Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 27

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were not OK after losing to the Oklahoma City Dodgers, 4-1.

Jen-Ho Tseng started for the I-Cubs and took the loss after he allowed all four runs in the fourth inning. The final line on Tseng was four runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out six and walked two.

Dillon Maples pitched one inning of relief and struck out four batters, which seems about right. That one strikeout that reached on a wild pitch was the only runner to reach base against Maples. All four of the strikeouts were swinging.

Left fielder Mark Zagunis was 2 for 4 with the lone Iowa RBI. Catcher Taylor Davis was 2 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies blinded the Chattanooga Lookouts (Twins), 6-1.

Starter Trevor Clifton got his second win after giving up just one run on three hits over five innings. Clifton did struggle with his control as he walked four batters, hit two and struck out only one. Only 47 of his 86 pitches were strikes.

Second baseman Carlos Penalver broke open a 1-1 game in the the fourth inning with a bases-loaded triple. Penalver was 1 for 4 and he scored after the triple.

Shortstop Zack Short hit his second home run on the year in the fifth inning with the bases empty. Short also doubled in a 2 for 5 night.

Right fielder Jeffrey Baez continues his hot start to the year with a 3 for 5 night. So far this year, Baez is hitting .390/.444/.780.

Catcher Ian Rice was 3 for 4 with a double and one run scored. DH Eddy Martinez was 2 for 4 and scored one run.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were bewitched by the Salem Red Sox, 9-3. (OK, it’s Salem, Virginia, not Salem, Massachusetts.)

Starter Bryan Hudson took the loss after he allowed five runs on six hits over four innings. Hudson walked three and struck out six.

Right fielder Chris Pieters went 2 for 4 with one run batted in.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs sank the Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers), 5-2.

Javier Assad was very effective in his five innings of scoreless pitching. Assad gave up just three hits. He struck out three and walked two.

Tyler Thomas gave up two runs in the top of the ninth after two were out and actually allowed the tying run to come to the plate, but he finally settled down and struck out the final hitter of the game to complete a four-inning save. Thomas allowed the two runs on five hits. (Four of those hits came after there were two outs in the top of the ninth.) Thomas struck out seven and did not walk anyone.

First baseman Tyler Payne was 2 for 4 with a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth.

Third baseman Austin Filiere went 2 for 4.