Cubs Minor League News: Wicks impressive, Triantos clutch, Hernandez homers, more

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - 4 hours ago

It was another tough night on the diamond for the Cubs and their Minor League system as wins were tough to come by. Not only that, but runs were at a premium in several games, as the pitching stole the show while others were all about the offense. All in all, the Cubs posted a 0-5 mark for the day, which aligns with their most recent pattern.

TOLEDO MUD HENS 2 - IOWA CUBS 1

For the second day in a row, the Cubs suffered a one-run loss, and once again, it was a late run that was the difference. This is an especially tough pill to swallow for Jordan Wicks, who finally had a great start after struggling for the better part of a month.

The left-hander gave the Cubs five strong innings, allowing no runs and striking out five to lower his ERA to 5.01. Wicks was followed by Ryan Brasier, who struck out two in his season debut. Not only did the Cubs pitch well, but Lael Lockhart pitched equally well, allowing no runs in his five innings.

It took eight innings for either team to score, with Carlos Mendoza delivering a go-ahead RBI single off Keegan Thompson in the eighth. The Cubs responded in the top of the ninth with James Triantos adding an RBI single in his first game back from a knee injury, as this was ticketed for extras yet again.

TRIANTOS TIES THE GAME IN THE 9TH!

1-1 GAME pic.twitter.com/IBakejW68T
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) May 7, 2025

That was until the Mud Hens cashed in against Thompson in the bottom of the ninth as a Jahmai Jones double brought home the winning run in a 2-1 Mud Hens win.

Iowa had three hits in the win, with Moises Ballesteros and Greg Allen picking up the other two.

💔 pic.twitter.com/nB0SM10fmB
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) May 7, 2025

CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS 2 - KNOXVILLE SMOKIES 1

Not only were runs at a premium in Toledo, but they were also at a premium in Chattanooga as the Smokies fell to the Lookouts 2-1. Unlike in AAA, both of the Lookouts' runs came in the early innings, which they made held up in the end.

Chris Kachmar was the victim of a tough luck loss as he gave up both of those runs and only lasted three innings. Kachmar did have issues with his command, walking four and striking out three, but with a 3.34 ERA, he continues to pitch well. Both of the home runs he allowed came on a pair of solo shots, with Hector Rodriguez going deep in the third and Austin Hendrick in the fourth, which proved to be the game-winning hit.

That is all the offense the Lookouts would need as the only run of the game for Knoxville came on an eighth-inning balk in what was otherwise a 2-1 Lookouts win. Pedro Ramirez was one of four Smokies to register a hit, joining Darius Hill, Parker Chavers, and Jaylen Palmer. Nick Hull also tossed three scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts.

It was a duel today. Back at it tomorrow. | @zips3mincarwash
Box Score: https://t.co/aek0pDfA4p pic.twitter.com/qZtxkFkfXf
— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) May 7, 2025

FORT WAYNE TIN CAPS 8 - SOUTH BEND CUBS 4

The losses keep piling up for the Cubs as they dropped another game on Wednesday. This was saw their pitching get lit up early while the offense struggled until late leading an 8-4 Tin Caps win. Kohl Franklin was back on the bump for the Cubs and was making his first rehab start of the season.

Although it wasn't a great start with three runs allowed in two innings, it's nice to see him back on the mound as he will now push his way back toward AAA. Franklin struggled with his command, walking three and striking out one while allowing four hits. Two hits produced three runs, with Jack Castello putting Fort Wayne in front for good in the first and a 1-0 lead over the two-run Nerwilian Cedeno single in the second.

Already in front 3-0, the Tin Caps continued to go to work in the third as an Addison Kopack double pushed the lead to 4-0. South Bend tried to battle back in the bottom of the third with a Cristian Hernandez double, making things 4-1, but this was as close as things would get as the Cubs' offense was silenced most of the day.

After tacking on runs in the fifth and sixth innings, Jacob Campbell closed out the scoring for the Tin Caps as his two-run eighth inning double made this an 8-2 game. It was at this point when South Bend tried to battle back with Edgar Alvarez homering in the eighth to pull the Cubs within 8-2.

Edgar Alvarez blasts his first @hoosierlottery home run of the season! 😮 🚀#SBCubs pic.twitter.com/8cIW2FJEEI
— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) May 7, 2025

South Bend then managed to score two more times in the ninth off catcher's interference and a bases-loaded walk to Jefferson Rojas, but that was it as South Bend got doubled up 8-2.

Hernandez led the way for the Cubs with two hits and two RBIs.

DELMARVA SHOREBIRDS 6 - MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 3

While the score might say 6-3, this was a much closer game than that most of the night, as this was a 1-1 game entering the eighth. Over the next two innings, seven runs were scored between the two teams, five coming from Delmarva, who used that for the victory.

It took a little bit of time, but Hayden Frank is figuring things out in the Carolina League, as he gave the Pelicans 5 1/3 strong innings. Frank allowed one run, walked three, and struck out five, as this was his best start of the season. A Cole Mathis sacrifice backed Frank fly in the first inning that put the Pelicans in front 1-0, as that was their only lead of the game.

That score would hold until the third as an RBI groundout brought things back to even 1-1.

Make some room on the countdown for Jose Escobar, @SportsCenter!!#SCTop10 | @WatchMarquee pic.twitter.com/3ry8nnmFQ3
— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) May 8, 2025

Those were the game's only runs until the eighth inning, when both offenses came to life. Maikol Hernandez broke the 1-1 tie with an RBI single, while a sacrifice fly put the Shorebirds in front 3-1.

Not only did Myrtle Beach respond, but they responded without collecting a hit as a bases-loaded hit by pitch to Ty Southisene made this a one-run game, while a wild pitch made this a tie game yet again, 3-3. Hoping to get things to extras at the very worst, the Pelicans called on Charlie Hurley to pitch the ninth, and it wasn't a great outing.

Hurley was charged with three runs on four hits, including a pair of RBI singles by Raylin Ramos and Edwin Amparo, which put the Shorebirds in front for good, 5-3. Delmarva added another run later in the inning on a bases-loaded walk, as that was the end of what was a 6-3 win.

ACL REDS 6 - ACL CUBS 3

Three games into the 2025 ACL season, the Cubs are still searching for their first win as the Reds doubled them up on Wednesday, 6-3. The difference in this one was the Reds' three-run first inning that not only put them in front, but gave them a 3-0 lead in the blink of an eye.

Ichiro Cano opened the scoring with an RBI single, while the Anielson Buton RBI single pushed home two more runs to make this a 3-0 game. Given how well Reynardo Cruz pitched, striking out six in four innings, three was looking to be enough as a fourth inning Alfredo Alcantara proved to be the game-winning hit.

Trailing 4-0 in the fifth, the Cubs finally got on the board as Derek Alcantara picked up a sacrifice fly. One inning later, same story as the Jairo Diaz sacrifice fly cut the Reds' deficit in half, 4-2. Alcantara added an RBI triple in the seventh, but with Arnaldo Lantigua delivering a clutch two-run double in the sixth, it was the Reds picking up the 6-3 win.