Gardner makes strong second impression

Joe Gardner knows a thing or two about pitching in Double-A.

The right-hander appeared in 88 games -- 48 as a starter -- at the level between 2011-'13, the majority of which he spent with Tulsa. After getting released by Colorado in March and starting the year in independent ball, Gardner signed a Minor League contract with the Cubs.

His second appearance Thursday for Tennessee was even better than his first. The 26-year-old retired the first 11 batters against Huntsville and threw five hitless innings, ultimately allowing just a single over 6 1/3 shutout frames in the Smokies' eventual 4-3 loss.

"I threw a pretty good fastball early in the count," Gardner said. "I just got ahead, kind of stayed ahead. Rafael Lopez, my catcher, called a phenomenal game. He basically read the hitters from the last three games prior to this one, and we just went to the game plan early, stayed with it and let the defense work."

Gardner struck out two and walked two, throwing 50 of his 84 pitches for strikes. His night ended due to pitch count.

"I had a very good fastball, sinker, good changeup, pretty good slider too," he said. "We just kind of kept them off-balance and just pitched to contact, tried to get guys out in the first three pitches."

The Indians' 2009 third-round pick issued a two-out walk to Nick Ramirez in the fourth and a leadoff walk to Mitch Haniger in the fifth before Greg Hopkins broke up his no-hit bid with a soft single to right field to start the sixth.

Gardner retired the next three hitters via a sacrifice bunt and two groundouts. He got Ramirez to ground out in the seventh to cap his outing.

In his first start with Tennessee on May 24, he allowed two hits and a run over 5 1/3 innings against Mobile.

"It's awesome," Gardner said of joining the Cubs. "I got blessed, to say the least. I threw pretty well there in independent ball and I came back hungrier than ever. I'm just taking this opportunity, just moving forward and making the best of everything.

"I'm just being me, being a little loose around the clubhouse, but also being an absolute competitor on the mound."

Gardner made one start with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League. He earned the win May 17, surrendering three hits across five shutout innings.

"Obviously, my ultimate goal is to get to the big leagues," the California native said, "maybe next year or the year after or whenever. I'm just going to keep fighting and working hard, and stay hungry."

The UCSB product -- who went from Cleveland to Colorado in the 2011 deadline deal involving Ubaldo Jimenez -- has had brushes with perfect games in the Minors before. Making history was far from his mind Thursday.

"I definitely wasn't thinking about giving up hits or a no-hitter," he said. "That's the least of my concerns."

Tennessee got another home run from Kris Bryant, who hit a solo shot in the seventh. Bryant, the Cubs' second-ranked prospect, leads the Southern League with 16 long balls. Already the slugger has made an impression on his new teammate.

"Kris Bryant is unbelieveable," Gardner said. "He is one-of-a-kind, to be honest. I got to play with [Rockies third baseman] Nolan Arenado as well, so I see a lot of resemblance in that, just about how they go about their business. Kris is a little bit better hitter. Sorry, Nolan, but he's a little bit better hitter, has a little more pop. But, man, that guy, he's special."

Huntsville scored four runs in the seventh against reliever Lendy Castillo (0-1), handing Tennessee its fourth loss in a row.