Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 21

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs zapped the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins), 6-4.

Donn Roach started and got his first Cubs win. He allowed only one unearned run on four hits over six innings. Roach struck out three and walked two.

Those of you worried about Armando Rivero can stay worried. He pitched the seventh inning and allowed one run on no hits and two walks. He struck out one.

Despite allowing two runs in the top of the ninth to make it close, Blake Cooper tossed a two-inning save, his first save of the season and first ever for Iowa. Cooper allowed two runs on four hits and two walks. He escaped a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the eighth inning with two strikeouts. He had four total strikeouts on the evening.

Playing in only his second game for Iowa, catcher Taylor Teagarden was 2 for 3 with a 2-run double in the eighth and and a two-run home run in the fourth inning. He also got hit by a pitch in his next at bat after the home run.

Center fielder Matt Szczur was 3 for 4 with an RBI in his first game back in Iowa. Shortstop Chris Valaika was 3 for 4 and scored a run. Third baseman Christian Villanueva was 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies surrendered to the Jackson Generals (Mariners), 5-3.

The Smokies wasted a pretty good start by Corey Black, who gave up just one run on three hits over six innings. He struck out four and walked two. He also hit one batter.

Stephen Perakslis relieved Black, gave up four runs in two innings, and took the loss. Perakslis allowed two hits and he walked three while striking out one. One of the four runs was unearned.

Center fielder Pin-Chieh Chen led off the game with a triple and scored on an Albert Almora sacrifice fly. Chen was 2 for 5. Almora was 1 for 4 with two RBI and one run scored.

Catcher Kyle Schwarber went 2 for 5 with an RBI.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans bleached the Salem Red Sox, 7-4.

Jen-Ho Tseng started rough, giving up two runs in the first inning after the first four batters all had hits. But he settled down quickly after that and did not allow another run in his 4.1 innings of work. Tseng surrendered six hits total. He struck out three and walked one.

James Pugliese pitched 2.2 innings of scoreless relief and got the win after Myrtle Beach scored four times in the seventh inning. Pugliese allowed just one hit. He struck out two and walked no one.

Newly-promoted Jasvir Rakkar pitched the ninth and got his first save of the season in his first game for Myrtle Beach. He made it interesting with a two-out double and a walk, but he got the potential tying run to ground out to short to end the game. Rakkar struck out one.

Catcher Ben Carhart hit a game-tying two-run home run in the second inning, his first on the year. Carhart was 1 for 3 with two walks. He scored twice.

Shortstop Carlos Penalver was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI. DH Billy McKinney was 2 for 5 with an RBI.

Myrtle Beach is 8-3 on the young season, picking up right where the 98-win Kane County team left off.

South Bend Cubs

South Bend's bullpen woes continued as they were outranked by the Lake County Captains (Indians), 5-2.

Starter Jake Stinnett walked a high-wire all game, but in the end, he left the game after five innings in line for the win. Stinnett allowed only one unearned run on two hits. But he walked five, which left him constantly pitching out of danger. Stinnett struck out four.

Francisco Carrillo picked up his fourth loss of the season already (in only four appearances!) after he gave up a run in the eighth inning and two in the ninth. Carrillo allowed the three runs on three hits and two walks in his two innings of work. Carrillo struck out two.

DH Justin Marra hit a solo home run in the third inning. Marra was 1 for 2 with a walk and two runs scored. Left fielder Charcer Burks was 2 for 4 with an RBI single in the fifth inning that gave the Cubs the lead.