Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 5

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs hit six home runs as they soaked the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 8-1.

Matt Swarmer was the beneficiary of all this offense, but he didn’t really need it. Swarmer got the win after allowing one run on five hits over five innings. He struck out six and walked two.

Xavier Cedeno faced three batters in a rehab assignment. He retired the first on a ground out and then exited after back-to-back singles.

Left fielder Donnie Dewees tied the game up 1-1 with his third home run of the year in the third inning. Dewees was 2 for 4 and also contributed a sacrifice fly. Dewees scored twice.

In the fourth inning, center fielder Ian Happ gave Iowa the lead for good with a solo home run, his fourth of the year. Happ was 2 for 5.

DH Johnny Field hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning, his fourth of the year. Field was 1 for 5.

The I-Cubs hit three solo home runs in the seventh inning. First, shortstop Addison Russell connected for his third of the year, all in the last six games. Russell was 2 for 5.

Then third baseman Phillip Evans went back-to-back with Russell for his third of the season. Evans was 1 for 3 with a walk and he was hit by a pitch.

Later in the seventh, shortstop Dixon Machado connected for his fifth of the year. Machado was 1 for 3 with two walks. He scored twice.

Catcher Ian Rice did not homer, but he did go 2 for 4.

The win was Iowa’s sixth-straight and they are now 20-10 on the season. They have a 2.5 game lead in their division, but they still trail El Paso by one game for the best record in the PCL.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were shut out by the Jackson Generals (Diamondbacks), 3-0.

Oscar De La Cruz made his Smokies season debut today and he struggled with his control,, although the results were pretty good despite getting the loss. De La Cruz allowed just one run on one hit over five innings. But De La Cruz walked four and hit one batter. He did strike out five.

The Smokies had three hits. First baseman P.J. Higgins was 2 for 4.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans swept the Salem Red Sox, 8-2.

Luis Lugo started and took the win after allowing just one run over five innings. Lugo had six hits. He struck out two and walked no one.

DH Grant Fennell was 2 for 4 with a three-run double that was part of a six-run seventh inning that blew this game open.

Right fielder Jimmy Herron was 3 for 4 with a double. He drove in two and scored once.

Catcher Tyler Payne also had three hits, going 3 for 4 with an RBI single in the seventh inning. Payne also scored twice.

First baseman Luke Reynolds was 2 for 4.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs snapped their losing streak, went back over .500 and sawed off the Clinton LumberKings (Marlins), 3-2.

Brailyn Marquez pitched the first four innings and allowed two runs. Both runs came in the second inning and were unearned, although it was two errors by Marquez himself that made them unearned. Marquez struck out three and walked two.

Jack Patterson got the win with three innings of scoreless relief. Patterson allowed two hits. He struck out three and did not walk anyone.

Ryan Lawlor pitched the final two innings without allowing a run for the save. Lawlor surrendered three hits. He struck out three and did not walk anyone.

Left fielder D.J. Artis broke a 2-2 tie with a solo home run in the seventh inning, his first on the season. Artis was 1 for 2 with two walks. He scored two runs.