Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 22

Quick question. Do I allow players who have exceeded rookie requirements to be nominated for the player of the month award? I don’t think I have in the past, but I’m not sure I’ve ever written that down as a rule. Of course, they are my rules and I can break them whenever I want, but I would like to be consistent. (Asking for Dixon Machado.)

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were stopped by the Oklahoma City Dodgers, 8-5.

The I-Cubs staked starter Duane Underwood Jr. four runs in the top of the first, but he couldn’t hold the lead and took the loss. Underwood allowed six runs on five hits over 3.2 innings. Underwood also gave up a two-run home run to the opposing pitcher, Daniel Corcino. Underwood struck out three and walked four, although one walk was intentional.

The good pitching news here is that Dillon Maples faced four batters at the end of this game and retired them all in order. Two of them were strikeouts. Maples threw 14 pitches and ten were strikes. Maples has only walked one batter over his last four relief appearances.

All five Iowa runs came via the home run and two of them were in the first inning. Center fielder Ian Happ opened the scoring with a two-run home run in the top of the first to dead center field. Happ was 1 for 4. He now has two home runs this season.

Later in the first inning, first baseman Jim Adduci hit a two-run home run, his second of the season and his second in as many nights. Adduci went 1 for 3 with a walk.

Cristhian Adames hit a solo home run in the seventh inning, his first of the year. Adames went 2 for4 and scored twice.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies split a doubleheader with the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), winning game one 7-6 and losing the second game 4-2.

Mike Montgomery made a rehab appearance in game one, allowing three runs on three hits over the first four innings. Mostly, he gave up a three-run home run to Jose Siri. Montgomery struck out three and walked one. He threw 42 pitches, 25 for strikes.

Manuel Rondon pitched the top of the seventh and got the win. Rondon allowed one hit and he hit one batter, but allowed no runs. Rondon did not record a strikeout.

Right fielder Charcer Burks singled home Jared Young with a two-out, walkoff single in the bottom of the seventh. Burks was 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored twice. Young was 2 for 4 and also scored twice.

Third baseman Robel Garcia connected for a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, his third of the season. Garcia was 2 for 4.

Center fielder Connor Myers was 3 for 3 and scored one run.

In game two, starter Thomas Hatch took the loss after allowing three runs on three hits over four innings. Hatch walked two and struck out five.

Shortstop Nico Hoerner had an inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the first inning of game two. It was Hoerner’s first home run of the year. Hoerner was 1 for 3.

Right fielder Roberto Caro was 2 for 4.

Unfortunately, Minor League Baseball’s ridiculous new video policy means I don’t have a video of Hoerner’s home run that I can embed, but you can see it here.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Travel day. Coming home to take on the Mudcats on Tuesday.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs hammered the Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays), 13-10 in ten innings.

Starter Brailyn Marquez allowed four runs on six hits over 4.2 innings, including two home runs by DJ Neal. Marquez struck out six and walked three.

Dalton Geekie gave up two runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game up 9-9, but then pitched a scoreless ninth and got the win when South Bend scored four runs in the top of the tenth. Geekie’s final line was two runs, one earned, on one hit and one walk over 2.2 innings. He struck out three, walked one and hit one batter.

DH D.J. Artis had a bases-clearing, three-run double in the top of the tenth to give South Bend the lead for good. Artis was 3 for 5 with two doubles tonight. He scored twice and had the three RBI.

Shortstop Andy Weber hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning. It was his first home run of the season. Weber was 1 for 5 with a walk.

Third baseman Christopher Morel was 3 for 5 with three runs scored.