Thursday, April 7, 2011
Posted: 10:30 p.m.
CUBSPeoria A
Hayden Simpsons long-awaited professional debut was quite a success Thursday evening even if Mother Nature had the final say in Peorias season-opener against Cedar Rapids. The game was suspended heading into the ninth inning with the score tied 2-2 because of rain. It will be completed prior to Friday evenings game at OBrien Field.
Simpson, the 16th overall pick in last years draft, went 3 23 innings, striking out seven and walking one. He fanned the side in the third inning on 11 pitches with the only blemish on his evening coming in the fourth inning when he surrendered a solo homer to Brandon Decker. The former Division-II star didnt pitch last summer while recovering from mononucleosis.
Greg Rohan had a pair of hits and an RBI while Matt Szczur led off and had a double in four at-bats.
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Iowa AAA
The I-Cubs used a healthy approach at the plate Thursday night to offset a shaky effort on the mound, pounding out 15 hits in a wild 12-9 victory over Round Rock in the season opener at The Dell Diamond.
Ty Wright homer, three RBIs, Bobby Scales and Lou Montanez three RBIs each had three hits while Bryan LaHair added a homer and three RBIs.Despite allowing five runs in three innings, Esmailin Caridad earned the victory in relief of Thomas Diamond, who allowed two runs on three hits and three walks in four innings.
Tennessee AA
The Smokies erupted for 17 hits, including a pair of homers, Thursday night to crush host Chattanooga, 12-4, in the season-opener for both teams.
Josh Vitters and Matthew Spencer solo homer each had three hits to lead the assault while Brett Jackson two RBIs, Ryan Flaherty two RBIs, Rebel Ridling homer, two RBIs and Steve Clevenger each added a pair of hits. Vitters missed much of the second half of last season with a broken hand after hitting .223 in 206 at-bats for Tennessee.
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Chris Rusin, a fourth-round pick in 2009, earned the win after allowing three runs on four hits in five innings.
Daytona A
Matt Cerdas two-run, seventh-inning double proved to be the difference Thursday night as Daytona edged Brevard County, 3-2, at Space Coast Stadium in the season-opener for both teams.
Efrain Nieves had come on in relief for the Manatees and Cerda greeted him with a line drive to left. It was one of his team-leading three hits. Mike Burgess added a solo homer in the fifth as the Cubs began to claw their way out of a 2-0 hole.
Jeff Lorick earned the win with a pair of scoreless innings after starter Robert Whiteknack allowed two runs in five innings.
WHITE SOXBirmingham AA
The Barons didnt have many reasons to celebrate in 2010 but got some early partying in on Thursday as they squeaked out a 1-0 victory at Montgomery in the season-opener for both teams.
Dylan Axelrod earned the win, allowing two hits over five innings. He fanned eight and walked only one before the bullpenNate Jones and Greg Infantecombined to strike out four over four no-hit innings.
Birmingham only managed three hits but one of them was an Ozzie Lewis RBI single in the second inning. Brandon Short and Seth Loman were hit by pitches ahead of Lewis, who singled to left to bring in the games lone run.
Charlotte AAA
Stefan Gartrells RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted Charlotte to a 4-3 victory over Norfolk Thursday night in the season-opener for both clubs.
Dallas McPherson got the winning rally started with a one-out double before Gartrell stroked a liner to right field to bring in the winning run. Gookie Dawkins solo homer in the bottom of the seventh tied the score at 3-3, setting the stage for Gartrells heroics.
Jhonny Nunez took advantage of the rally to earn the victory after pitching a scoreless eighth while Brian Bruney turned the trick in the ninth, striking out a pair to earn the save. Lucas Harrell had started and allowed two runs on six hits over five innings. He fanned five and left after pitching to one batter in the sixth inning.
Alejandro De Aza, who hit .302 for Charlotte last season, had three hits and an RBI for the Knights.
Kannapolis A
Ryan Buch allowed only one hit in his six innings of work Thursday night but it proved to be just one hit too many. The big right-hander allowed a solo homer to Jim Murphy in the second inning and wound up on the losing end of the decision as a result after Lakewood topped Kannapolis, 2-0, in the season-opener at FirstEnergy Park.
Buch, who played his collegiate ball not far from Lakewood at Monmouth College, struck out four and didnt walk a batter. But the Intimidators managed only five hits, all coming off Lakewood starter Mario Hollands. The lack of offense proved to be too much to overcome as the Claws bullpen tossed four perfect innings.
Trayce Thompson had a double for the Intimidators.
Kevin Czerwinski can be reached at ktczerwinski@gmail.com.