Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 27

Iowa Cubs catcher Taylor Davis went on the DL and Smokies catcher David Freitas got promoted to take his place.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs atomized the Albuquerque Isotopes (Rockies), 6-1.

Iowa has had trouble with starting pitching this season, but Drew Rucinski really stepped it up tonight. Rucinski went eight innings and allowed just one run on three hits. He walked one and struck out four as he improved his record on the season to 3-4.

Third baseman David Bote broke a 1-1 tie with a solo home run to lead off the seventh inning. It was his first home run of the season. Bote was 1 for 4 with two total RBI.

Later in the seventh inning, catcher Willson Contreras extended the Iowa lead with a two-run home run. It was Contreras' sixth home run this season and third in the past four games. Contreras went 1 for 5.

Left fielder Matt Murton was 3 for 4 with an RBI double later in that four-run 7th inning. Murton also scored once.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies lost to the Chattanooga Lookouts (Twins), 6-5 in 11 innings.

Coming into tonight's game, Smokies starter Paul Blackburn had given up six earned runs total over nine starts. Tonight he was battered around for five runs in just five innings. Blackburn surrendered six hits, including a grand slam in the third inning. He walked three and struck out two.

Miguel Mejia took the loss after he allowed a one-out walk, a stolen base and a two-out walkoff single. The final line on Mejia was 1.2 innings pitched, allowing one run on two hits. He struck out two and walked one.

Second baseman Chesny Young was 3 for 6 with an RBI. Center fielder Jacob Hannemann went 2 for 5 with a walk and a run scored.

Left fielder Billy McKinney was 2 for 3 with a double and two walks. McKinney scored once and had one RBI. Third baseman Jeimer Candelario was 2 for 5 with an RBI and one run scored.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were grounded by the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Royals), 3-1.

Jake Stinnett started for Myrtle Beach and took his first loss of the season after giving up three runs, two earned, on five hits over seven innings. Stinnett walked one and struck out four.

The Pelicans walked eight times in this game. Unfortunately, they only managed three hits, all singles.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs stripped the Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays), 4-2.

Starter Ryan Kellogg allowed just two runs on five hits over six innings. Kellogg controlled the strike zone as he struck out eight and only walked one.

Casey Bloomquist pitched the final three innings and retired all nine batters he faced to get the win. Bloomquist struck out three.

First baseman Tyler Alamo was 2 for 3 with a two-run double that broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning. Alamo had three total RBI and he also walked once.

DH Ian Rice was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored twice.

Third baseman Matt Rose went 3 for 4 with a double. Left fielder Eloy Jimenez was 2 for 4 with one run batted in.