Cubs Minor League News: Birdsell impressive, Thompson and Stevens blast homers, more
Photo courtesy: I-Cubs

Cubs Minor League News: Birdsell impressive, Thompson and Stevens blast homers, more
by - Senior Writer - Thu Aug 29 11:07:11 GMT-04:00 2024

The Cubs came so close to posting a perfect record on the diamond, only to have the South Bend Cubs fall in extras. Still, anytime you go 3-1 across an entire night, you're doing something well, as the Cubs have now gone eight straight days without posting a losing record in the minors.

IOWA CUBS 4 - MEMPHIS REDBIRDS 2

For the second night in a row, the Iowa Cubs hung a four spot on Memphis and used it to win 4-2. After Owen Caissie delivered the thunder on Tuesday with three RBIs, it was time for another OF to provide most of the offensive firepower for the Cubs.

This time, Trayce Thompson got in on the fun as he paced the Cubs with three RBIs. That included a game-winning two-run homer in the sixth that put Iowa in front 4-0 as Brandon Birdsell took care of the rest on the mound.

The fast-rising right-hander has pitched well since joining the Cubs, but it has been his past few starts that stood out. With six more innings of four-hit shutout baseball, Birdsell lowered his AAA ERA to 3.56 and improved to 3-4 with Iowa.

He walked one and struck out six as he did his part on the mound. Given how good Birdsell was, the Cubs offense didn't need to do a ton, but with Caissie opening the scoring with a fourth-inning triple, it was the Cubs in front 1-0 before the Thompson sacrifice fly doubled their lead.

Thompson was just getting warmed up as he connected for a two-run shot off Zach Thompson later in the game to build the Iowa lead to 4-0 and chased Thompson after 5 1/3.

Memphis did manage to get to the Cubs bullpen late, as a Nolan Gorman homer put an end to the shutout in the eighth inning, but the Cubs were still holding on for the win.

James Triantos and Caissie led the way for the Cubs with two hits.

TENNESSEE SMOKIES 5 - ROCKET CITY TRASH PANDAS 1

Another day and another win for the Smokies as they ran their winning streak to eight games following a 5-1 victory. This was a two-man show for the Smokies, with Felix Stevens providing all of the offense with five RBIs and Chris Kachmar allowing just one run in six innings.

Kachmar didn't strike out a ton, as he walked one and struck out three, but with only one run allowed through six, his ERA sits at 3.52. Kachmar gave way to Nick Hull and Blake Whitney as Hull racked up four punchouts in two scoreless frames. Opposing the right-hander was George Klassen, who had a rough day.

Not only did he walk five and strike out four in four innings, but he was charged with all five earned runs as Stevens made him pay on multiple occasions. The first came in the second homer, as Stevens took Klassen deep for the three-run blast to put Tennessee in front 3-0. It would be all the offense they would need, but with Stevens tacking on a two-run single in the third, it was all Smokies 5-0.

The lone run of the game for Rocket City came in the fifth inning when David Calabrese connected for a solo shot in a 5-1 loss.

Stevens delivered two of the Smokies eight hits with all five RBIs while Fabian Pertuz added two additional hits.

GREAT LAKES LOONS 6 - SOUTH BEND CUBS 3 (F/11)

For the second straight game, the Cubs not only fell behind early, but were forced to battle back as a late Cam Smith RBI tied the game 2-2 before extra innings were needed to claim a winner. Although that was Smith's first career High-A RBI, it wasn't the Cubs night as the Loons battled back to win in extras 6-3.

Drew Gray had an interesting line on the mound, which would cause the Cubs plenty of frustration. Still a top-30 prospect in the Cubs system, Gray only gave the Cubs 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out eight. As has been the problem most of the season, Gray struggled with his command, as his six walks were the main reason he was pulled so soon.

The same can't be said about Peter Heubeck, who also struck out eight but did so across six innings, allowing just one run. This was a scoreless game entering the fourth, only to have Ezequiel Pagan cash in with the game's first run on an RBI groundout. It was a lead the Cubs would hold until the sixth when Jacob Vogel connected for an RBI single off Luis Devers to tie things up 1-1.

Great Lakes managed to take the lead one inning later on a wild pitch, but with Smith continuing to see the ball well and deliver his first career High-A RBI with a double, this was a 2-2 game heading into extras. In those extra frames, both teams managed to score in the 10th, with Nick Biddison doubling home the go-ahead run to make things 3-2, only to have Jefferson Rojas follow suit with a sacrifice fly.

That was the last of the runs for the Cubs as the Loons broke the game open with a three-run eleventh, anchored by the Frank Rodriguez single to bring home a pair and make this a 6-3 game. Jordan Thompson doubled home the first run in that inning as the Cubs fell to the Loons again. Smith has picked up where he left off with South Bend, leading the Cubs with two hits and was joined by Pedro Ramirez.

MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 3 - DOWN EAST WOOD DUCKS 0

After a painful start to the week on Tuesday with the Pelicans dropping two games, the Birds were able to return the favor as they blanked the Wood Ducks 3-0. Tyler Schlaffer continued to go about his business, as he improved to 3-1 on the season and lowered his ERA to 2.12.

Schlaffer allowed two hits across six innings, striking out eight and not walking a batter. Those types of performances don't come around too often, but you need to capitalize when they do.

Ivan Brethowr certainly did, as he not only delivered the game-winning two-run shot in the first but added an RBI groundout later in the game as he was responsible for all three runs in the win.

Those runs came off Josh Trentadue, who struck out eight across five innings before Jose Gonzalez closed things out. Brethowr was responsible for one of the three hits, joining Leonel Espinoza and Reggie Preciado.

CHICAGO DOGS 6 - MILWAUKEE MILKMEN 3

The Dogs responded from a rough showing on Tuesday to double up the Milkmen on Wednesday and evened up their series. In the process, the Dogs have cut their magic number to clinch a playoff spot to two with five games left to play. Kenny Serwa continued to go about his business on the mound for the Dogs as he pitched into the seventh and allowed three runs (2ER) with six strikeouts.

Joey Marciano took over from there and went the remaining 2 1/3, striking out five as his ERA sits at 1.85. Opposing Serwa was Christian Young and although he struck out eight in six innings, he was also tagged for five earned runs in one of his worst starts of the season.

This was a scoreless game entering the fourth when an RBI fielder's choice gave the Milkmen the 1-0 lead. It was a lead that didn't last long, as the Dogs offense erupted for five runs across the next two innings, three coming in the fourth. Nick Novak and Derek Maiben connected for RBI singles in the fourth, with Chase Harris adding a double to put the Dogs in front 3-1.

Chicago would never look back as they tacked on two more runs in the fifth off another Dusty Stroup homer to open up a 5-1 lead before a pair of Milwaukee runs over the next two innings made this a 5-3 game. That was as close as things would get, with the Dogs picking up an eighth-inning homer from Narcisco Crook to close out the scoring in a 6-3 win.

WASHINGTON WILD THINGS 6 - WINDY CITY THUNDERBOLTS 3

While the playoffs are out of the question, Windy City can at least finish the season on a high note, as their final five games of the season will be at home. That starts with the Washington Wild Things who evened up their series with the Thunderbolts 6-3 on Wednesday.

Michael Barker was the Bolts' tough-luck pitcher, and he deserved a better fate. Barker pitched pitch for pitch with Kobe Forster, and both pitchers gave their teams six solid innings, allowing two runs. Forster struck out five and lowered his ERA to 2.90, while Barker only had three punchouts in what could be his best start of 2024.

It didn't take Washington long to open the scoring as a second-inning Andrew Czech homer gave them an early 2-0 lead and equaled their run total from Tuesday. That score would hold until the fourth when an Emmanuel Sanchez single made this a 2-1 before he came into score on a balk to tie things up.

Windy City grabbed the lead in the seventh inning for the second consecutive game, with the Michael Seegers single making things 3-2.

That was the final run of the night for the Bolts, who watched the Wild Things offense take over in the fifth as they pushed across five runs to pick up the 6-3 win. Caleb McNeely, Tyreque Reed, and Wagner Lagrange all had RBI doubles in that inning to put the Wild things up 5-3, with the Czech closing out the scoring with an RBI single.

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