Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 6

The Cubs announced their "official" Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Month and they both came from the Smokies: Chesny Young and Paul Blackburn. Congratulations to them.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs drenched the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 13-7.

Drew Rucinski didn't pitch well, but he got enough support to get the win. Rucinski allowed six runs on 12 hits in 5.1 innings. Rucinski struck out two and walked one.

The I-Cubs blew this game open with a seven-run sixth inning that included a two-run home run by catcher Willson Contreras, his second of the season. Contreras was 2 for 5.

Contreras' blast was actually the third I-Cubs home run tonight. John Andreoli led off the top of the first with a leadoff home run, his third of the season. Andreoli was 2 for 5 with a sac fly and three total RBI. He also stole a base.

Shortstop Kris Negron also hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, also his third of the season. Negron was 3 for 4 with a walk. He scored twice and had three RBI.

Second baseman Arismendy Alcantara was 3 for 5 with a triple. The triple, which led off that seven-run sixth inning, was Alcantara's 24th triple in an Iowa Cubs uniform, which is a new team career record. (The old record holders were Chico Walker and Billy Hatcher, in case you were wondering.) Alcantara was 3 for 5 with a triple and a stolen base. He scored twice.

Juan Perez was 4 for 5 with a pair of doubles. He scored twice and drove two in. Albert Almora was 2 for 6 with one run scored and one RBI. Taylor Davis was 2 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.

Shane Victorino joined the I-Cubs today for his first action of the season. Victorino had an RBI double and later scored in that seven-run sixth. Victorino was 1 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were stopped by the Mississippi Braves, 6-3.

Paul Blackburn pitched seven innings and allowed three runs one three hits. All three runs came in the fourth inning after the first two batters both reached base on errors by shortstop Carlos Penalver, so all three runs were unearned. Since those runs were unearned, Blackburn's ERA on the season dropped to 0.24. Blackburn walked two and struck out four.

David Garner pitched the eighth inning and took the loss after the first three batters he faced all reached by a walk, a hit batsman and another walk. Then Garner uncorked a wild pitch to let the go-ahead run score. After that, Garner settled down and got the final three outs without any more runners scoring. Garner struck out two.

Left fielder Mark Zagunis gave the Smokies an early lead with an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning. He then was singled home by catcher Victor Caratini.  Zagunis was 2 for 4 and Caratini was 2 for 3 before exiting the game with a head injury in the eighth inning.

Center fielder Jacob Hannemann was 2 for 3 with a walk and an RBI.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Rained out in Wilmington. Doubleheader tomorrow.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs snapped back against the Beloit Snappers (Athletics), 6-1.

Adbert Alzolay started and got the win with five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits. He struck out two and walked one.

Catcher P.J. Higgins went 2 for 4 with an RBI single in the third inning and a two-run double in the seventh.

Right fielder Eddy Martinez tacked on an insurance run in the eighth inning with a solo home run, his third of the season. Martinez was 2 for 4.

Third baseman Jesse Hodges was 2 for 3 and scored twice. Shortstop Bryant Flete was 2 for 3 with a double. He scored one run and drove one run in.