Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 6

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were blue against the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals), 5-2.

I talked about Eddie Butler’s start tonight in the major league recap, but he made his first start off the DL and pitched six scoreless innings. He gave up four hits. He struck out six and walked no one.

Juan Paniagua relieved Butler in the seventh and he was good that inning. But then he pitched the eighth inning and he was rocked for five runs and the loss. The final line on Paniagua was five runs on six hits and a walk over two innings. He did not have a strikeout.

Both of Iowa’s runs came on solo home runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Tommy La Stella hit his first home run this season to give Iowa a 1-0 lead in the seventh. La Stella was 1 for 2, having entered the game in a double-switch when Butler exited.

Catcher Victor Caratini had the other home run, his second of the season. Caratini was 1 for 4.

Third baseman Jeimer Candelario was 2 for 4 with a walk.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies grilled the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Marlins), 7-4. The second game of the scheduled doubleheader was postponed.

Starter Duane Underwood Jr. got the win despite pitching five innings and allowing four runs, three earned, on four hits. Underwood walked three, hit one and struck out three.

Ian Rice hit a three run home run in the fourth inning, his second of the season. Rice was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Center fielder Jacob Hannemann was 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored twice.

Shortstop Carlos Penalver was 2 for 2 with a double and a sacrifice fly.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans out-sparkled the Buies Creek Astros, 8-4.

Oscar De La Cruz was sharp tonight, allowing just one run on three hits over six innings. De La Cruz struck out six and didn’t walk anyone, although he did hit two.

Kyle Miller may not have had the best of nights, but he did get a three-inning save. Miller surrendered three runs on three hits, including two home runs. He walked one and struck out three.

The Pelicans put this one away with a five-run fifth inning. First, right fielder Eddy Martinez smashed a three-run home run, his third of the season. Martinez was 1 for 4.

Three batters later, first baseman Matt Rose connected for a two-run shot, his fifth already this year. Rose was 2 for 4.

Second baseman Carlos Sepulveda was 2 for 5 and scored once. Catcher P.J. Higgins was 2 for 4 with one run scored. DH Bryant Flete was 2 for 4 with a double. He drove in one run and scored twice.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs cut down the Clinton LumberKings (Mariners), 3-2. They also won the continuation of yesterday’s game over Clinton, 7-6 in 19 innings.

I already covered yesterday’s game yesterday, which restarted in the 19th inning today. After Manuel Rondon threw a perfect top of the 19th, Yeiler Peguero led off the bottom of the inning with a single. Peguero stole second, went to third on a bunt and then scored on Jhonny Pereda’s infield dribbler.

In the regularly-scheduled game, Dylan Cease got his first win of the season by allowing just one run on three hits over five innings. Cease walked just one (he did hit one batter) and he struck out six.

Matt Schwarmer pitched the final four innings tonight for his first save. Schwarmer allowed just one run on two hits. Schwarmer struck out four and walked nobody.

Left fielder Brandon Cummins had a two-run double in the third inning and then scored on a single by Vimael Machin. That was all the runs that South Bend would need or would get. Cummins was 1 for 4 and Machin was 3 for 4.

Highlights for the 19-inning game.

And the plain old nine-inning one.