the Midwest League West Division.