Friday was also rough day for the Cubs affiliates as all four of the teams lost down on the farm.
South Bend had its game delayed by snow then called after seven innings. Charcer Burks and Cael Brockmeyer hit home runs for Myrtle Beach. And both Tennessee and Iowa came up a run short on Friday night.
Low Class-A – South Bend Cubs (0-2)
South Bend dropped their second game of the season 6-3 to West Michigan at a snowy Four Winds Field. The game was delayed by snow with one out in the sixth inning and called after seven innings.
South Bend was charged with six errors on night that wasn’t meant for a baseball game. Justin Steele had three of the errors and took the loss after giving up four runs, all unearned, on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts in 3.2 innings. Casey Bloomquist was touched up for two runs in two innings. James Norwood finished the game with 1.1 scoreless innings.
South Bend scored the three runs in two innings. Donnie Dewees (0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored) walked to start the third. P.J. Higgins was hit by a pitch with one out. With Eloy Jimenez (0-for-3) at the plate, a wild pickoff attempt, moved both runners up 90 feet. Jimenez struck out swinging. A wild pitch allowed Dewees to score from third.
After the delay, Matt Rose started the sixth with a single to left. Eddy Julio Martinez (0-for-3 with a run scored) took over at first after he grounded into a 6-4 fielder’s choice. Martinez moved to second on a groundout and to third on an Ian Rice (1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored) single. Bryant Flete (2-for-3 with a triple and two RBI) tripled to right and plated both Martinez and Rice.
High Class-A – Myrtle Beach Pelicans (1-1)
The Pelicans could not overcome a four-run sixth inning and lost Friday night 7-5 to Frederick.
Zach Hedges put zeros on the board in the first four innings. After giving up a run in the fifth, Hedges could not get through the sixth. Hedges turned the game over to the pen after recording one out. Hedges was charged with four runs, two earned, on five hits with a walk and six strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
Dillon Maples allowed an inherited run to score in relief of Hedges and surrendered one unearned run on one hit with two walks and a strikeout in 0.1 innings. Ryan McNeil and Jordan Minch both allowed runs on Friday night. The Pelicans’ defense was charged with two errors that led to three of the seven runs being unearned.
Myrtle Beach took an early lead on Charcer Burks (3-for-4 with a home run and a triple) first home run of the season in the third inning. Ian Happ (0-for-4 with a walk and a run scored) walked with one out in the sixth and scored on a wild pitch with Jeffrey Baez (1-for-4 with a run scored) at the plate.
David Bote (2-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and a RBI) doubled with one down in the seventh and scored on a Cael Brockmeyer (1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI) home run. And it was David Bote again in the eighth. Bote doubled in Baez to cap the scoring for the Pelicans.
Double-A – Tennessee Smokies (1-1)
The Smokies dropped a one-run game to the BayBears on Friday night by a final score of 2-1. Paul Blackburn had a good outing. Blackburn gave up one run on five hits with a strikeout and no walks. Michael Jensen tossed two scoreless innings. Corey Black gave up the winning run in the eighth. Black surrendered two hits with a walk, a strikeout and a wild pitch in his inning of work. The winning run scored on a single by Mitch Haniger after a wild pitch put the go-ahead run in scoring position.
The Smokies tied the game at one in the fifth inning. Billy McKinney (2-for-4 with a double and a run scored) doubled, moved to third when Victor Caratini (0-for-4) grounded out to second base. Taylor Davis (1-for-3 with a RBI) singled in McKinney.
Triple-A – Iowa Cubs (0-2)
Down 4-2 going into the ninth inning, Iowa loaded the bases twice and scored a run on a wild pitch before Logan Watkins was caught looking at a 3-2 pitch to end the game. Iowa lost to Round Rock 4-3 on Friday night at Principal Park.
Stephen Fife got the start and pitched the first three innings. Fife gave up four runs on five hits with three walks. Fife struck out five in his organizational debut. Jean Machi, Felix Pena, C.J. Riefenhauser and Miguel Mejia kept Round Rock off the board in relief of Fife. Iowa pitchers struck out 12 batters on Friday night while issuing five walks.
Albert Almora Jr. (2-for-4 with a double and a run scored) doubled and scored in the fifth on a double from Tim Federowicz (1-for-2 with a double, a walk and two RBI). Almora Jr. was in the middle of the scoring again in the seventh inning. After Dan Vogelbach (1-for-4 with a double and a run scored) reached on a wind-aided double, Willson Contreras (1-for-3 with a walk) walked. Almora Jr. rolled into a 6-4 fielder’s choice. Vogelbach moved to third and scored on a sac fly from Federowicz.
Kris Negron was hit by a pitch to start the ninth. Almora Jr. singled with two outs. A passed ball with Federowicz moved Negron and Almora Jr. to second and third. Federowicz walked to load the bases. A wild pitch allowed Negron to score. Juan Perez walked to re-load the bases. Logan Watkins was called out on strikes to end the game.