Down on the Farm: Iowa Cubs route Round Rock, 10-3

Mar 3, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher

(80) throws during the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Maryvale Baseball Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Hello ladies and gentlemen and welcome to another edition of ‘Down on the Farm’. Now I missed yesterday’s games for the Tennessee Smokies, Kane County Cougars, Daytona and Iowa Cubs, but before we can review the final scores from last night’s contests before we begin with today’s coverage.

The Tennessee Smokies improved to 9-9 on the year after defeating the Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox) 10-5. Iowa Cubs were able to reach .500 as they were able to beat Round Rock (Texas Rangers)  5-1. Kane County Cougars started off hot, but have struggled over the last couple ballgames. They dropped yesterday’s game to the Beloit Snappers (Oakland Athletics) 5-3. The Daytona Cubs on the other hand are showing that their not down and out just yet. They were one of the Florida State League’s worst teams (well still are), but are showing signs of improvement. Daytona picked up their fourth win of the season in a 6-5 victory over the Clearwater Threshers (Philadelphia Phillies).

Now let’s get things going with today’s action.

Second game to go final after the Iowa Cubs was between the Kane County Cougars and the Beloit Snappers. The Cougars were able to jump in front of Beloit early on by the score of 3-0 but allowed them to get within a run during the top of the sixth inning.

Both Yasiel Balaguert and David Bote picked up RBI doubles during the bottom of the fourth inning which made it 2-0.  Ben Carhart singled on a fly ball to right field during the bottom of the fifth to make it 3-0 Cougars. It was a 3-2 ball game until the bottom of the eighth inning after the Cougars were handed a run on a walk by Snappers pitcher Lee Sosa. Sosa also allowed the Cougars to extend their lead to 5-2 on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Penalver. 

Kane County had a bit of trouble closing out the game during the top of the ninth inning with Jose Arias in the game looking to shut things down. Arias gave up two earned runs during the top of the inning to B.J. Boyd and B.A. Vollmuth before he was pulled and replaced by Zack Godley.

Godley was able to come in and get the final out of the ball game.

Right-handed starter Paul Blackburn had himself another great outing tonight for the Cougars as he was able to work through five and one-third innings. Blackburn was tagged with five hits, one earned run which came off a home run by B.A. Vollmuth during the top of the sixth inning.

Winning pitcher tonight was Paul Blackburn (2-0, 3.10 ERA), loss was handed to Kyle Finnegan (1-1, 2.49 ERA) and Zack Godley was awarded the save (3).

Final Score: Cougars 5, Snappers 4.

Kane County is now 12-6 early on.

Next up we have the Daytona Cubs taking on the Clearwater Threshers and let me say this, Daytona’s bats were absolutely on fire tonight. This was the biggest game offensively by the Cubs as they put up a whopping 18 runs off 17 hits. Yes, you read that correctly 18 runs off 17 hits. These guys came to play.

First baseman Rock Shoulders finished the game 3-5 with four RBI’s. His biggest at-bat came during the top of the ninth inning when he launched a grand slam to left field to make it 18-4. It was his second home run of the season. There are other notable players who had some solid numbers at the plate tonight such as Pin-Chieh Chen who finished 4-5 with three RBI’s, Tim Saunders who filled as the teams designated hitter went 2-2 with three RBI’s of his own.

Chen hit a three run triple during the top of the fourth inning to make it 6-3, which was followed by an RBI double by Tim Saunders which made it 7-3. Saunders picked up another RBI double during the top of the fifth inning but this time pushed two across to make it 11-3.

Starting pitcher Tayler Scott was able to make it through five and one-third innings of work tonight before he was pulled from the game. Scott allowed four hits, three runs with one of those earned and a strikeout.

Winning pitcher from tonight’s match-up is Tayler Scott (2-2, 4.05 ERA), losing pitcher is Miguel Nunez (1-2, 5.48 ERA).

Final Score: Cubs 18, Threshers 3.

Daytona is now 5-13 on the young season.

Last game of the night was played by the Tennessee Smokies and the Birmingham Barons. The Smokies were looking to do what the Daytona Cubs were able to do during their game, but it was almost the complete opposite.

Birmingham crushed Tennessee pitchers, especially right fielder Josh Richmond who launched a grand slam during the bottom of the fifth inning. It was Birmingham’s first grand slam at home since the 2008 season. He had a second chance at picking up another grand slam on the night during the bottom of the eighth inning with no outs but was unable to do so. First baseman Rangel Ravelo launched a solo home run to center field after Richmond’s grand slam during the bottom of the fifth to make it 8-1 Barons.

Ravelo would also have the opportunity to hit a grand slam during the bottom of the eighth inning but pick up an RBI double to left field to make it 13-1.

Tennessee picked up the lead during the top of the fourth inning off an RBI single by Rubi Silva, but that would be all the Smokies would put up on the scoreboard until the top of the ninth inning. Taylor Davis was able to stop the bleeding a little bit (but not that much) after sending a line drive to center field to plate two runs, making it 14-3.

Starting pitcher Pierce Johnson only made it through four innings of work tonight before he was pulled from the game. Despite striking out five batters, he still managed to walk four while giving up four hits and three earned runs. He was replaced by Ryan Searle who continued to struggle on the mound. Searle was kept in the ball game for three innings before he was pulled and replaced. He gave up six hits, charged with six earned runs with two home runs.

Both home runs were the grand slam by Richmond and the solo shot by Ravelo. It was the second game in a row that both Richmond and Ravelo went back-to-back.

Birmingham put up eight runs during the bottom of the fifth inning and five more during the bottom of the eighth. Terrible night for Smokies pitchers.

Third base prospect Kris Bryant was hitting the ball well and had the opportunity to add some runs during the top of the ninth inning with the bases loaded. Bryant had three consecutive hits in as many at-bats, but popped out to second baseman Gordon Beckham to end the game.

Winning pitcher is Scott Snodgress (1-2, 7.11 ERA), losing pitcher is Pierce Johnson (0-1, 6.75 ERA).

Final Score: Barons 14, Smokies 3.

Tennessee falls to 9-10.