Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 19

It might be a rough first half of the season for South Bend.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were stopped by the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins), 7-5.

Starter Scott Barnes gave up a three-run home run in the first and two in the second and that was all she wrote for him. He took the loss after he gave up five runs on six hits in two innings. He walked one and struck out two.

Second baseman Arismendy Alcantara was 3 for 5 with a triple and a stolen base. He scored once. Center fielder Albert Almora went 3 for 4 with a steal. Almora scored once and drove one run in.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies burned the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 9-3.

Brad Markey started and got the win after allowing two runs on eight hits over five innings. Both runs scored on a pair of back-to-back home runs to lead off the second inning. Markey did walk four and struck out only three.

Right fielder Bijan Rademacher took over the Southern League lead in home runs with not one, but two home runs in this game. Rademacher hit a solo home run in the third inning and a three-run home run in the fourth inning to give him four home runs already this season. Rademacher was 2 for 4.

Center fielder Jacob Hannemann hit a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the first inning to give the Smokies an early lead. It was Hannemann's first home run of the season. Hannemann was 1 for 5.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were grounded by the Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox), 6-5.

Starter Jonathan Martinez pitched six innings and allowed two runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out two.

Jordan Minch relieved Martinez and took the loss after he gave up three runs in the eighth inning and a walkoff RBI single in the bottom of the ninth. The final line on Minch was four runs allowed on six hits over 2.2 innings. He struck out two and intentionally walked one batter.

Shortstop Gleyber Torres hit his first home run of the season, a solo home run in the top of the first. He was 1 for 4.

First baseman Yasiel Balaguert also hit his first home run this year, a solo home run in the eighth. Balaguert went 2 for 4.

Third baseman Jason Vosler was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs got run over by the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays), 12-1.

Starter Preston Morrison got knocked around for four runs on seven hits over just 2.2 innings. One of the four runs was unearned. Morrison walked two and struck out two.

Bowling Green only outhit South Bend 13 to 12, but of course, they outscored them 12 to 1. South Bend went 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position.

Right fielder Daniel Spingola went 3 for 5. Third baseman Andrew Ely was 3 for 4 with a double. Catcher Ian Rice was 2 for 4.

DH P.J. Higgins was 2 for 4 with a walk and he scored the lone South Bend run.