Cubs Minor League News

Jerry Lai - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - 12 hours ago

One day after posting a near-perfect record, the Cubs Minor League system was back at it, hoping to keep that momentum rolling. Instead, it was more of the same as the Cubs posted just a 1-3 record, 2-3 if you count the resumption of their suspended game.

The positive side of another losing record is that two of the three losses came in extras, while none of their losses resulted in the opposition scoring more than four runs. That shows how good their pitching was across the board on Wednesday, which was a nice thing to see.

IOWA CUBS 10 - SAINT PAUL SAINTS 5

When discussing prospects knocking on the door for an MLB call-up, Jonathon Long comes to mind as the 3B/1B is starting to leave his mark in AAA. With third base continuing to be an issue for the Cubs, Long could be the one to solve that issue as his three-hit, six RBI day paved the way for the Cubs 10-5 win.

His performance was just what Tommy Romero needed as he made his season debut for the Cubs. Signed to a Minor League deal less than a week ago, Romero battled through some command issues to give Iowa 4 1/3 innings of two-run baseball. Long backed Romero with an RBI triple to open the scoring in the third, but the four-run fourth inning broke the game open and gave the Cubs a 5-0 lead.

Singles from Dixon Machado and Matt Shaw led to the first two runs in that inning, while a third RBI single from Long brought home two more runs to push the lead to 5-0. It took five innings for the Saints to break through on offense, but after the Mickey Gasper double made things 5-1, the Saints seemed to have the momentum. They would go on to add another run off a sacrifice fly, but it was once again time for the Iowa offense to break through as they responded for their second four-run inning in as many innings.

Once again, Long played a role in that inning, picking up a two-run single to close out the four-run frame as Iowa opened up a 9-2 lead. Reese McGuire started things in that inning with a two-run single, as that was all the offense the Cubs would need. Despite the massive lead, no lead is safe against the Saints, and you see why, with Ryan Fitzgerald picking up a pair of RBI doubles late.

You also had Carson McCusker add a bases-loaded walk, but it wasn't enough as Long capped off his six-RBI day with a sacrifice fly to give the Cubs a 10-5 win. Along with Long's big day came another multi-hit effort from Shaw, who is now hitting .270 since his return to AAA. The Cubs also saw Nate Pearson, Luke Little, and Ethan Roberts appear in this game as they continue working their way back to the majors.

COLUMBUS CLINGSTONES 4 - KNOXVILLE SMOKIES 3 (F/10)

You knew at some point that the Knoxville Smokies would take a step back, and it appears this is the year for that to happen. After putting together three of the best, if not the best, three years in franchise history, the Smokies are struggling to find their consistency this season as they dropped another close contest.

Sam Armstrong got the start and did his part as the right-hander gave the Smokies six strong innings of two-run baseball despite striking out just two hitters. All the runs he allowed came in the fifth inning as the Chandler Seagle double broke the scoreless tie and made things 2-0. Only one of those runs was earned, as an error led to another run. Columbus also added a sacrifice fly during that inning as they opened a 3-0 lead.

Like the Clingstones, it took the Smokies five innings for their offense to come through as another Hayden Cantrelle single got them on the board. Corey Joyce would follow suit with a single of his own in the sixth as the Smokies were within 3-2. Still trailing by that score in the ninth, the Smokies were down to their final three outs and were looking to come through late.

Leave it to Brett Bateman for that, as the left-hander did what he needed to do to put the ball in play and picked up the Smokies' third RBI single of the night to tie things up 3-3 and sent this one into extras. That was the day's final run for the Smokies as Ethan Workinger delivered the game-winning sacrifice fly in the top of the inning to give the Clingstones a 4-3 win. Joyce led the Smokies with three hits as they had seven hits as a team.

LANSING LUGNUTS 4 - SOUTH BEND CUBS 1

It was another day and another loss for the South Bend Cubs as they fell to 9-26 on the season. This loss was especially painful as all four runs for the Lugnuts came in the seventh inning to take away what was otherwise an excellent start for Evan Aschenbeck.

Making just his second start with South Bend, Aschenbeck was about as good as you can be as he held the Lugnuts scoreless through six innings before allowing two runs in the seventh. Still, with only two runs allowed in 6 1/3 innings, he did his part, but the Cubs offense couldn't get anything going.

It took four innings for either side to break through as Andy Garriola drove home the game's first run with his second RBI double of the series. Despite the Cubs picking up nine hits off Steven Echavarria, that was the only run they managed to score as Echavarria flirted with traffic to finish with one run allowed in 5 1/3 innings.

Still holding their 1-0 lead into the seventh, Aschenbeck started to run out of gas as the Lugnuts were finally able to solve him. All it took was a bases-loaded walk to Ryan Lasko to tie the game, while the Joshua Kuroda-Grauer single brought home the winning run and put the Lugnuts in front 2-1. They would add two more runs on a Clark Elliott single, as all four runs came in the seventh as part of their 4-1 win.

With two more hits to lead the team, Jefferson Rojas was able to raise his average to. 326 as the hits keep coming. Ivan Brethowr was the only other Cub to record multiple hits.

LYNCHBURG HILLCATS 3 - MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 2 (F/8)

After the Pelicans closed out their suspended game with a 3-2 win, it was time for their regularly scheduled game as the Pelicans were looking for the daily sweep. Despite this being another pitchers' duel from start to finish, the Hillcats found a way to get it done late as they picked up the 3-2 win.

Things may not be the best for Hayden Frank, but this was one of those starts where he showed the Pelicans what he can do. Yes, the ERA is still well above 7.00, but after going five innings and allowing two runs, the potential is there. Frank struck out six in those five innings, as he may be starting to figure things out.

Both of the runs Frank allowed came in the second inning as the Yaikel Mijares single brought home the game's first runs and put the Pelicans in a quick 2-0 hole. From there, it was all about chipping away as an Owen Ayers single in the fourth cut the deficit in half and had the Pelicans within 2-1. Then came the sixth when Leonel Espinoza delivered another RBI single to tie things up, which closed the book on Lynchburg starter Melkis Hernandez, who gave up two runs in six innings.

In a battle of the bullpen the rest of the way, Jackson Kirkpatrick took over for Frank and proceeded to strike out six across 2 2/3 innings. The lone blemish on his line came on the Jose Pirela eighth inning single, as that hit delivered the walk-off 3-2 win. The Pelicans were held to four hits, with Espinoza leading the way with two. Ty Southisene and Ayers had the other two hits.