Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 22

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs swept a doubleheader from the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins), winning yesterday's suspended game 4-1 and winning the regularly scheduled game 5-0.

Pierce Johnson came off the disabled list yesterday and pitched six innings and allowed just one run on six hits. He struck out six and walked only one.

Giovanni Soto pitched one inning of scoreless relief yesterday and got the win. Soto gave up one single. He did not walk or strike anyone out.

Spencer Patton pitched a perfect ninth inning for his second save. Patton struck out one.

Right fielder Ryan Kalish went 3 for 4 and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning yesterday just before the rains came. After the game resumed today, Matt Murton had a two-run pinch-hit double that provided some insurance.

In the regularly-scheduled game, Ryan Williams got his first win of the season and first ever Triple-A win by pitching five innings without allowing a run. Williams surrendered three hits and walked four (one intentionally) while striking out three.

Third baseman Kristopher Negron had a pair of doubles in a 2 for 4 game. Negron scored twice.

Right fielder John Andreoli went 2 for 4 with a stolen base. He scored twice. Catcher Willson Contreras was 2 for 4 and he also stole a base. Contreras has reached base safely at least once in all 12 games he has played this year.

The Zephyrs announced before the game that they're changing their name for next season and that they would take suggestions from the public starting on Monday. I'm betting they'll be the New Orleans Boaty McBoatfaces next season.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies scratched the Mobile BayBears (Diamondbacks), 6-5.

Rob Zastryzny started and improved his record to 2-0 with six innings of work, allowing one run on four hits. He struck out six and walked three.

Michael Jensen pitched the ninth and got his first save of the season, although not without a rough start. He allowed singles to the first two batters he faced, but then he struck out the next three batters to end the game.

Third baseman Jeimer Candelario broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning with a solo home run, his first on the year. Candelario was 1 for 3 with two walks.

Center fielder Jacob Hannemann hit his second home run in three days when he connected for a two-run shot in the seventh. Hannemann went 2 for 5.

First baseman Taylor Davis was 3 for 5 with a double and an RBI. Second baseman Chesny Young was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. Right fielder Billy McKinney was 2 for 5 and scored once.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans lost to the Carolina Mudcats (Braves), 6-3 in a game that ended after eight innings because of rain.

It was a really rough start tonight for Erick Leal, who didn't make it out of the second inning. Leal allowed four runs on four hits and a walk over 1.2 innings. Leal struck out one. It was his first loss of the year.

Tyler Ihrig pitched very well in relief of Ihrig. Not only did he pitch out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the second inning when he came on for Leal, he went on to pitch 4.2 innings without allowing a hit. He did give up one unearned run. Ihrig walked two and struck out two.

Second baseman Ian Happ was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. Happ had one RBI and he scored once.

Shortstop Gleyber Torres had his first multi-hit game of the season, going 2 for 4. Torres scored twice.

Right fielder Jeffrey Baez went 2 for 4 with an RBI. He also stole his ninth base of the young season already.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs recycled the Ft. Wayne TinCaps (Padres), 7-6 in extra innings.

Starter Kyle Twomey was done in by a five-run fifth inning. Twomey allowed six runs on ten hits over five innings, including a three-run home run in that five-run fifth. Twomey did strike out six and he walked nobody. He did hit a batter though.

Casey Bloomquist was outstanding in relief, pitching four perfect innings. He struck out three.

James Norwood pitched the tenth inning and after pitching out of trouble, he got the win when South Bend scored in the bottom of the inning. Norwood allowed a leadoff double and then hit the next batter, but with two on and no outs, Norwood struck out the next two batters and then got a flyout to end the threat in the tenth.

South Bend won after center fielder Donnie Dewees reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the tenth. He made it to third with one out and then scored the winning run on a Matt Rose fielder's choice. Dewees was 2 for 5 with three runs scored and two RBI. Dewees also stole his sixth base of the year.

Rose was 0 for 4 with a sac fly and two total RBI.

Second baseman Carlos Sepulveda went 2 for 5 and scored once.