NEWSLETTER
If you were fortunate enough to spend Mother’s Day at a Cubs’ minor league game, then you enjoyed a win.
Unless you were at the Tennessee Smokies game, that is. In that case you were really bored and probably somewhat wet.
Thanks to an off day for Daytona and Mother Nature demanding some attention of her own, there were only two games in the system on Sunday. The Cubs won them both, so I think it was a pretty good day.
AAA – Iowa Cubs. 16 – 20
The Iowa Cubs rode great starting pitching to yet another West Coast win Sunday afternoon. Things got interesting late, but Iowa held on for a 4-3 win.
Chris Rusin was as good as we’ve seen him. In eight scoreless innings he gave up five hits, two walks, and struck out seven. Rusin needed an even 100 pitches as he came just three outs short of a complete game shutout. I’ve been a fan of Rusin for some time now, and I’m not climbing off the wagon now. This guy needs a major league start like I need a home made deep dish chocolate chip cookie sundae. With caramel sauce.
Scott Maine came in for the ninth inning and nearly let the game get away. On the good side, he struck out one. On the bad side, he left responsible for three runs. Fortunately Blake Parker was able to step in and earn his fifth save.
Anthony Rizzo turned in a vintage Rizzo performance as he went three for four with two doubles. Ty Wright came up with the biggest blow of the day, a two run home run, as part of his two hit game. Blake Lalli contributed his second double of the season.
AA – Tennesse Smokies. 15 – 22
The Smokies wanted to play, but the weather had other ideas. Mother Nature permitting this game will be made up as part of a double header Monday afternoon and evening.
High A – Daytona Cubs. 13 – 22
The Daytona Cubs were off on Sunday.
Low A – Peoria Chiefs. 16 – 21
The Peoria Chiefs now have the second best record in the Cubs’ farm system thanks to a 5-3 win on Sunday.
Jose Rosario pitched a good game of his own, going six innings and allowing no runs on three hits with three walks while striking out seven. Rosario, a product of the Cubs’ Latin American efforts, is a raw pitcher who shows plenty of promise. He has been developing for awhile and will keep developing for awhile longer, but he has mid-rotation potential. On days like this that potential looks tantalizingly close to the surface.
Luis Liria pitched two good innings in relief of Rosario, but Charles Thomas nearly blew the game in the ninth. Jeffrey Lorick stepped up with a strike out when it mattered the most to earn his fifth save.
Wes Darvill had no hits, but thanks to three walks he was able to score two runs. Darvill’s batting average in May is lower than his April number, but his on base percentage is higher. That’s a pretty unusual trend.
Rafael Lopez also drew two walks. Meanwhile, Paul Hoilman wasted no time in launching a new hitting streak; he went two for four. The Chiefs’ did not have an extra base hit in this game.
And finally…
Even though Mother’s Day is officially over, I do have to give credit where credit is due. I have an awesome Mom. In addition to being singularly amazing in all the usual Motherly ways, she was always telling me that I could in fact do whatever I set my mind too. I know… how cliche can you get?
Funny thing about that cliche, though. I believed her.
Funnier thing about that cliche… As I look around me now, it turns out she was right. Thanks, Mom. If I weren’t inconveniently located 582 miles away, I’d bake you a delicious deep dish chocolate chip cookie sundae. With extra caramel sauce.
