Minor League Discussion & Boxes 4-13-2007

[Outshined_One]

Box Scores

 

Iowa won 4-1 Box Score

 

LF A. Pagan 1/4, SB (1)

2B E. Patterson 0/3, BB, R, 3 K

CF F. Pie 1/2, 2 BB, R, RBI, CS (1), Assist (2B)

1B M. Hoffpauir 2/3, BB, R, RBI

3B S. Moore 0/1, 3 BB, K, SB (2)

RF B. Coats 0/3, RBI, K

SS C. Rojas 0/3, K, HBP, SB (1)

SP L. Walrond 6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2/1 K/BB, HR, 6-9 GO-FO

RP R. Cherry 2 scoreless, 1 H, 2/0 K/BB, 1-3 GO-FO

RP C. Rapada .2 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 1-0 GO-FO

RP F. Baez .1 perfect, 1-0 GO-FO

 

Tennessee won 7-5 Box Score

 

CF C. Walker 2/4, BB, R, SB (3)

C J. Fox 2/5, R, RBI, 2B (4), K, PB (1)

3B M. Craig 2/5, RBI, 2B (3), K, E (1, throw)

1B B. Dopirak 0/5

PH J. Simokaitis 0/1

SP J. Berg 4.1 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 3/2 K/BB, 2 WP, 6-3 GO-FO

RP A. Mendez .2 hitless/scoreless, 2/1 K/BB

 

Daytona won 6-3 Box Score

 

SS M. Matulia 2/5, R, RBI

CF T. Colvin 0/4, IBB, R

1B R. Norwood 2/4, R, 2 RBI

2B R. Chirinos 1/3, RBI

C J. Muyco 1/3, BB, R, 2B (3)

SP T. Blackford 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2/3 K/BB, 9-5 GO-FO

RP M. Avery 1 hitless/scoreless, 1/2 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO

 

Peoria lost 2-0 Box Score

 

2B M. Camp 0/4, K

CF V. Heredia 0/3, K

PH P. Lopez 0/1

3B J. Lansford 1/4, CS (1)

1B R. Canzler 1/3, K, SB (3)

LF A. Joseph 1/3, K, Assist (Home)

RF Y. Carter 0/3, 2 K

C W. Castillo 0/3

DH DJ Lewis 0/3, 3 K

SS D. Johnston 0/3, 3 K

SP J. Pina 4 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3/3 K/BB, WP, 3-5 GO-FO

RP M. Carrillo 3 scoreless, 1 H, 0/1 K/BB, 3-6 GO-FO

 

OVERALL: 3-1

Edited April 14, 2007 by Outshined_One

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Internet is down at home, so no time to look at opposing pitchers or stats.

 

Iowa: Walrond

Tenn: Berg

Daytona: Blackford

Peoria: Pina

[Mephistopheles]

Q: Phillip from Overland Park, KS asks:

After a nice debut last year and a good start to this year can we say that the Cubs apparently did know what they were doing when they took Tyler Colvin ahead of where everyone thought he would go?

A:

 

John Manuel: Colvin wasn't a consensus first-rounder, but we had him ranked too low last year in our draft preview. I don't say that because he got drafted 13th overall; I say that because if the Cubs hadn't taken him there, he still would have been taken in the supplemental round or 2nd round. We under-rated him, we read the scouting consensus on him wrong. It happens and I'm not proud of it. I'm shocked, shocked to find out Tim Wilken knows more than we do.

[Flames24Rulz]

Daytona races out to a 1-0 lead after an Amador triple and a Matulia single. Berg has pitched two scoreless.

[Flames24Rulz]

Daytona now down 3-1 in the 6th. Blackford is done: 5 and 2/3s, 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 ER, 2 Ks/3 BBs. Colvin is 0/2.

 

Tennessee is tied at 3 in the bottom of the 4th. Berg gave up 1 in the 3rd and 2 in the 4th. Tennessee got all 3 of their runs, all unearned, in the 2nd. Fox is 1/2 and Dope is 0/2.

 

Peoria down 1-0 in the 5th. Pina has allowed 1 run on 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 3. The Chiefs' have yet to have a baserunner.

 

Iowa just got underway...Walrond retired the first 3 Round Rock batters in order.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Perfect game for Walrond spoiled by a walk to the pesky Cody Ranson.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Angel Pagan watch, 2007:

 

Current line: 172/222/294/516

[otis89]

Angel Pagan watch, 2007:

 

Current line: 172/222/294/516

 

Looks like Beltran's off to a slow start.

[Flames24Rulz]

Daytona won 6-3. Four runs in the Daytona 7th led to the victory. Blevins got the win pitching 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Matt Avery walked two in the 9th, but earned his first save of the season. Amador had 3 hits, including the triple to lead off the game for Daytona. Matulia, Norwood, and Garcia each had two hits. Colvin finished 0/4 with a BB and a run scored.

 

Peoria down 1-0 still in the 9th. Peoria has managed to get three hits (Lansford, Canzler, and Joseph), but they haven't been able to put anything together. Pina's final line: 4 IP, 3 hits, 1 ER, 3 Ks/3 BBs. Carrillo pitched 3 scoreless innings of relief and Ruhlman pitched one.

 

Tennessee down 5-4 in the 6th. Berg finished with 4 1/3 innings pitched, 9 hits, 5 runs, 3 Ks/2 BBs. Six of the eight position players have a hit. Only ones that don't are Dope and Koreger. Salas is 2/2 with a double and a walk, Matt Craig has a double, and Cortes is 1/1 with 2 RBIs and 2 BBs. Jake Fox is 1/3.

 

Iowa up 3-0 in the 6th. Walrond has pitched like a stud tonight: 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 K/1 BB. Felix is 1/2 with an RBI, a BB, and a run scored. Hoffpauir is also 1/2 with an RBI and a walk. EPatt is 0/2, but he does have a walk and a run scored.

[Flames24Rulz]

Burlington added another run in the 9th and Peoria lost 2-0.

 

Tennessee now up 6-5 in the 8th. Jake Fox had an RBI double to tie it at 5 and then Kroeger had an RBI single, which scored Fox.

 

Iowa up 3-1 in the 7th. Walrond finished at 6 innings, 2 hits, 1 ER on a homer, 2 Ks/1 BB. Cherry came on for the 7th and allowed a hit, but that was it. Pie now 1/2 with 2 BBs while EPatt is now 0/3 with 1 BB.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Somebody tell me about Pina. How's his stuff, and how does it compare to his Peoria comrades Ceda and Dolis?

[Flames24Rulz]

Somebody tell me about Pina. How's his stuff, and how does it compare to his Peoria comrades Ceda and Dolis?

 

I know Raisin knows. I think Ceda has the best overall stuff of the three, but I'm pretty sure Pina can fire it up there as well. Peoria does have a lot of interesting pitching prospects.

 

Tennessee won 7-5. Piggy got the W and Jim Henderson got the save. Seven position players had two hits for the Smokies. The only who didn't have two hits, and a hit altogether, was Dope. He finished 0/5. Fox was 2/5 with an RBI double and a SB. Matt Craig was also 2/5 with an RBI double. Nice to see their offense break out tonight.

 

Iowa just won 4-1. Cherry, Rapada, and Baez combined to shut down Round Rock in the final three innings. Pie finished 1/2 with 2 walks, an RBI, and a run scored. Hoffpauir was 2/3 with a walk, an RBI, and a run scored. EPatt finished 0/3 with a walk, a run, and 3 strikeouts. And the most important news of the night..Angel Pagan had a hit to push him even at the Mendoza line. He also stole a base! Way to go, Beltran.

[craig]

Somebody tell me about Pina. How's his stuff, and how does it compare to his Peoria comrades Ceda and Dolis?

 

I'd also like to hear about his stuff. I know that Ceda, Castillo, and Dolis all throw very hard. And, all three are pretty wild. Physically, Ceda is the hulk of the bunch. Ceda has a slider of some promise. All three of Ceda, Castillo, and Dolis have been pretty wild. Not sure what if anything Dolis and Castillo have for non-fastball. But Pina and Albuquerque, I don't know what they've got. Carillo is a little guy who doesn't throw hard, even though he seems to have better control and maybe a breaking pitch.

 

I'd love to hear Raisin's observations on them.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Somebody tell me about Pina. How's his stuff, and how does it compare to his Peoria comrades Ceda and Dolis?

 

I'd also like to hear about his stuff. I know that Ceda, Castillo, and Dolis all throw very hard. And, all three are pretty wild. Physically, Ceda is the hulk of the bunch. Ceda has a slider of some promise. All three of Ceda, Castillo, and Dolis have been pretty wild. Not sure what if anything Dolis and Castillo have for non-fastball. But Pina and Albuquerque, I don't know what they've got. Carillo is a little guy who doesn't throw hard, even though he seems to have better control and maybe a breaking pitch.

 

I'd love to hear Raisin's observations on them.

 

Where did you hear Ceda threw a slider? I thought he threw a curve (of promise, as you said).

 

Otherwise, I don't know much more than you. I've heard Albuquerque threw hard a few years ago, before the injuries, but who knows now. I know nothing about Pina's arsenal.

 

This is one of the reasons I really need to listen to some Peoria games. :) We should drop Nate some questions too.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Craig (and everyone else), I'm sure you'll enjoy these entries from AZ Phil at Cub Reporter:

 

Arizona Phil[/url]"]The Boise Hawks were in action today, and unlike their brethren in Wrigleyville, they DO know how to win a game!

 

In news you won’t get anywhere else…

 

Ryan Harvey (at EXST rehabbing from an hamstring injury) was 2-4 with two doubles (including one off the top of the 20-foot high center-field fence 400+ feet away), two RBIs, and a run scored, and Nathan Samson was 2-4 with two runs scored, as the EXST Cubs (Boise/Mesa cadre) defeated the EXST Angels at Fitch Park Field #2 this morning in sunny Mesa, Arizona.

 

RHP Andrew McCormick (the 22-year old 2006 47th round draft pick out of Pikeville College in Kentucky) got the start for the EXST Cubs, and went two innings (no runs on one hit with a K), but showed poor command with three BB and a WP. Not an impressive outing for a guy battling for a spot at Boise.

 

23-year old RHP Simon Lee (recently signed out of Korea by one of the agents of new Cubs Pacific Rim Scouting Coordinator Steve Wilson) pitched the next three inings (3-4-5) and did not look good, giving up two runs on five hits with a funky-ass delivery that fooled everybody except the hitters. The big problem with Simon (besides the fact that he takes off his hat and runs with it in his free-hand when he covers 1st base on ground balls hit to the first-baseman) is that he is a fly ball pitcher who doesn’t appear to have the type of stuff that lends itself to strikeouts. Bad combination. Or maybe he just had a bad day.

 

Chuckie Platt (2006 23rd round pick out of Lamar) worked 1.1 IP and gave up two hits and a HBP and had to be removed one out into his second inning of work because he was struggling with his command. As a 24-year old, Platt is going to have to show a LOT more than he did today if he wants to avoid getting a pink slip at the end of EXST. It’s strictly “Boise or Bust” for Chuckie, because at his age, he certainly ain’t going back to the AZL Cubs again in June!

 

20-year old RHP Audy Santana (2-11 with a 3.62 ERA combined over the last three seasons at DSL Cubs) worked the next 1.2 IP, and he had the best outing of the five pitchers who worked today. Santana gave up one harmless single and struck out three. He will very likely be a member of the AZL Cubs (Mesa) pitching staff come June.

 

18-year old Australian RHP Ryan Searle (another one of Steve Wilson’s recent discoveries) came into the game in the 9th to protect a 4-2 lead, and got the save despite allowing a run on two hits and a walk, although he also struck out the side. I believe he is supposed to go back home and attend the Australia Baseball Academy at the end of EXST (or at least that was the orginal plan).

 

If anyone cares,. here was today’s Cubs EXST (Boise/Mesa) starting lineup:

 

Nathan Samson, SS

Drew Rundle, LF

Ryan Harvey, DH #1

Elvin Puello, DH #2

Mario Mercedes. C

Blake Parker, 1B

Andres Quezada, CF

Edgar Herrera, RF

Gian Guzman, 3B

Cesar Valentin 2B

 

Andrew McCormick, P (innings 1-2)

Simon Lee, P (innings 3-4-5)

Chuckie Platt, P (inning 6 and one out into the 7th)

Audy Santana, P (two outs in the 7th and the 8th)

Ryan Searle, P

 

DID NOT PLAY (had workout on Fitch Park Field #1 instead):

Cliff Anderson, OF

Sammy Baez, SS

Steve Clevenger, C

Carlos Perez, C

Cody Gilbert, OF

Sam Fuld, OF (rehabbing from oblique injury)

Mike Kinkade, 3B-1B (rehabbling from broken hand)

Ryne Malone, 2B-3B (rehabbing from knee surgery)

 

Fuld, Kinkade, and Malone all had lengthy BP sessions and Fuld says his side feels fine. He was raking balls all over the yard. I would think he’s about ready to join Tennessee, where he will probably initially platoon with Chris Walker until he’s in shape to play every day, and then Walker will probably either move to LF or become the Smokies’ “4th OF.”

 

Kinkade was driving the ball all over the place, too, and looks to be ready to go. The problem is, there might not be a spot for him at Iowa at the moment. He could (as happened with Val Pascucci at the end of ST) get caught in a numbers game and just get released (which the Cubs could not do while Kinkade was injured) or perhaps traded to another organization’s AAA club (as happened with Tomas Perez, who was traded to the Dodgers AAA club at Las Vegas at the end of ST).

 

Malone still has a heavy brace on his knee, and while he can hit just fine, he can’t run (sounds like old Arizona Phil!). Once he can run, I would expect him (Ryne Malone, not AZ Phil) to go to Daytona and DH until he’s in shape to play a defensive position (which might not be until next season).

 

BTW, Ryan Harvey showed no ill effects running the bases today (other than being a bit winded), but when he leaves EXST, I would expect him to initially go back to Daytona where he can DH until the Cubs are sure he’s OK to play RF. And even then, depending on how he’s hitting he might have to stay in Daytona indefinitely, although I KNOW he wants to go to AA and join his old Dunedin High School buddy, Brian Dopirak. (And it actually might benefit both Harvey and Dopirak for them to play on the same team…).

 

And that’s it from beautiful Mesa, Arizona.

 

See you next time!

 

But wait, there's more:

 

AZ Phil[/url]"]

 

There are no specific “Boise” or “Mesa” teams yet, so the players at EXST are Mesa/Boise mixed together, and so are the teams for the intrasquad games. Innings are stopped when the pitcher reaches his pitch limit for that inning (15-20), and the games usually go only seven innings. Today, there was only one umpire (the home plate ump).

 

Ryan Harvey (who is rehabbing from a hamstring injury) was the DH for both teams, and was 0-4 with three Ks (all swinging) and a weak foul pop out to 1st base.

 

Two players from Team China who are working out with the EXST Cubs at Fitch Park were in the starting lineup as well (Team China players are assigned to various MLB EXST camps around Arizona).

 

TEAM “A”

Hao, C (Team China)

Blake Parker, 1B

Elvis Lara, 2B

Ryan Harvey, DH (replaced by Carlos Perez in the 6th)

Sammy Baez, SS

Elvin Puello, 3B

Andres Quezada, CF

Cody Gilbert, LF

Clifford Andersen, RF

 

Chris Huseby, RHP (innings 1-2)

Robert Hernandez, RHP (innings 3-4-5)

Kevin Kreier, RHP (innings 6-7)

 

NOTES: On offense for Team “A,” Team China’s Hao had two hits (single with a run scored and an RBI double) and looked quick as a cat behind the plate. (A Chinese translator was stationed on the bench and would go to the mound whenever there was a conference).

19-year old Cliff Anderson (2006 9th round pick out of Cottonwood HS in Salt Lake City) was 2-3 with two singles and two runs scored and a nice running catch into RF foul territory, and C-3B-1B Blake Parker (’06 16th round pick out of the University of Arkansas) had a walk and an RBI single.

19-year old RHP Chris Huseby (2006 11th round pick who got second-round money to sign in order to dissuade him from going to Auburn) went two innings (29 pitches), allowing no runs on one hit and one walk, with two K and a GIDP.

18-year old Venezuelan RHP Robert Hernandez (5-2 3.20 at AZL Mesa last year) threw three innings and was outstanding, nine up and nine down with 4 K on 43 pitches.

19-year old RHP Kevin Kreier (2006 20th round pick out of Foothill HS in Henderson, NV) is making his pro debut in 2007, and went two innings, allowing one run (earned) on one hit and one walk, with 2 K.

 

Team “B”

Steve Clevenger, C

Mario Mercedes, 1B

Cesar Valentin, 2B

Ryan Harvey DH (replaced by Carlos Perez in the 6th)

Nathan Samson, SS

Gian Guzman, 3B

Drew Rundle, CF

Edgar Herrera, LF

Zi, RF (Team China)

 

Mark Prior, RHP (innings 1-2)

Matt Maradeo, RHP (innings 3-4-5)

Brad Clipp, RHP (inning 6)

Oswaldo Martinez, RHP (inning 7)

 

NOTES: NOTE: Team “B” had only two hits, but Steve Clevenger (2006 7th round pick out of Chipola JC) was 1-2 with a walk and an RBI double and did a nice job benind the plate (he is an infielder who is being converted to catcher) and made a solid throw to 2B on a stolen base attempt.

Besides Prior, Matt Maradeo (23-year old 2006 NDFA signed out of Kutztown State) worked three innings, allowing three runs (no earned runs) on two hits, no walks, with seven K (seven of the first eight hitters he faced!). Slinging sidearm, Maradeo threw strike-after-strike and was unhittable until the very end when his defense (Mercedes at 1B and Herrera in LF) made two errors you normally only get to see in Little League around a couple of singles.

Brad Clipp (’06 33rd round draft pick out of Loma Nazarene University) didn’t take any chances with the defense and just struck out the side in a 1-2-3 6th, and 18-year old Mexican RHP Oswaldo Martinez gave up a run on two hits (with two K) in his one inning of work.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Arizona Phil[/url]"]The big problem with Simon (besides the fact that he takes off his hat and runs with it in his free-hand when he covers 1st base on ground balls hit to the first-baseman)

 

hahaha

[craig]

Thanks for those AZ Phil reports. Well, sounds like no Latin position players of note.

 

But, Robert Hernandez turns up again as impressive. That's cool.

 

Raisin, my friend is a friend of a Baltimore scout, who said that Ceda had the hard fastball and a wild but interesting slider. He compared him to Lee Smith, and seemed to think he had the menacing presence and the wildness to be rather scary as a closer. I have noticed before in reports from this scout that his definition of slider and curve doesn't seem to always be the same as what other sources use. So my guess is that his slider and your curve are likely the same pitch, different names or different days.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

IowaCubs.com[/url]"]Cubs Win Home Opener 4-1 / Walrond Throws Six Strong Innings

By Toby Hyde / Iowa Cubs

 

On Opening Night at Principal Park, Les Walrond treated the 6,086 fans who braved a chilly night to a masterful pitching performance. Walrond became only the second Iowa Cubs starter to throw six innings in a game in 2007 while taking a no-hitter into the fifth. He allowed just one run on two hits in his six innings, while throwing just 61 pitches.

Round Rock starter Juan Gutierrez , didn't allow a hit in the first three innings either, but the Cubs offense warmed up in the bottom of the fourth. Eric Patterson led the inning off with a walk, and advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw by Juan Gutierrez. Felix Pie brought home Patterson with the game's first run on a clean single to right. Pie scored later in the inning on a double play.

 

Iowa increased their advantage to 3-1 when Josh Hoffpauir drew a bases loaded walk.

 

Mark Saccomanno put Round Rock on the board with a solo HR leading off the sixth making the score 3-1. The Cubs completed the scoring on a Buck Coats sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2007/04/14/PpxrVVWh.jpg

Les Walrond doubles.

 

SmokiesBaseball.com[/url]"]SMOKIES REBOUND AGAINST STARS

 

Sevierville, TN – The Tennessee Smokies battled back and forth against the Huntsville Stars on Friday night, eventually emerging victorious by a 7-5 count. A boisterous crowd of 3,335 at Smokies Park braved the chilly night air to see the Smokies improve to 3-5 on the season.

 

The Smokies grabbed the early lead in the 2nd inning after SS Gary Cates slapped a 2-out single to right field. Cates moved to third on a double by 2B Issmael Salas, which brought starting pitcher Justin Berg to the plate. Berg popped up an apparent inning ending fly ball to SS Yohannis Perez, but he dropped the ball, which scored both Cates and Salas on the play. CF Chris Walker singled to center, advancing Berg to second, and LF Jorge Cortes singled him home to make the score 3-0.

 

Huntsville battled back with one run in the 3rd inning, and two runs in the 4th to tie the game at 3-3. The Smokies plated a run in the bottom of the 4th inning on a bases loaded walk by relief pitcher Corey Thurman (0-1). The Stars regained the lead in the 5th inning by scoring two runs on three hits in the inning to go up 5-4.

 

The Smokies took the lead for good in the sixth. Walker singled to lead off the inning, stole second, then scored on a double hammered off the center field wall by catcher Jake Fox. He then stole third base, and was driven home by a RBI single by RF Josh Kroeger to give the Smokies a 6-5 lead. The Smokies added an insurance run in the 8th to go up 7-5.

 

Carmen Pignatiello (1-0) pitched two scoreless winning to earn the win, and James Henderson pitched another two scoreless innings for his first save of the year.

 

The Smokies and Stars will play game four of the five game series on Saturday night beginning at 7:15 PM. The Smokies will send Kevin Hart to the mound to face Stars pitcher Manny Parra.

 

DaytonaCubs.com[/url]"][DAYTONA BEACH, FL]Daytona Takes Game One From Jupiter / Cubs back at .500

Jeanine Jianneti

 

Left-hander Jerry Blevins (1-0) leads the Daytona Cubs (4-4) to a 6-3 victory in game one over the Jupiter Hammerheads (5-3) at Jackie Robinson Ballpark Friday night. The win over the first place Hammerheads moves the Cubs back up to .500 on the season.

 

Down by two runs in the sixth inning, Cubs reliever Blevins came to the rescue. Blevins, the 6-foot-6, 185-pound left-hander, looked strong coming out of the bullpen in relief of starting pitcher Todd Blackford. Blevins did not allow any runs on one hit, one walk, and had two strikeouts in two and one-third innings.

 

In the top of the sixth inning with the bases loaded the Cubs turned an unusual 5-2-3 double play, stopping the Hammerheads from a potentially dangerous situation. The play was a pivotal point in the night that jump started Daytona’s rally back against Jupiter.

 

The Cubs bats came alive in the seventh to back up Blevins efforts. Chris Amador (3-5) and Matt Matulia (2-5) each had a pair of hits, both adding runs to the scoreboard. Jake Muyco donated a double to the cause while Amador contributed the Cubs first triple of the season as Daytona scored their six runs on twelve hits.

 

Matt Avery (1) picked-up the save as the Cubs took the first game of a three game series from the Jupiter Hammerheads.

 

http://daytonacubs.com/images/news/1176521278.jpg

Jerry Blevens

 

PeoriaChiefs.com[/url]"]Chiefs Shutout in Home Opener

 

Peoria , IL- The Peoria Chiefs fell 2-0 to the visiting Burlington Bees in front of 4,277 fans in the home opener at O’Brien Field. The crowd was the largest April home opening day crowd in O’Brien Field history.

 

The Bees had an early scoring opportunity taken away after Chiefs left fielder Alfred Joseph threw out Chris McConnell at the plate trying to score on a base hit. Burlington would score its first run of the game after Marc Maddox led off the fourth inning with a walk and would score on a sacrifice fly by Joe Dickerson.

 

The Chiefs did not get many opportunities against Bees starter Angelo Morales. The first hit of the night came from Russ Canzler in the fifth inning but he was stranded on base. Josh Lansford picked up a single in the seventh inning but also could not find a way to score.

 

Peoria ’s best opportunity in the game came after Alfred Joseph singled to begin the eighth inning. Yusuf Carter reached on an error but both were stranded on third base after reliever Brent Fisher picked up back-to-back strikeouts of DJ Lewis and Dylan Johnston to end the threat.

 

Morales worked seven innings to pick up his second win of the season. He finished the night with nine strikeouts and did not walk a batter. Brent Fisher worked two scoreless innings allowing just one hit while striking out four to earn his first save.

 

Gorman’s Pub Player of the Game:

 

Alfred Joseph (LF) – He finished the night 1-for-3 and picked up an outfield assist in the first inning. Marc Maddox singled and Chris McConnell was trying to score from second but Joseph threw him out at the plate from left field.

 

Notes… The Chiefs have scored one run in their last 23 innings…Peoria has not had a lead change in any of their first six games…The Chiefs and Bees will complete the two game series on Saturday at 6:30 PM at O’Brien Field…Peoria will send right-hander Rafael Dolis (1-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound against Bees LH Everett Teaford (0-0, 0.00 ERA)…Dolis beat Burlington Monday night with a career high eight strikeouts in five innings

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Des Moines Register[/url]"]Walrond lifts Iowa Cubs in home opener

By RANDY PETERSON

 

...

 

"That was ugly," Walrond said of his hit. "He was throwing the ball pretty much by me, then he threw me a fastball that I just took a whack at."

 

Seventy-nine minor league at-bats, six minor league hits, of which two have been doubles.

 

"That's not anything I really practice on," Walrond said of his newfound prowess at the plate. "I practice more on bunting."

 

The temperature hovered around 48 at game time, according to the national weather service, before finally dropping to 44 by the seventh-inning stretch.

 

"Les - he pitched a quick game, and that's what you want on nights like this," Iowa manager Buddy Bailey said. "The guys didn't stand out in the field too long."

 

KnoxNews.com[/url]"]Smokies manage to reverse their fortunes

 

Losing streak ends with first home victory, 7-5

 

By NICK GATES

 

Only time will tell if the Smokies' promotion on Friday the 13th was successful in lifting the fabled hex but it must have had a profound effect on the Cubs' Class AA farmhands, if you believe in such superstition.

 

Jake Fox doubled in the tying run, stole third base and scored the winner on Josh Kroeger's single past a drawn-up infield, and the Smokies held on for a 7-5 Southern League victory over the Huntsville Stars to snap a four-game losing streak.

 

The Smokies (3-5) erupted for a season-high 14 hits en route to their first home win in three tries this season to the delight of the 3,335 at Smokies Park.

 

Pat Listach wasn't around for the traditional post-game high-fives and handshakes.

 

Tennessee's manager was ejected in the fifth inning for challenging umpire Manny Gonzalez's strike zone. Tennessee pitching coach Dennis Lewallyn filled in for Listach.

 

Tennessee's comeback wouldn't have been possible without the bullpen. Adalberto Mendez, Carmen Pignatiello and James Henderson shut out the Stars (4-4) for 42/3 innings.

 

Pignatiello (1-0) pitched two innings of no-hit relief for the win and Henderson got the final six outs for his first save.

 

Chris Walker played a key role for Tennessee's balanced offense.

 

The Smokies' leadoff hitter, who was 2-for-3 with a walk, ignited the winning rally with a single and got into scoring position by swiping second base.

 

...

 

Berg didn't have his command.

 

The right-hander, who was obtained in a trade from the New York Yankees, was touched for nine hits and five earned runs in 41/3 innings.

 

Smokies Notebook: Chicago Cubs assistant general manager Randy Bush is in town for the series.

 

Daytona News-Journal[/url]"]Cubs rally for win

 

By SEAN KERNAN

 

Ryan Norwood's bloop single to center following a free pass to Tyler Colvin that loaded the bases started a string of three straight RBI base hits.

 

"It wasn't pretty, but you take it," Norwood said after a 2-for-4 night at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored. "You fight off a good pitch and get a bloop single. That was fun. Tyler has a real good bat and he's left-handed, so I kind of figured they'd walk him. I just went up there trying to get a pitch that I could drive, but I'll take the bloop."

 

...

 

The Cubs' Jerry Blevins got the win after working 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of starter Todd Blackford, who gave up three runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings. Closer Matt Avery got his first save, but in the process walked two batters in his one inning of work and had to pitch to the potential tying run.

 

Blevins, a southpaw, has been the surest thing out of Daytona's bullpen and is now being considered for some closing opportunities.

 

"If Avery keeps walking guys, Blevins will be in the closer's spot," Cubs manager Jody Davis said. "We can't keep bringing the tying run to the plate in close games by walking people. We're looking for a closer and Blevins may soon be in that role."

 

OF NOTE: An adjustment in Daytona's pitching rotation caused by a rainout last Tuesday night in Vero Beach has also resulted in a new date for the home debut of Jeff Samardzija. The former two-sport star at Notre Dame is now slated to make his first start at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Wednesday night, the finale of a three-game series with the Vero Beach Devil Rays.

 

Peoria Journal-Star[/url]"]Bees buzz bats at O'Brien

 

Chiefs too cold at plate in their home opener, lose, 2-0, to Burlington

 

"Our bats were cold the past two nights," Chiefs manager Ryne Sandberg said. "When bats go cold it's tough to put hits together. You can't win games that way."

 

But despite the collective slump the Chiefs aren't panicking, yet.

 

"We've got the sticks in here so we know we can hit," said left fielder Alfred Joseph, who singled to lead off the eighth inning. He also threw a runner out at the plate in the first. "The guys that we hit pretty well last year have moved up, too, so weknow we can hit them. (The offense) will come."

 

Peoria pitching did its job, but the lack of offensive support was costly. Starter Jose Pina only worked four innings but that was more because of pitch count than ineffectiveness.

 

"It's great to be here," first baseman Russ Canzler said before the game. "This is a great facility and a chance to play before a great crowd."

 

The attendance of 4,277 was the largest ever to see a Chiefs home opener in the 25-year history of the franchise.

 

Being home also has one more important perk.

 

"It will be nice to get into a routine now," Sandberg said. "We can get the players on the field more working on some fundamentals that we haven't been able to do to this point."

 

That included early work of pitcher's fielding practice and extra bunting practice before Friday's game. There will be more of the same before the three remaining games of the home stand.

 

"I just talked to them (after the game) about getting out and getting back to work," Sandberg said. "These are young players and they are learning on a daily basis."