Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 4

Congratulations to Zach Hedges, who was your choice for the BCB Minor League Pitcher of the Month Award. Like Donnie Dewees, it looks like Hedges has a lot of friends as he recorded over 3500 votes. But this time, Spencer Patton's friends made it somewhat close with over 2800 votes. In any case, I hope the fans of these two pitchers stick around. Hedges may have been motivated by this win to pitch a great game today.

My vote went to Paul Blackburn, by the way.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were too loud for the Nashville Sounds (Athletics), 8-4.

Jake Buchanan got his first ever win in the Cubs organization after allowing just one run on four hits. The only run came on a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the first. After that, Buchanan shut the Sounds down for six innings. Buchanan struck out six and walked two.

After Giovanni Soto walked two runners on in the ninth, Brandon Gomes was summoned from the bullpen with two outs to get the final out of the game. He got a foul out to end the game and get his first save of the season.

The I-Cubs were trailing 1-0 in the sixth inning when DH Dan Vogelbach came to the plate with the bases-loaded and one out. Vogelbach connected for an opposite field grand slam home run. It was Vogelbach's third home run of the year and his first ever grand slam. Vogelbach added an RBI single in the ninth inning to give Iowa an insurance run. He was 3 for 5 and scored twice with the five RBI.

Here's Vogy's Slam.

Catcher Willson Contreras was 0 for 0 with four walks and he was hit by a pitch. That will raise your OBP, if nothing else. He scored twice.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were extinguished by the Mississippi Braves, 8-7.

Rob Zastryzny put the Smokies in a hole early after he gave up four runs in the top of the first. After the Smokies cut the lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the second, Zastryzny allowed back-to-back home runs to lead off the third inning. The final line on Zastryzny was six runs on eight hits over five innings. He walked two and struck out three.

Zastryzny did have an RBI double in this game, the first hit of his professional career.

The Smokies fought back and the score was tied 7-7 going into the ninth inning. But Starlin Peralta allowed two hits with one out in the inning and after a groundout put runners on second and third with two out, Peralta uncorked a wild pitch to allow the eventual winning run to score. The final line on Peralta was one run on two hits and a walk over one inning.

First baseman Kelly Dugan gave the Smokies a temporary 7-6 lead when he connected for a three-run home run in the fifth inning. It was his second home run this year. Dugan was 1 for 5.

Left fielder Mark Zagunis went 2 for 5 with one run scored and one RBI. Shortstop Carlos Penalver was 2 for 4 with an RBI double in the second inning. Penalver also scored one run.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans shut out the Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox), 3-0.

Zach Hedges kept the Dash off the board for seven innings, giving up just three hits. Hedges struck out five and walked no one as he improved his record to 3-2.

James Farris pitched the bottom of the ninth and picked up his fifth save. The only baserunner he allowed was a two-out single. Farris struck out one.

Catcher Cael Brockmeyer was 2 for 4 with RBI singles in the seventh and ninth innings.

First baseman Yasiel Balaguert was 2 for 4 2 with an RBI double in the fourth inning.

DH Shawon Dunston Jr. was 2 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored once.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were bitten by the Wisconsin TImber Rattlers (Brewers), 4-2.

Justin Steele was good over the first three innings, keeping the Rattlers scoreless. But then the first five batters in the fourth inning reached base, resulting in all four Wisconsin runs today. The final line on Steele was 3+ innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits. He walked one and struck out four.

Second baseman Andrew Ely went 3 for 4 and scored a run. Catcher Tyler Alamo was 2 for 4 with an RBI double in the seventh inning.