Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 19

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs split a doubleheader with the New Orleans Baby Cakes (Marlins), winning game one 5-4 and losing the second one 3-0.

Alec Mills started game one and got the win. He allowed four runs on six hits over five innings. All four runs scored on three home runs—two of the home runs came in the fifth inning. Mills walked four and struck out seven.

Junichi Tazawa pitched another scoreless inning. He did give up his first hit of the season (in three total innings).

Randy Rosario pitched a perfect seventh inning for the save. He did not strike anyone out.

Iowa jumped off to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning of game one, thanks in part to a two-run home run by Robel Garcia, his eighth of the year and second with Iowa. Garcia was 1 for 3.

The batter before Garcia was right fielder Johnny Field, who hit an RBI single and then scored on Garcia’s home run. Later in the fifth inning, Field contributed a solo home run of his own, his fifth of the year. Field was 2 for 3 with two runs scored.

First baseman Jim Adduci was 2 for 3 with a double.

In game two, starter Trevor Clifton made one mistake, a solo home run in the second inning, and got the loss. Clifton’s final line was one run on two hits over five innings. Clifton walked two and struck out four. Clifton was also 1 for 1 at the plate and is 3 for 8 on the season.

The I-Cubs only had six hits in game two. Phillip Evans was 2 for 2 with a walk.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies surrendered unconditionally to the Jackson Generals (Diamondbacks), 7-1.

Starter Thomas Hatch allowed six runs on seven hits over 5+ innings. Three of those hits were home runs, including a two-run home run to former teammate Jeffrey Baez, who was the final batter he faced in the sixth inning. Hatch struck out five and walked one.

Second baseman Christian Donahue was 1 for 4 with a double and scored the only Smokies run in the second inning.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans put the Lynchburg Hillcats (Indians) out for the night, 5-4 in ten innings.

Luis Lugo came off the IL today and pitched the first five innings, allowing three runs on nine hits. Two of those hits were solo home runs and one of the runs was unearned. Lugo struck out four and did not walk anyone.

Ben Hecht allowed a one-out home run in the bottom of the ninth that sent the game to extras, but after loading the bases with no outs in the bottom of tenth, Hecht kept the Hillcats from scoring to get the win. Hecht’s final line was one run on one hit over 2.1 innings. He struck out one, walked two and induced a huge game-ending 4-6-3 double play.

Cam Balego scored the go-ahead run in the top of the tenth on an error. Balego was 2 for 4 with two RBI.

Kevonte Mitchell hit his team-high seventh home run of the season with the bases empty in the second inning. Mitchell was was 2 for 4 and also doubled.

Wladimir Galindo hit a solo home run in the seventh inning, his first home run of the year. Galindo was 2 for 5 with one stolen base.

Zach Davis was 2 for 4 with a stolen base and one run scored. He was also hit by a pitch.

Tyler Payne leads the Pelicans in hits and batting average. Today he was 2 for 5.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs defeated the Dayton Dragons (Reds), 8-4.

Brailyn Marquez started and got his second win of the year. He surrendered two runs on two hits over five innings. Marquez walked two and struck out six. He also balked in a run in the third inning.

The Cubs jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning of this game and never looked back. The big blow was a bases-loaded, three-run double by first baseman Tyler Durna. Durna was 1 for 4.

Third baseman Christopher Morel added on a run with a solo home run in the fourth inning, his second of the year. Morel was 2 for 3 and scored twice. He was also hit by a pitch.

Left fielder D.J. Artis hit a solo home run in the eighth inning, his second of the season. Artis went 2 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored twice.

Believe it or not, those home runs by Morel and Artis put the two of them in a four-way tie for the team lead in home runs with two. South Bend is also 24-17 on the year, so they’re winning without much power.

Right fielder Jonathan Sierra was 2 for 4 with a walk. He drove in one run and scored one.

Shortstop Andy Weber went 2 for 5 with one run scored.

Catcher Eric Gonzalez was 2 for 4 with a triple and two RBI.

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