Last night the minor leagues kicked off. Cubs had four teams playing last night going 3-0-, and here is a quick wrap up of the highs and the lows.
Iowa Cubs 12 Round Rock 9 Thomas Diamond took the bump for the Cubs going 4 innings giving up 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 5. He gave up 2 ER’s in his outing. Esmailin Caridad really struggled as did Gaub. Over their 4.0 IP 7 runs crossed the plate via 2 HRs. The couple did have 6 strikeouts while only walking one, so there could be some bright side. Scott Maine pitched a scoreless ninth to show even further why he should be on the big league club.
Offensively Luis Montanez, Ty Wright and Bobby Scales led the way with three hits a piece. Wright along with LaHair each hit a HR. Montanez, Wright and LaHair had 3 RBI’s each. Fernando Perez struggled at the dish going 0-4 with three strikeouts.
Tennessee 12, Chattanooga 4 Chistopher Rusin took the mound in the Smokie’s opening game. He went 5 innings allowing 3 runs on 4 hits and 1 BB. Hung-Wen Chen pitched 1.2 innings giving up the other run. Luke Sommer came in to finish the 7th with a strikeout and Blake “The Great One” Parker closed out the game with 2 scoreless innings.
Matthew Spencer led the way for Tennessee with 3 hits including a home run. Top prospects Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters both had great nights. Jackson went 2-4 with 2 walks and a triple. Vitters also did well getting three hits including a two bagger. Steve Clevenger, Ryan Flaherty, and Rebel Riding each tacked on two hits, with Riding also hitting a donger.
Daytona Cubs 3 Brevard County 2 Robert Whitenack was the opening day starter for the Daytona Cubs and he didn’t disappoint. Robert went 5 innings only allowing 2 runs off only 5 hits while giving no free passes. Jeffrey Lorick, Jeff Beliveau, and Frank Batista finalized the other four innings allowing no runs and only putting two people on base, both via hits. Each of the final four pitchers struck out two batters.
Bob Brenleys son Michael struggled at the plate going 0-4 while racking up three strikeouts. Matthew Cerda led the way offensively with 3 hits including a double, and Michael Burgess tacked on a home run, the only other extra base hit for the Cubs. Junior Lake and Vincent Watkins each had two hits. Wellington Castillo, hitting DH, went 0-4 with twoK’s, in his season debut.
Peoria Chiefs 2 Cedar Rapids 2 The Chiefs sent 2010 first round draft pick Hayden Simpson to the mound and he showed why he got a surprise first round pick. While Simpson only went 3.2 innings he struck out 7 batters over that time and only gave up one run via a home run. Johan Gonzalez finished out the fourth, and then Eric Jokisch pitched the other four innings giving up 1 run on 3 hits and two walks. Joksich also struck out 5.
Greg Rohan led the way offensively going 2-4 with two doubles. Pierre LePage also did well getting a hit in his only official AB, but walked in his other two PA. Anthony Giansanti also reached base twice via a single and a double. Prospect Matthew Sczzur also had a double in his four at bats.
Cubs Minor league star of the day: Hayden Simpson had a great debut striking out seven in his season debut. He gets the nod here.
Cubs minor league dud of the day: Esmailin Caridad gets the award today. Caridad spent some time in the majors last year and I think a lot more than 3 innings giving up 5 runs is expected out of him. Hopefully he can bounce back.
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