Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 14

Happy Mother’s Day to all those mothers out there, but especially to those who have sons in the Cubs’ minor league system. Those young men could not chase their dreams if it weren’t for you.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs hung on to stop the Salt Lake Bees (Angels), 11-10.

Starter Jake Buchanan gave up five runs on eight hits over five innings. Two of the five runs were unearned, although one of the two unearned runs scored because of Buchanan’s own errant pickoff throw. Buchanan walked three and struck out only one.

Iowa broke out to a 5-0 lead in this game, but Salt Lake managed to tie it up 5-5 in fifth. Iowa scored a run in the sixth inning to retake the lead, but Salt Lake tied it up with a run in the bottom of the sixth. In the eighth inning, Iowa scored two runs to take a 8-6 lead, but Salt Lake got two runs off of Miguel Mejia in the bottom of the inning to tie it up. In the top of the ninth inning, Iowa scored three runs to take an 11-8 lead. That’s when closer Pierce Johnson allowed two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but closed the door on the rally to preserve the win.

Johnson entered the game with one out on the eighth and allowed one inherited runner to score to tie the game. He then pitched the ninth and got the win. Johnson’s final line was two runs on three hits over 1.2 innings. He struck out four and walked one.

Stephen Bruno had an RBI double in the top of the ninth to break the 8-8 tie. Bruno was 1 for 5. John Andreoli singled home Bruno and Victor Caratini later in the ninth to provide two crucial insurance runs. Andreoli went 2 for 6 and scored once.

Chesny Young had a pair of doubles in a 2 for 4 game. He also walked once. Young had two RBI and scored once.

Ali Solis was 3 for 5 with a double. He scored once and had one run batted in.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were burnt by the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 4-3.

Starter Trevor Clifton went six innings and gave up two runs on five hits. Clifton struck out seven and walked three.

Brad Markey got the loss in relief. Markey allowed two runs on five hits, including a solo home run over 1.2 innings. Markey struck out two and walked one batter intentionally.

Third baseman Andrew Ely hit a solo home run in the sixth inning. It was his first of the year. Ely was 1 for 3.

Second baseman David Bote was 3 for 4 with one run batted in.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans swept a doubleheader with the Lynchburg Hillcats (Indians), winning game one 7-0 and winning game two 5-4 in 13 innings.

In game one, Oscar De La Cruz tossed a seven-inning shutout today. He gave up just five hits. De La Cruz only struck out one, but he walked nobody and finished the shutout with just 71 pitches.

Right fielder Eddy Martinez hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, his fourth of the season. Martinez went 1 for 3.

First baseman Matt Rose hit a two-run shot in the fourth, which was his sixth home run already. Rose was also 1 for 3.

In his first at-bat of the season in the top of the first, Eloy Jimenez singled home Bryant Flete to give the Pelicans a 1-0 lead. He then scored on the Martinez home run. Jimenez was 2 for 3.

Flete was 2 for 4.

In game two, starter Casey Bloomquist allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits over 4.1 innings. Bloomquist struck out three and walked no one.

The Pelicans tied this game up with four runs in the bottom of the seventh, all scoring after two were out. They then went into extra innings were three Pelicans relievers, Craig Brooks, Dillon Maples and Kyle Miller each tossed two perfect innings. Along with Scott Effross getting the final three batters of the top of the seventh, the Pelicans pitchers retired the final 21 Hillcats batters of the game in order. Miller got the win.

The Pelicans pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the 13 when Eloy Jimenez walked with the bases-loaded and one out. The Hillcats intentionally walked Daniel Spingola to load the bases and get to Jimenez.

Spingola had the bases-loaded, two-out three-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game. Spingola went 3 for 5 with two doubles in game two.

Jimenez was 1 for 4 with three walks. Two were intentional. The third one, with the bases loaded, was not.

Second baseman Bryant Flete was 3 for 6 with an RBI single in the seventh inning for the Pelicans first run of the inning. He scored on the Spingola double.

Center fielder Robert Garcia was 2 for 6 and scored the winning run on the Jimenez walk.

First baseman Matt Rose was 2 for 5 with a double and a walk. He scored on the Spingola double.

South Bend Cubs

Had the day off for Mother’s Day. Here’s a nice Tweet South Bend’s Wladimir Galindo sent out of his mom.