The Cubs again had all four minor league teams in action yesterday. As a whole the Cubs went 1-3, with the only win coming from the Daytona club.
Iowa 5 Albuquerque 6 Newly acquired prospect? Ramon Ortiz took the mound for the Cubs and pitched quite well pitching 5.2 innings striking out 7 and only giving up two runs. Ramon is by no means a spring chicken, but its nice to see him at least filling a spot in the rotation and pitching decently. Chris Carpenter came in and gave up two unearned runs and struck out 5 in only 2 innings. Scott Maine struggled in the 10th inning while trying to close out the game. Maine got through the 9th inning unscathed, but gave up two runs while only getting one out in the 10th to take the loss.
Offensively Tony Campana led the way with 3 hits in his 6 at bats, including a double. Bryan LaHair reached base three times via base on balls, and Jonathan Mota added a home run from the second base position.
Chattanooga 6 Tennessee 5 Brooks Raley really stuggled in his start only going 3.2 innings and gave up all 6 runs, with 5 of them being earned. Hung-Wen Chen put in 1.1 innings of scoreless work.
Brett Jackson continued to hit the ball going going 1-2 with a double and a walk. Josh Vitters and Steven Clevenger both went 1-3 with a home run.
Daytona 6 Clearwater 5 The high A ball club picked up the only win in the minors yesterday and Zachary Rosscup took the mound. Zack went 5 innings giving up 2 earned runs while striking out 5. Brent Ebinger went the final 4 innings giving up 3 runs, but only one earned.
Michael Burgess had a hell of a night grabbing five RBI’s off of 3 hits including two home runs. Matthew Cerda had another nice night reaching base 4 times all via the walk. Vincent Watkins also collected two stolen bases from the leadoff spot.
Peoria 2 Burlington 4 Graham Hicks took the rubber for the Chiefs and pitched fairly well. Graham went 4 innings only allowing one earned run, but unfortunately walked 6 batters and stuck out none. Juan Yasser Serrano threw three innings of one run ball only allowing two hits. Marcus Hatley pitched a scoreless 8th. The Chiefs pitchers did not strike out a single batter last night.
Matthew Szczur was the only Chief to accrue multiple hits. No Chiefs hit an extra base hit, and while the pitchers stuck out none the Chiefs struck out nine times on the offensive side.
Minor league player of the day: Gotta be Michael Burgess. He knocked in 5 runs and was the only player in the entire organization to have multiple extra base hits.
Minor league dud of the day: Brooks Raley struggled in his season debut going only 3.2 innings and giving up a half dozen runs. Hopefully the young lefty can bounce back in his next start.