Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 5

Welcome back to year 12 of the Minor League Wrap. Each night I recap every game in the Cubs minor league system. I tell you the story of the game and who had big nights. I have a system for this that I’ve developed over the years and if you’re a long-time reader, you’re familiar with it already. If you’re a new reader, welcome, and you’ll catch on pretty fast. But everyone should feel free to make comments or ask questions.

Before I start tonight, I need to do my Caesar Flickerman impersonation and pay tribute to the fallen. Every year at the end of Spring Training, some minor leaguers don’t get the chance to continue in their Cubs career. So with that, here are the minor league players who were released during the final week in March.

RHP David Berg

RHP Mark Malave

RHP Steve Perakslis

LHP Carson Sands

LHP Marc Huberman

LHP Tommy Thorpe

C Cael Brockmeyer

3B Adonis Paula

3B Kevin Cornelius

OF Robert Garcia.

These people are not dead, of course, and some of them will catch on elsewhere. Brockmeyer actually played tonight in Iowa, although he was wearing an OKC Dodgers uniform. Perakslis has signed with the Mariners. But for some of them, their journey has ended.

May the odds always be in the Cubs favor!

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs split a doubleheader with the Oklahoma City Dodgers, losing game one 2-1 and winning the nightcap 3-2 in eight innings.

In game one, Jen-Ho Tseng started and took the loss, although he didn’t pitch poorly at all. He just ran into top Dodgers prospect Walker Buehler on the other side. Tseng pitched five innings and allowed two runs and seven hits, including a home run to Max Muncy that proved to be the difference. Tseng struck out seven and walked just one.

Third baseman David Bote was 1 for 3 with a double that got stuck in the outfield wall behind a advertising sign. Bote thought he had an inside-the-park home run, but it was a ground rule double.

In game two, Michael Roth made his Cubs debut and pitched 3.2 scoreless innings, allowing three hits. He walked one and struck out five.

Alberto Baldonado pitched the top of the eighth inning, which was the first minor league game of the year that went to extra innings, which meant it was the first game played under the new extra innings rules where a runner starts the inning on second base. Baldonado gave up a leadoff single to Alex Verdugo, but the runner on second stopped at third and Verdugo was thrown out trying for second base. He then retired the next two batters without allowing the run on third from scoring and got the win.

First baseman Efren Navarro singled home pinch-runner Duane Underwood Jr. to win the game in the bottom of the eight. Navarro was 1 for 4.

Bote played second base in game two and hit the first Cubs minor league home run of the season with the bases empty in the fourth inning. Bote was 1 for 3.

Tomorrow’s game at Principal Park has already been postponed, and game 2 was Sunday’s game rescheduled for today. Saturday’s game in Des Moines is still on for now.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were extinguished by the Mississippi Braves, 3-0.

Starter Trevor Clifton allowed three runs on four runs over 5.1 innings. All three runs scored in the sixth inning and two of them scored after Clifton was relieved by Jake Stinnett. Clifton struck out four and walked three.

Right fielder Eddy Martinez was 1 for 2 with two walks.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were locked up by the Frederick Keys (Orioles), 6-2.

Keegan Thompson started and took the loss after he gave up six runs, five earned, over five innings. Thompson allowed eight hits, but he didn’t walk anyone and he struck out four.

DH P.J. Higgins was 2 for 4 with a two-run single. Second baseman Andruw Monasterio was 2 for 3 and scored one run.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were flooded by the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers), 6-2.

Starter Tyler Thomas (who appears to no longer go by his first name of Ricky) got the loss after allowing three runs, one earned, on four hits over five innings. He struck out three and walked one.

RIght fielder Brandon Hughes was 2 for 2 with two walks and a stolen base. He scored one run.

Second baseman Yeiler Peguero was 2 for 4 with a steal.