Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap, 4/6. Opening Night!

Welcome to another season of Cubs Minor League Wrap! What is Minor League Wrap? Well, it’s not this:

That’s Cubs minor league pitcher John Williamson, who raps under the name “Swilson” when he’s not pitching. Although it would be neat if I could do that. Neat, and a little horrifying.

No. Every night I give a recap of the day’s games in the Cubs minor league system. I tell you the score and then I give the standout players. Sometimes I will give a little more detail. This is not “prospect watch,” although there will be a lot of stuff on the Cubs top prospects. But I try to give each night’s hero (or goat, as it may be) their due.

Clicking on the link will take you to the box score, if you want more information.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs escaped from the Oklahoma City Dodgers, 1-0.

Eddie Butler made his Cubs debut a successful one. Butler pitched 5.2 innings and allowed six hits. He walked two and struck out six.

Brian Duensing faced three batters in a rehab assignment and got three ground outs.

Pierce Johnson pitched the bottom of the eighth inning and got the win. Johnson walked Cody Bellinger to start the inning, but then he struck out Trayce Thompson, Rob Segedin and Alex Verdugo to finish his inning.

Felix Peña came in to get the save in the ninth, and immediately got into trouble. After a leadoff single, a stolen base, a walk, a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk, the bases were loaded with only one out. But Peña induced a 4-6-3 double play to end the game and get the save.

The I-Cubs only run cam in the top of the ninth when catcher Victor Caratini scored on a wild pitch. He was 2 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were capsized by the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Reds), 4-1.

Zach Hedges started this game and took the loss after allowing two runs on six hits over five innings. Hedges struck out three and walked no one.

The Smokies only run came on a Trey Martin single in the fifth inning. Martin was 1 for 3.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans declawed the Lynchburg Hillcats (Indians), 4-2.

Adbert Alzolay started this game and he gave up two home runs in five innings. But those were the only two runs he allowed and he only gave up three hits, total. Alzolay got the win after striking out five and walking two.

Scott Effross picked up a five-out save, allowing no baserunners and striking out four.

The Pelicans took a three-run lead in the second inning on a two-run home run by DH Trent Giambrone and a solo home run by left fielder Daniel Spingola. Giambrone was 1 for 4 and Spingola was 2 for 3 with a walk.

Right fielder Eddy Martinez was 3 for 4. He scored on the Giambrone home run and had an RBI single in the seventh inning.

South Bend Cubs

Rained out.