Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 14

Congratulations to South Bend Cubs pitcher Derek Casey, who was named Midwest League Pitcher of the Week. Throwing seven perfect innings in a combined no-hitter will get that for you.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were flooded by the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 8-1.

Starter Duane Underwood Jr. took the loss. He allowed seven runs on eleven hits over 4+ innings. Underwood walked three and struck out four.

Junichi Tazawa pitched another perfect inning of relief, striking out two.

Second baseman Phillip Evans accounted for all of Iowa’s runs with a home run in the fifth inning. It was his sixth of the season. Evans went 1 for 4.

DH Ian Rice was 2 for 3 with a walk.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies scored seven runs in the seventh inning to topple the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 9-4.

Thomas Hatch started this game and went five innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out three. Hatch also hit two batters.

Jake Stinnett pitched the next two innings, didn’t allow a run and got the win. Stinnett surrendered one hit and issued two walks. He struck out one.

Left fielder Charcer Burks was 2 for 3 with two walks. He scored once and drove home two with a single in the seventh.

Right fielder Roberto Caro went 2 for 3 with a double and two walks. Caro scored one run and had one run batted in.

Third baseman P.J. Higgins went 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. Higgins had two RBI and scored one run.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans cut off the Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox), 5-2.

It was the second-straight strong start for Paul Richan, who allowed just one run on seven hits over 6.2 innings. Richan struck out seven and did not walk anyone.

First baseman Cam Balego and left fielder Kevonte Mitchell both hit solo home runs in the fourth inning that gave the Pelicans the lead for good. Balego was 1 for 3 and was hit by a pitch. It was his second home run of the year.

Mitchell went 1 for 3 with a walk. He now has six home runs on the season.

Third baseman Jhonny Bethencourt was 1 for 3 with a walk and two steals. He scored once.

Highlights:

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs won their fifth-straight game, 6-4 over the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays).

Derek Casey started and while maybe he didn’t throw seven perfect innings tonight, he did pitch well enough to get the win. Casey allowed four runs on eight hits over six innings. One hit was a home run to top Rays prospect Wander Franco. Casey struck out five and walked no one.

Sean Berry got the final four outs in order to get his second save. He did not record a strikeout over his 1.1 innings.

Shortstop Andy Weber went 3 for 4 with a double and one run scored.

Third baseman Christopher Morel had a double and a triple in a 2 for 4 game. Morel scored once.

Left fielder Nelson Velazquez went 2 for 3 with an RBI double. He also walked once.