Only one win in the Cubs system tonight. Believe it or not, it was Daytona.
I suggest you all read this article by Sean Kernan in the Daytona Beach News-Journal about Arodys Vizcaino. It explains why you should be very, very excited about Vizcaino but also why he's still in the minors. No, it's not about service time.
Also, Javier Baez may be activated off the disabled list on Sunday.
Happy Easter.
Iowa Cubs
Iowa pitchers gave up five home runs as the Iowa Cubs got flattened by the Round Rock Express (Rangers), 12-2.
Starter Chris Rusin saw his record fall to 0-3 after he gave up four runs over five innings. All four of the runs he allowed scored on three home runs. Rusin gave up five hits total. He struck out five and walked only one.
Third baseman Christian Villanueva was 2 for 3 with two doubles. He was also hit by a pitch.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies were smote by the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 5-4.
Starter Matt Loosen had some major control issues as he walked seven batters in the 3.2 innings he pitched. That he only allowed three runs is due in part to his only allowing three hits but more because he got out of jams by striking out five.
Jeff Lorickrelieved Loosen and while he got out of a jam in the fourth inning, he took the loss after he allowed two unearned runs in the fifth. He pitched 1.1 total innings and gave up two hits and two walks. Lorick struck out one.
Shortstop Jeudy Valdez went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs split a doubleheader with the Tampa Yankees, losing the first game 10-4 and winning the second 9-1.
Yao-Lin Wang didn't make it out of the second inning. Wang allowed six runs over 1.1 innings. He surrendered six hits, four of which went for extra bases. Wang walked one and did not have a strikeout.
Daytona pounded Yankees starter Manny Banuelos, who didn't make it out of the first inning. But they couldn't do anything against the rest of the Tampa staff, getting only one hit the rest of the way.
Left fielder Bijan Rademacher went 1 for 2 with a walk. He scored once.
In game two, starter Felix Pena got his first win of the season with six strong innings. Pena surrendered one run on three hits. He struck out eight and walked four.
Rademacher hit his first home run of the season with two men on in the third inning of game two. He was 2 for 4 and scored twice in the nightcap, as well as gunning down Dante Bichette Jr. trying to stretch a single into a double.
Center fielder Albert Almora went 2 for 4 with a run scored and one batted in. He was 3 for 7 combined in the two games.
The win in game two snapped Daytona's six-game losing streak.
Kane County Cougars
Joe Hudson hit a walkoff triple as the Kane County Cougars were burned by the Dayton Dragons (Reds), 3-2.
It was a strong start for Duane Underwood, who allowed only one unearned run over five innings. However, the runs scored because he made an error on a pickoff throw at first and then followed it up with an error on a pickoff throw to second. So how unearned was it really? Underwood was touched for three hits and one walk. He struck out four over the five innings.
Zach Godley faced seven in relief and retired all seven, including bailing Gerardo Concepcion out of a first and third, two-outs jam. Godley struck out four.
Nathan Dorris relieved Godley to start the ninth gave up the triple after having allowed a leadoff single. He retired one batter on a fly out. It wa his first loss of the season.
Second baseman Danny Lockhart went 3 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI. Left fielder Trey Martin was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He had one RBI.