It was a mixed bag down on the farm Sunday as the first weekend of the minor league season came to an end.
South Bend was snowed out and Iowa was snowed under by Round Rock’s offense.
Iowa lost again but there were bright spots this weekend for the I-Cubs. Willson Contreras had another hit Sunday. John Andreoli was on base two times and drove in two runs. Dan Vogelbach extended his hitting streak to four games with a 1-for-4 afternoon that included two RBI. And Spencer Patton struck out the side in order Sunday.
Javier Baez begins a rehab stint Monday with Iowa.
Shawon Dunston Jr. delivered the big hit for the Pelicans and Ian Happ tripled in a run. And in the Southern League, the Smokies could not get their bats going despite a good outing from Tyler Skulina.
Low Class-A – South Bend Cubs (1-2)
South Bend’s game Sunday with West Michigan was postponed due to snow. The game will be made up on June 4 at Four Winds Field as part of a doubleheader.
South Bend welcomes Bowling Green to Four Winds Field on Monday (6:05pm CDT) for the first of three with the Hot Rods. Adbert Alzolay is scheduled to start Monday.
High Class-A – Myrtle Beach Pelicans (2-2)
The Pelicans evened their record on the young season with a 7-5 win over Frederick on Sunday. Erick Leal got the start and gave up three runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts in five innings. Jordan Minch tossed two innings of shutout ball. Minch allowed a hit, walked two and struck out two. Daury Torrez struggled in his new role. Torrez surrendered two run on four hits and two walks. Torrez completed 1.2 innings.
Recently re-signed Jose Rosario came in and shut the door to preserve the win. Rosario recorded the last out and picked up the save in his first game action since 2014.
Shawon Dunston Jr. (2-for-4 with a triple and three RBI) delivered what would be the game-winning hit Sunday. With the bases loaded and the Pelicans down 3-1 in the fourth inning, Dunston Jr. tripled to right. Jason Vosler (1-for-3 with a double, a walk, a run scored and a RBI), Jeffrey Baez (1-for-4 with a run scored) and Cael Brockmeyer (0-for-2 with two walks, a run scored and a RBI) scored.
The Pelicans tacked on three runs in the seventh. Charcer Burks (0-for-4 with a walk and a run scored) walked and scored on a triple by Ian Happ (1-for-4 with a triple, a run scored and a RBI). Happ scored on a single from Yasiel Balaguert (3-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI). A wild pitch moved Balaguert to second and he scored on a double from Jason Vosler.
Double-A – Tennessee Smokies (2-2)
The Smokies ended up on the wrong end of a low scoring game with Mobile on Sunday. Mobile scored three runs in the eighth inning and won by a final of 4-1.
Tyler Skulina had a very good outing. Skulina gave up one run on a homer and three other hits in six innings. Skulina held his own with former Cubs’ farmhand Zack Godley. Skulina struck out three and issued one walk. Starling Peralta surrendered the three runs in the eighth inning. David Garner gave up a hit, a walk and struck out three in the ninth inning.
The Smokies managed only four hits, all singles, and the lone run scored in the bottom of the eighth on a throwing error.
Chesny Young (1-for-4), Taylor Davis (1-for-3), David Freitas (1-for-2 with a walk) and Bijan Rademacher (1-for-1) collected the four knocks.
Triple-A – Iowa Cubs (0-4)
The I-Cubs ran into the offensive freight train that is the Round Rock Express and were pummeled 10-4 on Sunday. Round Rock scored seven runs in the eighth inning and turned a close game into a route. Round Rock sent 12 batters to the plate in the eighth and scored seven times off C.J. Riefenhauser and Jean Machi.
Drew Rucinski started and gave up three runs on five hits with a walk and six strikeouts in six innings … a quality start for Rucinski in his Iowa debut.
Spencer Patton struck out the side in the ninth and picked up where he left off in the spring.
Iowa scored two runs in the eighth inning on a single to center by Dan Vogelbach (1-for-4 with two RBI). John Andreoli (1-for-4 with a walk and two RBI) singled in Tim Federowicz (1-for-4 with a run scored) and Kris Negron (2-for-4 with a run scored) in the ninth inning.
The Des Moines Register talked to Marty Pevey after the game and Iowa’s skipper said outside of one game, they got their a—- kicked this weekend.
Cubs Down on the Farm Reports
For those that might have missed any of the action from down on the farm over the weekend, here are the recaps from the first three days of the minor league season.
- Down on the Farm Report – 04/08/16
- Down on the Farm Report – 04/09/16
- Down on the Farm Report – 04/10/16