Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 10

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs opened up a six-game lead in their division with a 7-4 victory over the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals).

Matt Swarmer started and got the win with a definitional quality start: three runs over six innings. Swarmer gave up five hits. He struck out three and did not walk anyone. Four of the five hits and all three runs came in the sixth inning.

James Norwood took over with one out and runners on first and second in the eighth inning. He got out of that jam with no runs scoring and then pitched a perfect ninth inning for the save. Norwood’s final line was no runs on no hits over 1.2 innings. He walked one and did not have a strikeout.

First baseman Phillip Evans hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning and Iowa had the lead the entire rest of the game. The home run was Evans’ fourth of the year. Evans went 2 for 4 with four RBI. He also scored twice.

Third baseman Robel Garcia was 3 for 5 with a double and a stolen base. He score two runs.

Right fielder Jacob Hannemann went 2 for 4 with a two-run double in the third inning and a stolen base.

Center fielder Johnny Field was 2 for 5 and scored once.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies couldn’t hide from the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), 4-1 in ten innings.

Oscar De La Cruz turned in a strong start with six scoreless innings and just two hits. He struck out seven and only walked one.

Scott Effross pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth inning to send the game into extra innings, but in the tenth he gave up a walk-off three-run home run to Jose Siri. The final line on Effross was three runs, two earned, on one hit over 1.1 innings. Effross struck out one and walked two, although one of those walks was intentional.

Catcher Jhonny Pereda drove in the only Smokies run of the game with a two-out double in the top of the seventh. Pereda was 2 for 4.

Shortstop Luis Vazquez was 2 for 4.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans got stuck against the Carolina Mudcats (Brewers), 5-1.

Alex Lange started and took the loss. Lange gave up three runs on six hits over 5.1 innings. He struck out three and walked one.

The Pelicans had five hits in this game, all singles. Second baseman Carlos Sepulveda drove in the only run on a single in the third inning. He was 1 for 3.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs extinguished the Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals), 5-2.

Starter Riley Thompson made one mistake: a two-run home run in the fourth inning. Otherwise, he delivered a strong five innings, allowing the two runs on five hits. He struck out six and walked just one.

Zach Mort relieved Thompson in the sixth inning and got the win. He pitched two scoreless innings, surrendering just one hit. He walked two and struck out two.

Peyton Remy pitched a two-inning save. Remy gave up just one hit, a leadoff single in the ninth. Remy struck out two and did not walk anyone.

The South Bend Cubs only had six hits tonight, but they managed to score five runs thanks in large part to drawing 12 walks. They also scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh on wild pitches.

Second baseman Levi Jordan was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI bunt single. Jordan also walked once and scored one run.

Center fielder Nelson Velazquez went 2 for 3 with two walks and a stolen base. Velazquez scored on a wild pitch.

Right fielder Jonathan Sierra was 2 for 5 with one stolen base. He drove in South Bend’s first run of the game with a single in the third inning.

Victor Caratini caught three innings of this game. He was 0 for 2.