It was a big day for some former big prospects in Iowa. The Smokies won their home opener while Daytona dropped two and Kane County lost.
We've actually got a photo from today's I-Cubs game accompanying today's story, thanks to www.dylanheuer.com. That's a first.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs played taps for the Nashville Sounds (Brewers), 6-1.
It was a great start for Carlos Pimentel, who got his first win in the Cubs organization. Pimentel allowed a solo home run in the second inning, but that was one of only three hits he allowed over six innings. Even better, Pimentel struck out ten and only walked one.
It was "Old Top Prospects Day" at Principal Park today. First, right fielder Brett Jacksonhit a solo home run in the sixth inning. Jackson was 1 for 4.
Next, in the seventh inning, Josh Vitters hit a two-run home run to put the game out of reach at 6-1. It was Vitters' second home run this year. He was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Shortstop Javier Baez was 2 for 4 with a double. He scored twice.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies won their home opener, 3-1 over the Chattanooga Lookouts (Dodgers)
C.J. Edwards had some control issues tonight, but his results weren't too bad as he allowed only one run on five hits over 5.2 innings. He did walk four and had a wild pitch. Edwards struck out five.
P.J. Francescon relieved Edwards with the bases loaded and two out in the sixth and got a ground out to end the threat. He stayed in the game to pitch another inning and he retired all four batters he faced, striking out two. He got his second win when Tennessee took the lead in the bottom of the sixth.
A.J.Armando Rivero recorded a four-out save, retiring every batter he faced. Three of them went down on strikes, swinging.
All three Smokies runs scored when catcher Rafael Lopezdoubled with two men on the bottom of the sixth inning. Both runners scored and then Lopez came around to score on a throwing error. Lopez was 2 for 3 with a walk.
Second baseman Stephen Bruno went 2 for 4.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs dropped a doubleheader to the Dunedin Blue Jays, 1-0 and 6-4.
In the first game, Felix Pena took the hard-luck loss. Pena allowed only one run on five hits over six innings. Three of those hits were in the third inning when he allowed the run. He struck out five and didn't walk anyone.
Center fielder Albert Almoradoubled twice but failed to score in a 2 for 3 game. He had two of the D-Cubs four hits.
Jose Rosario started game two and didn't pitch poorly, but took the loss anyway. Rosario pitched five innings and gave up two runs, one earned, on three hits. He walked three and struck out four.
Starling Peralta relieved Rosario in the sixth and gave up three hits and one batter reached on an error. All four runners eventually came around to score, three of them on a double against Andrew McKirahan. Peralta struck out the first batter he faced, but that was the only out he recorded.
Daytona made it close when Dan Vogelbach hit his first home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth with two men on. Vogelbach went 1 for 3.
Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars fell back to .500 with a 7-4 loss in ten innings to the Fort Wayne TinCaps (Padres).
Paul Blackburn's second Kane County start was better than the first. He gave up a two-run home run in the second inning, but those were the only runs he allowed over five innings. Blackburn allowed only two hits. He walked two, hit a batter (who scored on the home run) and struck out four.
It was a tough outing for Jose Arias, who blew the one-run save opportunity in the top of the ninth on a solo home run and then gave up three unearned runs in the top of the tenth after an error by center fielder Jacob Hannemann. Arias pitched two innings and allowed four runs on three hits and a walk, although only one of the four runs were earned. He walked one and did not have a strikeout.
Batters one through eight in the Cougars lineup each had one of the eight hits the team had on Wednesday afternoon. First baseman Jacob Rogers hit his first home run this season with the bases empty in the second inning. Rogers went 1 for 4.
Hannemann was 1 for 5. He tripled and scored in the bottom of the first inning.