Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 6

Tonight was the first broadcast of an Iowa Cubs game on the Marquee Network. If you missed the game tonight, you’ll have another chance to watch the I-Cubs play on Marquee tomorrow (Friday) night.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs lost to Indianapolis (Pirates), 5-4.

His final line may not show it, but starter Cory Abbott pitched very well tonight. His final line was four runs, three earned, on three hits over six innings. Abbott walked three and struck out eight.

Abbott gave up a triple on the third pitch of the game to Cole Tucker down the right field line, but everyone but the umpire seemed to believe that the ball was foul. Iowa manager Marty Pevey was so convinced it was foul that he got himself ejected. That run scored on a ground out later in the inning. Abbott gave up a monster two-run home run to Chris Sharpe in the second. The other run he allowed was because of an error by shortstop Sergio Alcantára in the third. But he didn’t allow a hit after that, only two walks, and he struck out six of the final ten batters he faced.

First baseman P.J. Higgins hit a solo home run in the fifth inning. Higgins was 2 for 4 with two runs batted in.

Right fielder Rafael Ortega was 2 for 4.

Here’s a clip of Abbot being nasty.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies baked the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 6-4 for their first win of the year.

Matt Swarmer started and allowed just one run on three hits over three innings. Swarmer struck out six and walked one.

The win went to Ben Leeper in relief in his first professional game. Leeper pitched 1.1 innings without allowing a hit or a run. Leeper walked one and struck out two.

Ethan Roberts made it scary in the ninth inning when he gave up two runs on three hits in a non-save situation.

DH Miguel Amaya was 3 for 4 with a double and two RBI. He also scored one run as a part of a three-run bottom of the eighth that provided the Smokies with the insurance that they would end up needing.

SS Andy Weber went 2 for 4 with a double. He scored after the double in the first inning and had an RBI single in the eighth.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were held up by the Quad CIties River Bandits (Royals), 9-8. This ends the Cubs winning streak at 11, which dates back to 2019.

Max Bain started in his professional debut and threw high-90s gas. He also allowed a two-run home run to the second batter he faced. The final line on Bain was two runs on one hit over three innings. Bain walked three and struck out four.

Graham Lawson relieved Bain and took the loss in his pro debut. Lawson gave up three runs on two hits and three walks over 1.1 innings. He did not have a strikeout.

The most successful of the six pitchers who threw for South Bend tonight was Jake Washer, who is normally a catcher. Washer pitched a perfect top of the ninth.

Third baseman Chase Strumpf was 3 for 3 with a double, a walk and a sacrifice fly. He scored four of South Bend’s eight runs. He also made a costly error in the fifth inning that allowed two runs to score.

Outfielder Yonathan Perlaza went 3 for 4 with a two-run double in the seventh inning.

Shortstop Luis Vazquez was 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored one run.

DH Bryce Windham was 2 for 5 with a steal. Windham had one run batted in.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Pelicans are still looking for their first win of the season as they were neutered by the Charleston RiverDogs (Rays), 6-5.

Former Minnesota Golden Gopher Sam Thoreson started and made his pro debut. He also got his first professional loss. Thoreson battled control issues as he allowed three runs, two earned, on just one hit over 1.2 innings. Thoreson walked four and struck out three. He threw 56 pitches in just those 1.2 innings, 28 for strikes.

Third baseman Luis Verdugo was 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored.

First baseman Ryan Reynolds went 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. Reynolds scored two runs and drove in one.

Center fielder Darius Hill went 2 for 5 with a two-out RBI single in the top of the ninth to get the game to within a run.