Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 12

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs got blown over by the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins), 4-2.

Ryan Williams had a much better second start of the season than his first. Tonight Williams allowed one run on six hits over five innings. Williams walked one and struck out three.

Scott Barnes took the loss in relief of Williams. Barnes gave up two runs on three hits over 1.2 innings, including a solo home run by former Cub Cole Gillespie. Barnes walked two and struck out two.

Shortstop Kristopher Negron hit a solo home run in the third inning. He was 1 for 3.

Catcher Willson Contreras was 2 for 4 with a double. He scored the other I-Cubs run.

Javier Baez played in left field for the first time in his career in a regular season game. He was 0 for 4, but he did throw a runner out at the plate trying to score from second on a single. He moved to second base in the 7th inning and played the whole game.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were subjugated by the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 5-4.

Rob Zastryzny started tonight's game and pitched five innings, surrendering four runs on eight hits. He struck out four and walked one.

Gerardo Concepcion was terrific in three innings of no-hit, no-run relief of Zastryzny. Concepcion hit one batter, walked another one intentionally and struck out one.

Juan Paniagua entered the game with the score tied in the bottom of the ninth and took the loss. Paniagua gave up a one-out single and threw two wild pitches to move the runner over to third. He then walked two batters and surrendered the winning run on an RBI single. He struck out one.

Second baseman Ryan Dent went 3 for 4 and scored once.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were abbreviated by the Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox), 4-3.

Tommy Thorpe pitched the first five innings and took the loss after he gave up four runs on seven hits, all four runs coming in the third inning. Thorpe walked one batter and fanned four.

James Farris was terrific in three innings of perfect relief, retiring all nine batters he faced. Farris struck out four of them.

Center fielder Rashad Crawford got the Pelicans to within a run in the bottom of the ninth when he hit an inside-the-park home run to lead off the inning. Crawford went 3 for 5 with a double and scored twice.

Second baseman Ian Happ was 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs blew the tires out on the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays), 3-2 in ten innings.

Starter Carson Sands pitched five innings and gave up two runs on four hits over five innings. Sands struck out four and walked one.

Casey Bloomquist pitched the ninth and tenth innings without allowing a run and got the win. Bloomquist gave up three hits, all singles. He struck out one, walked no one and induced a huge double play in the ninth inning.

For the second night in a row, the Cubs won in walk-off fashion, although this one was less dramatic. Center fielder Eddy Martinez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Martinez was 0 for 4.

Left fielder Eloy Jimenez went 4 for 5 with a double and an RBI. It was the first four-hit game of his career (and he was robbed of a fifth hit). Jimenez also stole two bases.

DH Donnie Dewees is off to a terrific start to the season. Tonight he was 2 for 4 with a triple and a walk. He scored twice.