Power was on display in South Bend, Myrtle Beach and Des Moines. Eloy Jimenez smacked another homer for the SB Cubs and Ian Happ launched his first home run of the month.
On the mound, the Pelicans received an excellent effort from Trevor Clifton.
Billy McKinney delivered the game winner in extra innings Monday that allowed the Smokies to enjoy Tuesday’s off-day a little more.
Rob Zastryzny made his Triple-A debut and helped end the I-Cubs losing streak with Albert Almora Jr. delivering a bases clearing double.
Willson Contreras batted second for the I-Cubs for the second straight game. And Contreras cranked his second homer in as many days.
For all the longballs and two good days of performances in the system, continuing reading the midweek edition of the Down on the Farm Report.
Low Class-A – South Bend Cubs (27-16)
The South Bend Cubs put a little distance between themselves and Lake County on Monday with a 6-3 win. It was a total team effort as starter Carson Sands went seven innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out three batters. Casey Bloomquist pitched two scoreless innings for his fourth save.
The game was highlighted by a three run sixth inning in which Jesse Hodges (1-for-3 with a double and an RBI) doubled in Daniel Spingola (0-for-4). Tyler Alamo (1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI) delivered his first home run of the season, a two-run shot. Eloy Jimenez (3-for-4 with a double and an RBI) drove in P.J. Higgins (2-for-3 with a double) in the seventh on a double, and Andrew Ely (2-for-4 with a double) scored twice in the game on balks.
Back at home, South Bend put on a show for the home folks in beating Great Lakes 8-3. Justin Steele is getting incrementally better, as he allowed three earned runs in 5.2 innings. Kyle Miller tossed 2.1 perfect innings and had three strikeouts. James Norwood got in some work as he pitched a scoreless inning.
Two players on fire at the plate, Andrew Ely (2-for-3 with two doubles and a stolen base) and Eloy Jimenez (1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI) combined for two runs in the first inning as Ely doubled and came around on a home run from Jimenez. A five-run third inning was highlighted by a two-run double from Eddy Julio Martinez (2-for-4 with a double and two RBI) to score P.J. Higgins (0-for-3) and Jesse Hodges (0-for-3); and a two run homer from Tyler Alamo (1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI) with Martinez on board.
High Class–A – Myrtle Beach Pelicans (25-19)
Pitching was the key in Myrtle Beach’s 3-1 victory over Lynchburg on Monday. Zach Hedges evened his record at 4-4 by limiting the Hillcats to an earned run while striking out three in seven innings. Tommy Thorpe came out of the bullpen and had three strikeouts in two perfect innings for his first save.
The Pelicans regained the lead in the third inning when Cael Brockmeyer (1-for-3 with a double) led off with a double and came home on a triple from Rashad Crawford (2-for-4 with a triple, a home run, and two RBI). Crawford scored on an Ian Happ (1-for-3 with an RBI) single. The game-winner came in the bottom of the eighth, when Crawford blasted a solo home run.
It was a marathon on Tuesday, with Myrtle Beach coming out on top of Carolina 3-2 in 14 innings. Ian Happ (3-for-6 with a home run and two RBI) powered the Pelicans to an early lead in the first inning as his home run drove in Gleyber Torres (2-or-6 with a double), who had singled earlier. But that was it until the 14th when Happ singled, went to second on an error, third on a ground out, and came home on a base hit from Danny Lockhart (1-for-1 with an RBI).
Trevor Clifton had another fine start, striking out four in 5.2 scoreless innings. Jordan Minch yielded two earned runs in an inning of relief, but Daury Torrez bailed him out with 3.1 scoreless innings. James Farris did yeoman’s work by pitching three innings, and Ryan McNeil collected his first save with two strikeouts in the 14th inning.
Double-A – Tennessee Smokies (21-24)
A dramatic walk-off single in the 12th inning concluded Tennessee’s series with Biloxi on Monday with a win. The bases were loaded to start the bottom of the 12th on walks to Jacob Hannemann (1-for-3 with a stolen base) and Victor Caratini (1-for-5) sandwiched around a base hit by Jeimer Candelario (3-for-6 with an RBI) when Billy McKinney (2-for-6 with an RBI) delivered the dagger. Chesny Young (3-for-6 with a double) doubled to lead off the game and scored on a balk, with Young coming home again in the third after singles by Hannemann and Candelario.
Brad Markey kept the Smokies competitive as he allowed two earned runs and struck out four in six innings. Starling Peralta tossed three innings, and Miguel Mejia two, before Michael Jensen finished things off for his second victory.
The Tennessee Smokies were idle on Tuesday.
Triple-A – Iowa Cubs (19-24)
It was the eighth straight loss for Iowa on Monday as the I-Cubs bowed to El Paso 6-1. Stephen Fife did well in his return, striking out five in four scoreless innings before he had to leave the game with an injury. But Jean Machi and C.J. Riefenhauser each gave up three earned runs in the middle innings, as they were bailed out by three strikeouts in 1.2 scoreless innings from Felix Pena. Carl Edwards Jr. worked around a walk to strike out the side in the ninth. The only run for the I-Cubs came in the first inning on a solo home run from Willson Contreras (1-for-3 with a home run).
With a four-run seventh inning, the losing streak was snapped for Iowa as they defeated El Paso 8-3 on Tuesday. A triple by Arismendy Alcantara (2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI) drove in Juan Perez (0-for-4). Alcantara scored on a ground out in the second. Willson Contreras (1-for-4 with a home run) added a solo home run in the sixth. Albert Almora Jr. (2-for-4 with a double and three RBI) had a bases clearing double in the seventh, bringing in Rob Zastryzny (1-for-2 with a double), Logan Watkins (0-for-4), and Contreras. A single by Dan Vogelbach (1-for-2 with an RBI) plated Almora.
It was the Triple-A debut for Rob Zastryzny, as he struck out five and allowed two earned runs in seven innings. Gerardo Concepcion remains unscored upon as he had a strikeout in a perfect inning. Spencer Patton gave up an earned run in the ninth.
News and Notes
The Chicago Cubs Assigned LHP Rob Zastryzny to the Iowa Cubs from the Tennessee Smokies; assigned RHP Stephen Perakslis to the Tennessee Smokies from the Iowa Cubs.
The Iowa Cubs released OF Shane Victorino; placed RHP Stephen Fife on the 7-day disabled list.