Down on the Cubs Farm: 0-2 record, Iowa Postponed, Javier Assad roughed up, more
Patrick Gorski - USA Today Sports

Down on the Cubs Farm: 0-2 record, Iowa Postponed, Javier Assad roughed up, more


by - Senior Writer -

IOWA CUBS vs. Omaha Storm Chasers: Postponed

TENNESSEE SMOKIES: Off

MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 5 – Frederick Keys 6: Looking to extend his current hot streak that has lasted all of May, Javier Assad got the call on Tuesday looking for another win. Although he lasted 5 2/3 innings, one rough inning did him as the Keys six-run second inning was all the offense they needed in a 6-5 win.

After a scoreless first inning, Frederick busted things open in the second with a huge inning. Austin Hays got the scoring started as he took Assad deep for his second homer of the season giving the Keys an early 3-0.

With two more runners on base, the long ball bit Assad yet again as J.C. Escarra took him deep for the second homer of the inning and a 6-0 Frederick lead. Assad was solid after that as the Keys didn’t push another run across for the rest of the game.

The long ball continued to play a significant role in the offensive output as the Pelicans got in on the fun in the third inning. With two outs, the Pelicans began a nice rally as Jimmy Herron, and Miguel Amaya collected single to put a pair on base. Tyler Payne then came through with the big hit in the inning delivering the three-run shot to cut the deficit to 6-3.

With Ryan Lawlor able to keep the game close, not allowing a single run in his 2 1/3 innings of relief, the score remained 6-3 as the Pelicans came to bat one last time in the ninth. Once again it was a two-out rally that pushed across more offense as Luke Reynolds earned a walk to extend the inning. Kevonte Mitchell followed that up with a double to cut things to 6-4 as he was now in scoring position. The line continued to move as Carlos Sepulveda singled home another run to make it a 6-5 game, but a Grant Fennell strikeout a few pitches later killed the rally and handed the Pelicans a tough 6-5 loss.

Myrtle Beach is 17-29 on the season and remains in last place in their division. Despite allowing six runs in his start, Assad still has a solid ERA on the mound as it rose to 3.16 for the year while Lawlor lowered his ERA to 2.25. Sepulveda, Herron, and Amaya all had two hits in the game as the Pelicans did connect for nine total hits in the loss. Mitchell earned two walks in the game.

SOUTH BEND CUBS 0 – Fort Wayne Tin Caps 1: For the second night in a row, the Cubs had a hard time-solving Tin Cap pitching as they were held to just four hits in the game. Cam Sanders took the ball for South Bend and was able to match the Tin Caps pitch for pitch to lower his ERA to 2.37 on the season. However, it was one run allowed in the second inning that would be the difference as the Cubs fell to the Tin Caps 1-0.

The lone in the ball came in the second inning as Fort Wayne delivered a critical two-out hit. After Lee Solomon earned a one-out walk, Sanders induced a flyout and was on the verge of getting out of the inning damage free. With a 2-0 count in favor of the hitter, Juan Fernandez got a good pitch to hit and drove it to deep left for the triple and 1-0 Tin Caps lead. Jawuan Harris worked another walk immediately after, but both runners were stranded on base as Sanders wiggled around any further damage.

For the rest of the game, neither team could generate much scoring as the pitching was undoubtedly at a premium. It wasn’t until the sixth inning Rafelin Lorenzo double when South Bend put a runner in scoring position, but nothing came from it. The Cubs best chance to push a run across came in the eighth when Tyler Durna ripped a leadoff double to put himself into scoring position. Once again, the Cubs were kept off the board as the final six hitters were retired to seal their fate in the 1-0 loss.

South Bend falls to 24-19 on the season with the loss. Lorenzo, Durna, D.J. Artis and Nelson Velazquez tallied all four hits in the loss. South Bend managed to take seven free passes, but none were able to cross home plate in the defeat.

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