Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 24

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs snapped their eight-game losing streak by housebreaking the El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres), 8-3.

Iowa's big problem this season has been starting pitching, so they called Rob Zastryzny up from Tennessee and he got the win in his first ever Triple-A start. Zastryzny pitched seven innings and allowed just two runs on five hits. He struck out five and walked three.

The I-Cubs broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning when catcher Willson Contreras connected for a solo home run, his fifth of the season. Contreras was 1 for 5.

Center fielder Albert Almora Jr. broke the game open an inning later when he came to the plate with the bases-loaded and he connected for a three-run double. Almora was 2 for 4 and he scored once.

Second baseman Arismendy Alcantara was 2 for 4 with a triple. Alcantara scored twice and had one RBI. Third baseman Kristopher Negron was 2 for 4 with a double. Negron scored once and had an RBI groundout in the second inning, scoring Alcantara after his triple.

Tennessee Smokies

Travelling to Chattanooga, but I doubt that took all day.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans outlasted the Carolina Mudcats (Braves), 3-2 in 14 innings.

It was a strong start for Trevor Clifton, who kept the Mudcats off the board for 5.2 innings. Clifton gave up four hits. He walked three and struck out four.

Jordan Minch got out of a two-on, two-out jam left by Clifton in the sixth, but then he gave up two runs in the seventh to tie up the game. Minch allowed two runs on a hit and a walk over one full inning. He struck out two.

The score would stay that way until the top of the 14th inning when Daniel Lockhart singled home Ian Happ with the go-ahead run. James Farris got the win after throwing three scoreless innings, giving up just one hit. He struck out three and walked no one.

James McNeil pitched the bottom of the 14th for the save. He gave up a two-out single, but nothing else. McNeil struck out two.

Happ opened the scoring with a two-run home run in the top of the first. The Pelicans would not score again until the 14th. It was Happ's fifth home run this season. Happ was 3 for 6 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Shortstop Gleyber Torres was 2 for 6. He doubled and scored on Happ's home run in the first inning.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs plucked the Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers), 8-3.

It was kind of an ugly start for Justin Steele, but he pitched out of enough trouble to get the win. Steele allowed three runs on four hits and five walks over 5.2 innings. Steele struck out one.

Left fielder Eloy Jimenez stayed hot by crushing a 1-1 pitch over the center field wall for a two-run home run, his seventh of the season. Jimenez was 1 for 4.

DH Tyler Alamo blasted a two-run home run to left field in the third inning. It was his second home run in as many games and the second homer of his career. He was 1 for 4.

Second baseman Andrew Ely has also been hot, hitting over .400 in May. Tonight Ely was 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles and a walk. He scored three times.

Right fielder Eddy Martinez went 2 for 4 with a double. He had two runs batted in and he scored once.

South Bend is now 27-16, the best record in the Midwest League.