Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 14

After this afternoon's Iowa Cubs game, Javier Baez flew to Chicago. Munenori Kawasaki is expected to go down to Iowa.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs calmed the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins), 4-2.

Tyler Ihrig was promoted from Myrtle Beach to make today's start after Eric Jokisch was claimed on waivers. Ihrig did pretty well in his Triple-A debut, allowing just one run on three hits over four innings. Ihrig walked one and struck out three.

Brandon Gomes got the win in relief, and not because Ihrig didn't go five. The Cubs actually took the lead while he was on the mound. Gomes pitched two innings without allowing a hit or a run, although he did walk two. Gomes struck out four.

Spencer Patton got his first save of the year after pitching the ninth. Patton gave up a two-out single, but no other baserunners. Patton struck out one.

Iowa took the lead in the sixth inning when first baseman Dan Vogelbach singled home Baez. Vogelbach then scored later in the sixth on a single by Albert Almora Jr. Vogelbach was 2 for 4. Almora was 2 for 3.

Javier Baez started the game in left field and moved to third base in the seventh inning. Baez went 2 for 4 and he stole a base.

Shortstop Kristopher Negron went 2 for 4 with an RBI double in the second inning.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies acknowledged the sovereignty of the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 5-3.

Brad Markey pitched the first five innings and allowed two runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out one.

Josh Conway pitched the bottom of the eighth, allowed two runs in the one inning he pitched, and took the loss. Conway's problem was that he walked three batters and gave up one hit. He did not strike anyone out.

Left fielder Mark Zagunis went 1 for 3 with a walk and he scored two of the three Smokies runs.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans couldn't hook the Carolina Mudcats (Braves), 3-2.

The Mudcats scored a run in the first inning and two unearned runs in the second off of Pelicans starter Zach Hedges, which was all the runs the Mudcats would need. The final line on Hedges was 6.2 innings, allowing three runs, only one earned run, on seven hits. He walked three and struck out one.

DH Jason Vosler was 2 for 4 with a double and a triple. Vosler scored once and had one RBI. Right fielder Jeffrey Baez went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI single in the fifth inning, scoring Vosler. Baez also stole his fifth base in seven games already this season.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs got fried by the Ft. Wayne TinCaps (Padres), 10-2.

It was a miserable game for starter Justin Steele, who allowed four runs in the first inning and four more in the second to take the loss. His final line on the game was eight runs on seven hits in two innings. Steele walked two and struck out three.

Center fielder Donnie Dewees continues his torrid start to the season by hitting two triples today. He was 2 for 3 with a walk and he scored both South Bend runs.

First baseman Tyler Alamo was 2 for 3.