MINORS NEWS

Cubs Minor League News: Garriola crushes two homers, Ramirez raking, Stevens clutch, more
Garriola had two homers and six RBIs in the win

Cubs Minor League News: Garriola crushes two homers, Ramirez raking, Stevens clutch, more


by - Senior Writer -

It was a very light night on the diamond for the Cubs Minor League system, as two rainouts resulted in only two games being played. That just means that if the weather holds up the rest of the week, things are going to be very busy the next few days, leading to plenty of baseball organization in the Cubs organization.

With both AAA and AA seeing their games rained out, the focus shifted to the lower-level Minor League clubs, which tend to get less focus. It was a successful night on the diamond for the teams in action as the Cubs organization posted a 2-0 record.

IOWA CUBS vs. OMAH STORM CHASERS (Postponed)

These teams will play a doubleheader on Wednesday. Game 1 is at 12 PM on Marquee Network.

BILOXI SHUCKERS vs. TENNESSEE SMOKIES (Postponed)

These teams will play a doubleheader on Thursday.

SOUTH BEND CUBS 8 - LANSING LUGNUTS 5

While the Cubs' overall record isn't great, this is a battle-tested team, and you saw that all week long against Quad Cities last week. Perhaps those close losses are going to start paying off, as the Cubs battled back from an early deficit to post five runs in the final three innings, including three in the ninth, to win 8-5.

Nick Hull started for the Cubs, and after a shaky start, he settled in nicely. Hull pitched five innings, allowing three runs (2ER) and striking out five, in his best outing of the season. Luis Morales was equally as good, pitching into the fifth and also allowing three runs, as this came down to the bullpens late.

It took three innings for anyone to break through, with the Cubs grabbing an early lead off a balk, only to have Lansing strike back the next two innings. That all started with an error in the bottom half of the third to tie things up, with Colby Halter delivering a single to give the Lugnuts a 2-1. One inning later, it was Lansing at it again as Brayan Buelvas connected for a solo homer to make things 3-1.

Even when this team doesn't win, the Cubs do a great job of battling back all game, with Brett Bateman delivering an RBI single in the fifth to make things 3-2, while Jonathan Long added a bases-loaded walk in the sixth to tie things up. Long played a massive role later in the game, as did Felix Stevens.

Like in the game when the Cubs took the lead, Lansing had an answer. They didn't waste any time retaking the lead in the bottom of the sixth off the Euribel Angeles single to make things 5-3. That would be the final run of the game for the Lugnuts, as the Cubs ended the game with five unanswered runs.

That all started with one of the hottest hitters in the Cubs lineup in Long, whose RBI single in the seventh made things 5-4. Stevens followed that up with a solo blast in the eighth, and just like that, it was a 5-5 game. Once the ninth inning rolled around, the momentum was fully on the Cubs side as another Long single delivered the game winning run to put the Cubs in front 6-5. Stevens closed out the scoring with a two-run double as the Cubs picked up the 8-5 win.

Long and Stevens combined for six RBIs, with Long picking up three hits and Stevens adding two. Pedro Ramirez led the Cubs offense with four hits to pace the offense.

MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 12 - SALEM RED SOX 4

Sparked by a seven-run fifth and a massive six-RBI game from Andy Garriola, the Pelicans made quick work of the Red Sox, as their offense seemed to be coming to life. This team led 12-0 at one point, as both the offense and hitting were on point.

Nick Dean took the ball for Myrtle Beach and earned his first win of the season, giving them five shutout innings with four strikeouts. Those are the kind of outings this team needs, especially when Matt Duffy was equally as good early on despite his line looking rough in the end. Neither team was able to score until the fourth when Garriola delivered a sacrifice fly, but it was the fifth inning when the Pelicans broke things open as they pushed across seven runs to take an 8-0 lead.

An error allowed for the first of those runs to score, while the Cristian Hernandez single pushed the lead to 4-0. Garriola added an RBI double later in the inning to push home another run while a groundout, bases-loaded walk, and another error gave the Pelicans an 8-0 lead. Garriola continued to deliver in the sixth as his two-run blast put the Pelicans up 10-0, as he was responsible for four RBIs up to this point.

The long ball continued to play a role for the Pelicans in the eighth, with Garriola adding his second homer of the night and closing out his six-RBI night with another two-run blast, which put the Pelicans up 12-0.

All four of the Red Sox runs came in the eighth, with only two coming off the Antonio Anderson double. The other two came home on a bases-loaded walk and a grounder as the Pelicans made quick work of Salem 12-4.

Along with his six RBIs, Gariola led the way for the Pelicans as he picked up three hits to raise his average to .260. Alfonsin Rosario continued his hot stretch with two more hits, and Miguel Pabon rounded out the multi-hit games with two of his own.

Comment on this story
Print   
Send Feedback to Dustin Riese: Email | Comment
Post your comments!