Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 22

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were too late to catch the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins), 6-3.

Tsuyoshi Wada made his second rehab start today and wasn't terrible, but it's clear his command and control aren't back yet. Wada pitched 5.1 innings and allowed just two runs on six hits. He walked four (one intentional) and struck out five.

Hunter Cervenka took the loss in relief of Wada after he gave up three runs in the seventh inning. Cervenka allowed three runs on three hits and four walks in 1.2 innings of work. Cervenka struck out three.

Iowa scored all three runs in the sixth inning. Right fielder Junior Lake was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He had one RBI. Jonathan Mota was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Left fielder John Andreoli was 1 for 2 with a double and two walks. He scored once.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies routed the Jackson Generals (Mariners), 13-4.

Starter Ivan Pineyro was the beneficiary of all this offense and he got his first win of the season. Pineyro allowed four runs in the first inning, including a three-run home run, but then shut the Generals down for the rest of his 5.2 innings on the mound. Pineyro allowed seven hits, but he didn't walk anyone and he struck out six.

First baseman Dan Vogelbach went 2 for 5 with a walk, a double and a home run tonight and saw both his batting and on-base averages drop. The home run was a three-run blast in the first inning. He had five total RBI tonight.

Catcher Kyle Schwarber went 4 for 6. He scored one run and had one RBI. Left fielder Albert Almora raised his batting average to .300 with a 2 for 4 game. He also had a sac fly and a sac bunt. Almora scored twice.

Third baseman Ryan Dent hit a solo home run in the eighth inning, his first blast of the season. Dent went 2 for 5.

Center fielder Pin-Chieh Chen was 3 for 4 with a double and two walks. He scored twice. Shortstop Elliot Soto went 3 for 4 with a double and one walk. Soto had a pair of RBI and scored a pair of runs. Second baseman Stephen Bruno went 2 for 5 with a walk. Bruno scored one run and drove home two.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans fell to the Salem Red Sox, 4-1.

Jonathan Martinez started and got his first loss of the year. Martinez pitched five innings and surrendered three runs on five hits. Martinez had control issues as he walked four and only struck out one.

The Pelicans only run came in the top of the first when leadoff hitter Jacob Hannemann reached on an error, stole second and scored on another error. Left fielder Wes Darvill replaced Shawon Dunston Jr. after two innings and went 3 for 3 with a double and a stolen base.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs capsized the Lake County Captains (Indians), 16-3.

Jeremy Null may be the breakout prospect of this young season. Tonight he made his third start and threw six scoreless innings, giving up just four hits, all singles. Null struck out four and walked no one. Over his first three starts, Null is 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA over 11 innings. He's struck out 13 and has yet to walk a batter.

Tommy Thorpe entered the game in the seventh inning to protect a 14-0 lead and got the save because he went three innings. Thorpe allowed three runs on five hits, although only one of the runs was earned. He struck out one and walked one.

Everyone who got in the lineup for the SB Cubs tonight got a hit and all eleven (the starting nine and two substitutes) either scored a run or had an RBI.

Catcher Cael Brockmeyer went 3 for 4 with a double and a walk, pushing his batting average on the young season to .442.

Second baseman Chesny Young was a perfect 3 for 3 with a stolen base and a hit-by-pitch. He scored all four times.

Center fielder Trey Martin was 2 for 6 with a double and two runs scored. Third baseman Jesse Hodges was also 2 for 6 with a double and two runs scored, but he also had three RBI.

Left fielder Charcer Burks went 2 for 3 with two walks and one run scored. Right fielder Rashad Crawford was 2 for 6 with two RBI.

Shortstop Gleyber Torres was 2 for 5. He had two runs batted in and scored once.

Justin Marra only had one at bat, but he made it a good one with a two-run home run in the eighth. It was Marra's second home run in as many days.

You can watch the highlights here.