It was an abbreviated schedule to start the final week of May as two teams had Tuesday off while another was postponed.
South Bend just can’t seem to find the winning combination despite the hot hitting of Gleyber Torres and Cael Brockmeyer. Myrtle Beach keeps chugging along as Jen-Ho Tseng demonstrated the form that had him named Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season.
Felix Pena has moved to third in the Southern League in strikeouts as he helped Tennessee to victory. And Iowa had a Memorial Day they would like to forget even with home runs from Taylor Davis and Rubi Silva.
All that and more in today’s Down on the Farm Report.
Low Class-A – South Bend Cubs (20-26)
A promising start disintegrated quickly for South Bend on Monday as they lost to Bowling Green 12-8. Starter Erick Leal was supported by a 4-2 lead in the second inning when things got out of hand. The Hot Rods capitalized on two errors as they put up nine runs (five earned) on Leal as he struck out three in four innings. Brad Markey did not fare much better, giving up three runs (two earned) and striking out three in three innings. Francisco Carrillo had a strikeout in two perfect innings.
South Bend cut a 2-0 lead in half in the first inning after consecutive singles by Gleyber Torres (3-for-5 with two RBI), Gioskar Amaya (3-for-5), and Cael Brockmeyer (2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI) loaded the bases. Torres scored on a sacrifice fly. Jesse Hodges (1-for-5 with a home run) tied the game leading of the second inning with a solo home run. A single by Rashad Crawford (1-for-4), a double from Charcer Burks (1-for-5 with a double), and a base hit by Torres plated Crawford and Burks.
The SB Cubs add four runs in the seventh inning as Torres and Amaya were on board for a three run blast from Brockmeyer. Yasiel Balaguert (2-for-4 with an RBI) followed with a single and came home on a two out double from Jeffrey Baez (2-for-4 with a double and an RBI).
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South Bend could not generate any offense on Tuesday, losing to Dayton 4-0. Zach Hedges could not contain the Dragons. Hedges allowed four earned runs on seven hits that included a solo home run, and two walks. Hedges struck out two in 6.2 innings. Tommy Thorpe mopped up and he had three strikeouts with three hits in 1.2 scoreless innings. The only member of the SB Cubs with an extra base hit was Yasiel Balaguert, who went 2-for-3 with a double. Gleyber Torres and Cael Brockmeyer were each 1-for-3 in the loss.
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High Class–A – Myrtle Beach Pelicans (27-15)
On Monday, Myrtle Beach scored early and had their pitching hold on for a 3-0 victory over Potomac. Pin-Chieh Chen (0-for-2 with two walks) drew a one out walk in the first and Chesny Young (2-for-4 with a double) followed with a double. A double by Jeimer Candelario (2-for-4 with a double and two RBI) scored Chen and Young. Kevin Brown (1-for-3 with a triple) tripled to lead off the second inning and scored on a two out double from Mark Zagunis (1-for-4 with a double and an RBI).
Jen-Ho Tseng was in command for the first time this season, striking out six and allowing only two hits in six innings. Michael Heesch relieved and worked around a base hit in 1.1 innings. Tayler Scott had a strikeout in 1.2 perfect innings to collect his second save.
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Myrtle Beach had the day off on Tuesday.
Double-A – Tennessee Smokies (24-21)
Rain shortened the game for Tennessee on Monday, but they still came away a 6-4 winner over Montgomery in eight innings. The Smokies erased a 1-0 deficit in the second inning when Dan Vogelbach (1-for-1 with a double) doubled but came up lame and had to be replaced. Pinch runner Wes Darvill (0-for-3) was on board when Willson Contreras (3-for-4 with a double, a home run, and three RBI) drilled a two run homer to left center. Contreras singled to start the fourth inning, advanced to second on an errant pick-off attempt, and went third on a single from Billy McKinney (1-for-4). A one out base hit by Jacob Hannemann (1-for-3 with two RBI) drove in Contreras and McKinney. Singles by Anthony Giansanti (1-for-4 with a stolen base) and Albert Almora Jr. (1-for-4) began the fifth inning. Giansanti stole third and scored on a wild pitch. Almora came home on double from Contreras.
Starting pitcher Felix Pena was on fire as he struck out nine but allowed three earned runs on seven hits and a walk in six innings. P.J. Francescon gave up an earned run and struck out a batter in 1.1 innings before the rains came.
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Tennessee had the day off on Tuesday.
Triple-A – Iowa Cubs (22-21)
The I-Cubs let the game get away from them on Monday as they lost to Reno 8-3. Eric Jokisch was pounded by the Aces, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits and a walk while striking out three in 4.1 innings. Armando Rivero steadied things by striking out two in 1.2 scoreless innings. Another earned run scored in the seventh against Joe Ortiz. Drake Britton was battered for two earned runs in the eighth, and Yoervis Medina closed out the game with two strikeouts in the ninth.
Iowa actually took the lead in the second inning after Taylor Davis (1-for-4 with a home run) and Rubi Silva (2-for-4 with a home run and a stolen base) blasted solo home runs. Arismendy Alcantara (3-for-4 with a stolen base) led off the third with a single and Adron Chambers (2-for-4 with two doubles) followed with a double. Alcantara scored on a sacrifice fly.
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Iowa’s game on Tuesday was postponed due to rain.
Venezuelan Summer League – VSL Cubs (3-5)
Pitching was the story on Monday as the VSL Cubs beat the VSL Rays 4-2. Gabriel Lima had his second good outing, striking out five in four scoreless innings. Juan Rengifo had a strikeout in a scoreless ninth for his second save. Shortstop Rafael Narea continues to play strong, going 2-for-3 with two RBI.
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On Tuesday, young pitching failed the V-Cubs as they lost to the VSL Rays 12-10. Seventeen-year old Emilio Ferrebus allowed four earned runs and struck out three in four innings. Outfielder Luis Ayala was 3-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI and two stolen bases while Jose Rojas was 3-for-5 with a home run.
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News and Notes
The Chicago Cubs assigned LHP Hunter Cervenka to the Iowa Cubs from the Tennessee Smokies.
The Iowa Cubs placed OF John Andreoli on the 7-day disabled list.