Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 24

I've got an incredible knack this season to decide to focus on the Cubs minor league team that is going to get hammered on that day. Today was Iowa's turn.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs got crushed by the Oklahoma City Dodgers, 13-5.

Jake Buchanan made his season debut and he probably wishes he hadn't. Buchanan was knocked around for eight runs on nine hits over 4.1 innings. One of the runs was unearned. Buchanan struck out four and walked one.

Catcher Tim Federowicz gave Iowa an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a three-run home run, his first of the season. Federowicz was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Third baseman Kristopher Negron hit a pretty meaningless solo home run in the bottom of the ninth. It was his second home run this year. Negron was 2 for 4.

Shortstop Munenori Kawasaki was 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies caught the Mobile BayBears (Diamondbacks) hibernating, 9-4.

Brad Markey started and got his second win after allowing three runs on seven hits (including a solo home run) over six innings. Markey walked one and struck out one.

Center fielder Jacob Hannemann homered to lead off the fifth inning, his third already this season. Hannemann hit six home runs all of last year. Hannemann went 3 for 5 with a steal. He scored twice.

Second baseman Chesny Young was 3 for 5 with a steal. He drove in one run and scored twice.

Shortstop Carlos Penalver was 2 for 5 with an RBI.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans hooked the Carolina Mudcats (Braves), 4-2.

Tommy Thorpe tossed the first 5.1 innings and took his second win after allowing just one run on four hits. He walked three and struck out five.

James Farris gave up a run in the top of the ninth, but otherwise picked up his third save. Farris allowed one run on two hits over two innings. He walked one and did not strike anyone out.

The Pelicans won this game because they walked seven times. They only had three hits, two singles and a double, but they walked walked seven times. Shortstop Gleyber Torres was 1 for 4 with an RBI double in the seventh inning. Left fielder Charcer Burks went 1 for 2 with a walk and a steal. He scored once.

Highlights:

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs swept the Ft. Wayne TinCaps (Padres), 7-6 in 10 innings.

The SB Cubs fell behind early 6-0 after starter Carson Sands allowed four runs in the first inning and two more in the fifth. Sands had real control issues today as he walked five and struck out only one. Sands was charged with six runs on six hits over 4.1 innings.

John Williamson and Craig Brooks both pitched 2.1 innings without allowing a run to allow the Cubs to get back into the game. James Norwood pitched the top of the tenth to get the win. He did allow two infield singles in the tenth after two were out, but got a groundout to end the inning.

Left fielder Eloy Jimenez came to the plate with one out in the bottom of the tenth and the bases-loaded. He crushed a ball into the gap for the walkoff RBI single. (It would have been a double or a triple if it weren't a walkoff hit.) Jimenez was 3 for 6 today with two RBI. He scored once.

Center fielder Donnie Dewees was 2 for 5 with a walk and a two-run triple in the bottom of the fifth inning. Dewees scored twice.

Shortstop Bryant Flete was 2 for 5 with a double and a steal. He scored once. Second baseman Carlos Sepulveda was 2 for 6 with a run scored.

Highlights: