Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 28

A few moves down in the minors today. Albert Almora Jr. injured himself diving for a ball yesterday and was placed on the disabled list with a possible concussion. Jacob Hannemann was promoted from Myrtle Beach to take Almora's spot and Trey Martin was promoted from South Bend to Myrtle Beach to take Hannemann's spot.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs swept a doubleheader from the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Brewers), 7-1 and 6-3.

In game one, Donn Roach scattered seven hits over six innings which led to only one run. Roach also walked three and was helped by three double plays behind him. Roach struck out one.

Center fielder Arismendy Alcantara tripled and hit his first home run of the season to lead off the top of the fourth inning. Alcantara was 2 for 4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in.

Shortstop Jonathan Mota was 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored once and had two RBI.

Eric Jokisch started game two and didn't make it out of the fourth inning. Jokisch allowed three runs on six hits over 3.2 inning. He struck out three and walked two.

James Russell got the win when Iowa scored three times in the top of the seventh inning. Russell faced four batters and retired them all. Russell struck out two. Russell has yet to allow a run or issue a walk in his 7.1 innings of relief this season spread over five games.

Catcher Rafael Lopez came to the plate in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded and emptied them with a three-run double that was the difference in the game. Lopez was 1 for 4.

Two innings earlier, Alcantara tied the game with his second solo home run of the day. Alcantara was 1 for 3.

Mike Baxter was a perfect 2 for 2 with two walks. He scored on the Lopez double.

Right fielder John Andreoli tripled twice in a 2 for 3 game.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies scored runs in the bottom of the seventh and the bottom of the eighth inning to blindside the Chattanooga Lookouts (Twins), 7-6.

Ivan Pineyro started and allowed three runs on four hits over five innings. Control was a real problem as Pineyro walked five and struck out six.

Fernando Cruz relieved Pineyro and turned a 5-3 lead into a 6-5 deficit after allowing three runs on three hits and three walks in two-thirds of an inning.

Stephen Perakslis pitched a perfect top of the eighth inning to claim his second win of the season. He struck out two.

P.J. Francescon pitched the top of the ninth collected his second save. He allowed a two-out walk, but no other baserunners. Francescon struck out one.

The winning run in the bottom of the eighth scored when right fielder Bijan Rademacher led off the inning  by singling and going to third on an outfield error. Two batters later, second baseman Elliot Soto singled him home. Back in the third inning, Rademacher hit his first home run of the season with a man on. His final line for the night was 2 for 4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored.

Soto was 2 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base.

For the second straight night, DH Kyle Schwarber homered. This one was a monster blast to RF with the bases empty in the bottom of the fourth. Schwarber was 2 for 3 with a double and a sacrifice fly. He had three total RBI.

Jacob Hannemann made his Double-A debut a memorable one as he hit a home run to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Hannemann was 3 for 4 with a stolen base and two runs scored.

Catcher Willson Contreras was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were one strike away from a win, but ended up losing to the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Royals), 3-2 in ten innings.

Jen-Ho Tseng looked good tonight, throwing five innings and allowing just one run on three hits. He struck out two and walked nobody.

Jasvir Rakkar retired the first five batters he faced easily, but that sixth one proved tough. The Pelicans led 2-1 with two out and nobody on in the bottom of the ninth, but Rakkar then allowed back-to-back doubles to tie the game. Rakkar struck out one.

Tayler Scott pitched the tenth and got the loss. He allowed one run on one hit and two walks over two-thirds of an inning. Scott did not strike anyone out.

First baseman Jacob Rogers was 1 for 3 with a walk.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were smashed against the rocks by the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers), 8-5.

Jake Stinnett continues to struggle with control this April. He only walked two batters in his 2.2 inning start, but he was behind hitters all game and that led to seven hits and five runs. Stinnett struck out two.

South Bend scored three times in the fourth inning to tie up the game and get Stinnett off the hook. Tyler Ihrig relieved Stinnett and got out of a man-on-third, two-out jam in the third inning. Ihrig was then very good for the next two innings. Unfortunately, they sent him out there for a fourth inning of work and he got hammered. Ihrig took the loss after he allowed three runs on three hits over 3.1 innings. One of the runs was unearned. Ihrig struck out three and walked one.

Left fielder Charcer Burks went 3 for 4 with a stolen base. He had one run batted in and scored once.