Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 30

A quick reminder that there are no Cubs minor league games on Mondays this year.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were beaten by the St. Paul Saints (Twins), 7-3. The Saints swept the six-game series in Des Moines and it was Iowa’s eighth-straight loss.

There was a lot of good news and bad news out of Cory Abbott’s start today. The good news is that Abbott was carving up the Saints hitters, striking out 13 and walking just one over six innings. The bad news is that he gave up back-to-back home runs to J.T. Riddle and Brent Rooker in the fifth inning. Riddle’s was a two-run home run.

Abbott ended up taking the loss after surrendering four runs on six hits over six innings.

DH Tyler Gushue hit a two-run double in the fourth inning. Gushue was 1 for 4 and he scored the other I-Cubs run later in the inning on a Abiatal Avelino double. Avelino was also 1 for 4.

Here’s Gushue’s double.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were positively identified by the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), 7-6 in 11 innings.

Erich Uelmen threw the first five innings and gave up two runs on six hits. He walked three and struck out two. He also hit one batter.

Cayne Ueckert came on the grab the save in the ninth but for the first time after eight appearance, He blew the save when he gave up a two-run home run with two outs in the inning. The two runs were the first two that Ueckert had allowed all season his ninth appearance. Ueckert’s final line was two runs on one hit and one walk in one inning. He did not have a strikeout.

Wyatt Short pitched the tenth and eleventh inning and allowed the automatic runner on second to score both times to take the loss. Short’s final line was two unearned runs on two hits over 1.1 innings. Short struck out three and walked no one, although he did hit one batter.

First baseman Tyler Payne got the scoring started with a two-run double in the top of the first inning. Payne was 2 for 5 with three overall runs batted in.

Shortstop Christopher Morel had RBI singles in the fifth and tenth innings. He was 2 for 5.

Third baseman Grayson Byrd was 2 for 5 with one run scored.

DH Miguel Amaya went 1 for 2 with two walks and a hit-by-pitch. Amaya scored three runs.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs capped the Ft. Wayne TinCaps (Padres), 12-2.

Max Bain started and took the win. Bain gave up two runs on three hits over five innings. He walked two and struck out three.

Brad Deppermann had three scoreless innings of relief.

First baseman Tyler Durna hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning, his second of the season. Durna also had the second four-hit game of his career, going 4 for 5. His first four-hit game came in Eugene in 2018. Durna had three RBI and he scored four times.

Right fielder Nelson Velazquez stayed hot, hitting his third home run of the year in the third inning with a man on. Velazquez was 2 for 5 and scored twice. He had just the two runs batted in.

Finally, catcher Bryce Windham hit the first home run of his pro career to lead off the seventh inning. Windham went 2 for 4 with three total RBI.

Center fielder Brennen Davis was 3 for 5 and scored twice.

Second baseman Chase Strumpf was 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored two runs and drove in one.

DH Jake Slaughter was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans swept a doubleheader from the Salem Red Sox, winning game one 4-0 and taking game two 8-4.

Sam Thoreson started game one and lasted four innings, giving up just two hits. He struck out seven and walked two.

Scott Kobos got the win in relief because Thoreson didn’t go five innings. Kobos did not allow a hit, but he did walk one batter over two innings. Kobos struck out three.

Left fielder Jordan Nwogu hit his first official professional home run in the sixth inning. It came with the bases empty. Nwogu was 1 for 3.

Third baseman Fabian Pertuz had an RBI single in the third inning and an RBI double in the sixth. Pertuz was 2 for 3.

Here’s Nwogu’s home run.

In game two, starter Richard Gallardo gave up two runs on four hits over four innings. Gallardo struck out five and walked one.

Didier Vargas threw the final two innings and got the win when the Pelicans exploded for four runs in the top of the seventh inning. Vargas’s final line was no runs on one hit over two innings. He struck out two and walked no one.

First baseman Matt Mervis broke a 4-4 tie with an RBI single in the top of the seventh. Mervis went 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored twice.

Catcher Pablo Aliendo followed that up with an two-run single of his own in the seventh, although he only got credit for one run batted in because the second run scored on an error. Aliendo was 1 for 3 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch. He scored once and drove in one.

DH Jacob Wetzel went 2 for 4 with two runs batted in and one run scored.

Left fielder Yohendrick Pinango was 2 for 4 with an RBI double in the fifth inning. He scored once.