Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 22

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs fell to the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals), 8-6 in 12 innings.

Starter Jen-Ho Tseng went five innings and allowed four runs on six hits. Tseng walked three and struck out three.

Anthony Bass, Justin Hancock and Dillon Maples kept the Redbirds off the board for the rest of the regulation innings. Bass pitched two innings and Hancock and Maples pitched one.

Michael Roth had the honor of pitching all three extra innings. He gave up one run in the tenth, but Iowa tied it up in the bottom of the inning. He gave up one run in the eleventh, but Iowa tied it up yet again. Finally, Roth allowed two runs in the top of the 12th and Iowa failed to score in the bottom of the inning, so he took the loss.

The final line on Roth was four runs on two hits over three innings. He pitched better than that sounds because a runner started on second in all three innings, so he only had one earned run. Roth struck out two and walked four, but again, two of the walks were intentional.

Right fielder Bijan Rademacher hit a solo home run to lead off the ninth inning to tie the game at four and send it into extras. It was Rademacher’s first home run this year. He was 1 for 4.

Center fielder Wynton Bernard tried to end the game in the 11th inning when he tried to stretch a triple into an inside-the-park home run, but he was thrown out at the plate. He did drive in the tying run on the triple, however, Bernard was 2 for 5.

Left fielder Stephen Bruno went 3 for 5 with a double. He had one RBI and scored one run.

Shortstop Mike Freeman was 2 for 6 and scored twice. First baseman Efren Navarro was 2 for 4 with a walk.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were sauteed by the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Marlins), 11-5.

Smokies starter Duncan Robinson was pounded for five runs in the first inning and two in the second. That was all the Jumbo Shrimp would need, even though Robinson threw two perfect frames after that. The final line on Robinson was seven runs on eight hits over four innings. He struck out four and did not walk anyone, although he did hit one batter.

Left fielder Jeffrey Baez hit a solo home run in the fifth inning, his second on the season. Baez drove in all five runs for the Smokies today with a pair of two-run doubles as well. Baez was 3 for 4.

Center fielder Trey Martin was 3 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored twice.

Third baseman Jesse Hodges was 2 for 4 with two runs scored.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans won their season-high third-straight game today by sinking the Down East Wood Ducks (Rangers), 8-3.

Terrific start from Matt Swarmer, who got his first win of the year with six shutout innings. Swarmer gave up four hits, didn’t walk anyone and struck out seven.

Catcher Jhonny Pereda went 2 for 4 with a double and three RBI. He scored once.

Center fielder D.J. Wilson led off the bottom of the first with a double and the Pelicans never trailed after he scored on a Pereda single. Wilson was 2 for 4 with a walk.

DH P.J. Higgins was 2 for 4. He scored two runs and drove in one.

Third baseman Wladimir Galindo went 2 for 4 and scored one run.

Shortstop Aramis Ademan was 2 for 4. He scored one run and drove in one.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs lost to the Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays), 4-2.

Cubs starter Brendon Little only allowed four hits, but two of them were home runs to DH Christian Williams. Little got the loss after allowing four runs on four hits over 4.2 innings. He walked two and struck out four.

Shortstop Rafael Narea went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI single. Third baseman Yeiler Peguero was 2 for 4 with one run batted in.

DH Miguel Amaya was 2 for 4 and scored once.