AAA

Iowa 2, New Orleans 1 (10 innings)

Game Recap

It was tremendous to see how locked in Adbert Alzolay was on Monday. His curveball was the best we've seen it in his first four starts this season and at times it was unhittable. Despite all the missed time the past year and a half, there isn't much separating Alzolay from the Majors at this point. There is no room in the Chicago rotation, but his 97 mph fastball and hammer curve can do plenty of damage out of the pen if necessary, especially now that he is showing some confidence to mix in some changeups to lefties.

Alzolay punched out nine batters over six innings. He allowed just one run on two hits. The score was tied 1-1 through nine innings. A Francsico Arcia sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th proved the winning margin as James Norwood locked down the the bottom of the frame, just as he had the bottom of the 9th.

Top Performers

Adbert Alzolay: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, BB, 9 K (4.20)

Michael Rucker: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 2 BB, K (0.00)

James Norwood: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, K (W, 2-0, 4.50)

Phillip Evans: 2-4, 2 B, R, RBI (.274)

Donnie Dewees: 1-1, 2B, BB (.270)

Taylor Davis: 1-3 (.278)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

We are starting to see some promotions. First we saw Robel Garcia summoned to Iowa a couple of weeks back, now Michael Rucker will get his chance in the Iowa bullpen. His numbers in the Tennessee bullpen (11 G, 6.75 ERA, 25.1 IP, 34 H, 25 R, 19 ER, 4 BB, 33 K) are not pretty, but he's been lights out of late, and his early season struggles were more a factor of terrible BABIP luck than actual poor performance. He's been missing bats (27.0 K%) and throwing strikes (4.8 BB%). The former starter can usually command multiple pitches. His fastball has solid life and can reach the mid-90s. His breaking balls can induce some hitters to chase out of the zone. I'm sure the Cubs would like to give Craig Brooks another shot in the Iowa pen once room opens up as well, but Rucker gets first crack.

Advanced A

Wilmington 1, Myrtle Beach 0

Game Recap

Javier Assad got back on track after his first rough start in a while that saw his long scoreless streak snapped. He struck out seven and allowed just one run over six innings, but this game followed a common script as the Pelicans offense failed to supply enough run support.

Top Performers

Javier Assad: 6 IP, 4 H, R, 3 BB, 7 K (L, 2-5, 2.96)

Ben Hecht: 2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K (3.42)

Carlos Sepulveda: 2-3, BB (.261)

Luke Reynolds: 1-3 (.208)

Tyler Payne: 1-3 (.288)

D.J. Wilson: 1-3 (.137)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

He hasn't been especially consistent, mostly due to spotty command/control, but the sinker slider combo Ben Hecht employs can be deadly when he's locked in. Outside of Dillon Maples and Craig Brooks, there are many guys in the system with a better slider. With his 4-strikeout, no-walk performance on Monday he now has 33 K and 12 BB in 23.2 IP this season. His 32.4 K% is 5th across the four affiliates, trailing the aforementioned Brooks (42.1%) and Maples (41.3%), as well as Jeffrey Passantino (37.5%) and Ryan Lawlor (35.9%), who recently joined Hecht in the Myrtle Beach bullpen.

A

South Bend 1, West Michigan 0

Game Recap

A 2nd inning sacrifice fly by Rafelin Lorenzo that scored Christopher Morel was all of the scoring in the game. Cam Sanders, Jose Albertos and Jack Patterson made it stand up as the three pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout. It was the finest performance of the year for Sanders, who set a career-high with seven strikeouts. Most importantly, he threw strikes. Over nine appearances, this was just the third time he has walked fewer than three batters. And speaking of improved control, after walking the bases loaded in his last outing, Jose Albertos issued just one free pass over two innings.

Top Performers

Cam Sanders: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, 7 K (W, 3-2, 2.09)

Jose Albertos: 2 IP, H, 0 R, BB, K (3.60)

Jack Patterson: 2 IP, H, 0 R, BB, K (S, 1, 3.60)

Rafelin Lorenzo: 1-2, RBI, SF (.227)

Andy Weber: 1-3, HBP (.276)

Christopher Morel: 1-4, 2B, R, SB (4) (.248)

Brennen Davis: 1-3 (.333)

Levi Jordan: 1-3 (.230)

Injuries, Updates, and Trends

Brennen Davis has a hit in each of his first three games with South Bend.

I talked his last time out regarding the tight rope Cam Sanders has been navigating so far, well, he is going to need more starts like this one if he hopes to maintain his early success. Even after his one-walk start Monday his BB rate is still 14.1% and his .252 BABIP and 82.2 LOB% will remain difficult to maintain. Still, Sanders has never been a full-time starter, so some inconsistencies were to be expected, and the fact he not only kept his head above water but has kept his team in so many games can be used as a positive.