Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 9

First road game of the season for the Cubs minor-league season as South Bend won in West Michigan.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs got run over by the Round Rock Express (Rangers), 9-3.

Iowa starter Eric Jokisch got hammered for eight runs on 11 hits over 4.1 innings. Two of the hits were home runs by Joey Gallo and Nomar Mazara. Jokisch walked two and struck out three.

Gallo would hit a second home run off of Armando Rivero.

Right fielder Ryan Kalish was 2 for 4 with a two-run triple in the eighth inning. Kalish then scored that inning on a Dan Vogelbach ground out.

Left fielder John Andreoli went 2 for 4 and scored on the Kalish triple. Center fielder Albert Almora went 1 for 3 with a walk. It's a very positive sign that Almora has walked in two of his first three games.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies shut out the Mobile BayBears (Diamondbacks), 1-0.

It was a very good first Double-A start for Brad Markey, who gave up three hits and a walk over five innings. Markey struck out four.

Gerardo Concepcion pitched two perfect innings of relief to get the win. He struck out three.

After Josh Conway pitched a scoreless eighth, Juan Paniagua retired the side in order in the ninth to get the save. Paniagua struck out two.

The lone run of the game came in the sixth inning when third baseman Jeimer Candelario singled home right fielder Bijan Rademacher. Candelario was 1 for 3 and Rademacher was 1 for 2.

Second baseman Chesny Young was 2 for 3.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were locked down by the Frederick Keys (Orioles), 6-0.

Starter Trevor Clifton gave up four runs in the top of the first and the Pelicans never recovered. The final line on Clifton was three innings pitched, allowing five runs on four hits. Only three of the runs were earned. Clifton walked four and struck out four.

DH Ian Happ had a much better game today. He was 2 for 2 with a double and a walk. He was also hit by a pitch and he stole a base.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs crested the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers), 5-3.

Starter Ryan Kellogg got the win after pitching five innings and surrendering just one unearned run. Kellogg gave up five hits but he walked no one. Kellogg struck out three.

Michael Wagner had to come on in the ninth inning with runners on first and third and one out. He retired the next two batters, thanks in part to center fielder Donnie Dewees, to end the game and get the save. He struck out one.

After Wagner struck out the first batter, the next hitter hit a fly ball to center field that got picked up by the wind. After initially misjudging it, Dewees recovered and made a diving catch in center field with his back to the infield to end the game. Dewees was also 2 for 4 with a triple and a sacrifice fly. He also scored one run.

Catcher P.J. Higgins was 2 for 3 with a double and two walks. He had one RBI.

DH Eddy Martinez went 2 for 5 and scored twice. Right fielder Daniel Spingola was 2 for 4 with a triple and a walk. Spingola scored once and had one run batted in.