Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 24

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs held up the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins), 2-1.

The bad news in this game was starter Barret Loux, who left this game in the top of the third inning with an apparent arm injury. Given that Loux just missed all of last season with Tommy John surgery, this is not a good sign.

Loux allowed one unearned run on five hits over 2.2 innings before exiting. Loux did not strike out or walk anyone.

Blake Cooper got his second win of the season in relief of Loux. He pitched 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing only one hit. Cooper did walk three while striking out three.

The key moment of the game came in the seventh inning when Hunter Cervenka loaded the bases with nobody out on a single, walk and an error. But Cervenka came back and struck out the next three batters to end the threat.

James Russell threw the final two innings and got his second save. Russell allowed two hits, but he struck out four and walked nobody. Since Russell returned to Iowa, he hasn't allowed a run and has struck out 9 and walked no one in 6.1 innings.

Iowa took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth when Mike Baxter singled home Arismendy Alcantara. Alcantara was 0 for 2 with two walks. He also played shortstop tonight (and made that error in the seventh).. Baxter was 2 for 3 with a walk.

Tennessee Smokies

Postponed due to inclement weather.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were beaten to the finish line by the Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox), 3-2.

Duane Underwood Jr. started tonight and was solid, giving up two runs, one earned, on four hits over five innings. Underwood struck out three, walked two and hit one batter.

Gerardo Concepcion took the loss after he gave up a leadoff double in the seventh inning, which came around to score after Concepcion made an error on a sacrifice bunt. Concepcion gave up the one run (it was earned) on two hits over two innings, He struck out two and walked one.

Left fielder Billy McKinney was 2 for 3 with a sacrifice fly that scored the tying run in the sixth inning.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were silenced by the Ft. Wayne TinCaps (Padres), 5-1.

Starter Zach Hedges didn't pitch poorly, but he got little support and got stuck with the loss. Hedges allowed three runs on seven hits over five innings. He struck out three and did not walk anyone.

The Cubs got three hits and a run in the top of the first inning. They got one hit in the other eight innings. Chesny Young doubled and scored on a Gioskar Amaya RBI single.  Young was 1 for 3 with a walk and two steals. He already has eight steals in 14 games this year. Young had three steals in 44 games last season.