Chicago Cubs Minor League recaps: Iowa Cubs beat Nashville, 4-1

Right-handed pitcher Matt Loosen took the mound today for the Tennessee Smokies, looking to help get their second win of the young season. Loosen made it through five even innings of work, gave up six hits, was tagged with three earned runs and gave up a home run while exiting with a 5.40 ERA. Blue Wahoos first baseman Travis Mattair gave his team a 1-0 lead during the bottom half of the first inning with a single to center field to bring Rey Navvaro to score.

Fast forward to the bottom of the third with left fielder Donald Lutz at the plate. Lutz launched his first home run of the season to right field on the second pitch of the inning with no outs, extending the lead to 2-0 through three innings. Shortstop Rey Navarro who scored during the first inning, helped give his team a 3-0 lead during the bottom half of the fourth with a sacrifice fly to right field driving in starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen.

Tennessee finally got on the board during the top of the eighth inning on a RBI double by Smokies shortstop Jeudy Valdez to make it a 3-1 ballgame. They picked up their second and final run of the game during the top of the ninth off a solo home run by third baseman Dustin Geiger. Geiger let loose on the second pitch of the at-bat, taking pitcher Drew Hayes deep for his first home run of the season.

Winning pitcher was Michael Lorenzen (1-0), Drew Hayes picked up his third save, while Matt Loosen was handed the loss. With the loss, the Smokies fall to 1-4 on the year.

Final Score: Blue Wahoos 2, Smokies 2

The Daytona Cubs are coming off a huge 13-2 blowout over the Manatees as starting pitcher Rob Zastryzny took the mound. He was pulled from the game after only four innings as he gave up six hits and tagged with four earned runs. His teammates helped give him a 3-0 lead during the bottom of the second inning. Left fielder Rock Shoulders got the Cubs on the board with an RBI double to to right field, driving in Jeimer Candelario and Wilson Contreras.

Brevard County answered back the following inning with two runs of their own, as Cameron Garfield doubled to left field to make it a 3-1 ball game. Victor Roache followed that up with a double of his own to left field again, driving in Garfield to make it a 3-2 game. The Cubs would make it a 4-2 game during the bottom half of the inning on a force out by Candelario, Albert Almora would be the one to cross the plate.

From there on out it would be nothing but the Manatees putting runs up on the board. They added two during the top of the fourth off another RBI double but this time by Tyrone Taylor, driving in teammates Jose Sermo and Brandon Macias.

Daytona was unable to answer back for the remainder of the game, allowing Tanner Poppe to pick up his second save of the season.

Winning pitcher is Jorge Lopez (1-0, 5.40 ERA), Losing pitcher is Yao-Lin Wang (0-1, 0.00 ERA) and the save went to Tanner Poppe (2).

Final Score: Brevard County 5, Daytona 4.

Left handed starting pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada took the mound tonight for the Iowa Cubs against the Nashville Sound. Wada pitched through six and two-third solid innings tonight, and was only charged with one earned run which came via a home run. Wada struck out eight batters and finished the game with a 1.35 ERA.

The home run came during the top of the second inning off a solo home run by second baseman Eugenio Velez off the third pitch of the at-bat. This was his first home run of the season, giving his team the early 1-0 lead. Cubs catcher Eli Whiteside evened the score during the bottom of the fifth inning on a single to center field, driving in outfielder Brett Jackson.

Third baseman Christian Villanueva helped extend the Cubs lead on a three-run shot to left field, which ended with him celebrating at home plate with Matt Szczur and Chris Coghlan. It was Villanueva’s first home run of the 2014 season. Right-handed pitcher Blake Parker entered the ninth inning with the opportunity to pick up his first save of the season and did just that.

Things got a little carried away at first after a two out single by Eugenio Velez which was followed by a double from Hunter Morris. Nashville called upon Jeremy Hermida to pinch hit for Dustin Molleken. Parker was able to close out the game by striking out Hermida.

Winner pitcher was Tsuyoshi Wada (1-0, 1.35 ERA), losing pitcher was Kyle Heckathorn (0-1, 16.20 ERA) and Blake Parker picked up the save (1).

Final Score: Cubs 4, Sounds 1.