Cubs Minor League News: Shaw almost hits for cycle, Triantos raking, SB scores 15 runs
Photo courtesy: I-Cubs

Cubs Minor League News: Shaw almost hits for cycle, Triantos raking, SB scores 15 runs
by - Senior Writer - Sat Aug 17 11:20:20 GMT-04:00 2024

You couldn't have asked for a much better night in the Cubs Minor League System. Not only did all four full-season teams win for the second straight day, but had it not been for one loss in the DSL, the Cubs would've posted a perfect 6-0 mark, which isn't something you can say a lot about this team.

Regardless, after going 5-3 on Thursday and then turning around and going 5-1 again on Friday, the Cubs have plenty of momentum right now, which is all you can ask for this late in the season. Hopefully, that will continue over the next few weeks as this organization desperately needs wins.

IOWA CUBS 4 - COLUMBUS CLIPPERS 3

It's not always how you start a season, but more so how you finish it. That is what RHP Brandon Birdsell is following, motto-wise, as he was off to a horrible start after getting promoted to AAA but has now started to settle in and look like the Top-30 prospect he is.

Following a 5 2/3 inning outing, allowing three runs and striking out six, Birdsell has now won his last two AAA decisions after starting 0-4. Birdsell served up a second-inning homer to Myles Straw to put the Clippers in front 1-0, but that deficit was short-lived when you look at how the Cubs offense performed the next two innings off LT Allen.

It all started with a game-tying James Triantos double in the bottom of the second before he gave the Cubs the lead for good on a Cole Roederer sacrifice fly. Matt Shaw put the game away one inning later as his two-run shot brought home the winning run and gave the Cubs a 4-1 advantage.

Shaw had a great night at the plate, picking up his first career AAA homer while also finishing just a triple shy of the cycle.

Still trailing 4-1 in the sixth, Columbus pulled within a run as Johnathan Rodriguez connected for his 18th homer of the season to make things 4-3, which was how this one ended.

Shaw was responsible for three of the Cubs seven hits with Triantos adding two.

TENNESSEE SMOKIES 2 - BIRMINGHAM BARONS 0

After a rough first two games of this series, the Smokies have gotten back on track as their pitching took care of things in this one. Backed by Chris Kachmar and his six shutout innings, the Smokies didn't need much offense as the Christian Franklin two-run double in the seventh would be all of the runs in this one.

Kachmar walked one, struck out five, and allowed just two hits in his start as he lowered his ERA to 3.87 before giving way to Cayne Ueckert and Blake Weiman. Riley Gowens was equally as good on the mound, tossing four shutout innings and striking out six in his no-decision outing. Franklin led the Smokies with two hits and two RBIs as he was joined by Jonathon Long and his two hits.

SOUTH BEND CUBS 15 - CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 2

Talk about an offensive explosion in Iowa, South Bend raced out to a 13-1 lead after three innings and used back to back six-run frames to give Nick Dean and the rest of the pitchers plenty of support. Dean was solid in his four innings, allowing one run on three hits, but he didn't last long enough to get the win.

He gave way to Luis Devers, who tossed two innings of one-run ball to secure the win, while Nico Zeglin continued to pitch well and lowered his ERA to 0.59. Leading 1-0 in the second after Ethan Hearn connected for a homer in the first, the Cubs offense got rolling in the second and scored 12 times the next two innings.

Six came in the second with an Andy Garriola single leading to two runs before the Hearn double pushed their lead to 5-0. Jacob Wetzel followed up that double with one of his own to make things 6-0 with the Jordan Nwogu single stretching the Cubs lead to 7-0. Cedar Rapids did manage to get one run back in the bottom of the second off the Rixon Wingrove homer, but with South Bend putting up six more runs in the third, this game was all but over at 13-1.

Hearn started another big inning with a sacrifice fly as he led the Cubs with four RBIs in the win. That was followed by a Cristian Hernandez triple to push the lead to 10-1, with Jacob Wetzel making it 11-1 with a double. South Bend closed out another massive inning on an Ariel Armas double as the Cubs opened up a 13-1 lead.

Those were the Cubs final runs of the game until late with Rubel Cespedes picking up an RBI double for Cedar Rapids in the fifth to bring home their final run to pull within 13-2. South Bend closed out the scoring with two runs in the ninth as Pedro Ramirez delivered an RBI single to make things 14-2, with Garriola picking up a sacrifice fly to close out the scoring.

Hearn had a massive day at the plate, picking up three hits and driving in four runs in the win. Garriola added three RBIs with Hernandez and Wetzel adding three hits in the massive win.

MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 2 - COLUMBIA FIREFLIES 1

Pitching was the story in Low-A on Friday, where the Pelicans held off the Fireflies 2-1. Jeral Vizcaino got the start for the Birds, tossing four strong innings of one-run ball and striking out four. He gave way to Angel Hernandez and Vince Reilly as Hernandez lowered his ERA to 1.37 after striking out five in three scoreless frames.

The Fireflies' lone run came in the first inning when Blake Mitchell took Vizcaino deep to make it a 1-0 game. Apart from that, the Pelicans' pitching was lights out, and it had to be, considering Felix Arronde was dialed in through his six innings, striking out seven and allowing two runs.

Arronde kept the Pelicans off the board until the fourth, when Leonel Espinoza took him deep for a solo shot to make things 1-1. One inning later, the Pelicans drove home the winning run on the Miguel Pabon single as they took care of business 2-1. The Pelicans had four hits in the win, with Carter Trice and Christian Olivo adding the other two hits.

DSL CUBS BLUE 6 - DSL ASTROS 1

DSL PIRATES 3 - DSL CUBS RED 1

CHICAGO DOGS 10 - FARGO-MOORHEAD REDHAWKS 9

The Dogs made it four straight wins this week by disposing of the Redhawks 10-9 on Friday. Jacob Teter and Dusty Stroup provided most of the offense for Chicago, combining for eight RBIs in the win, four coming from each guy.

That included a pair of homers from Teter, giving him 23 homers on the season and 83 RBIs. His quest to become the first Dogs player to reach 100 RBIs may be over.

GATEWAY GRIZZLIES 5 - WINDY CITY THUNDERBOLTS 0

It has been an offensive struggle for the Thunderbolts this week, and that continued Friday with a 5-0 loss. Michael Barker was the tough-luck loser on the day for Windy City, as he was touched up for four runs in 5 1/3, but only two of those runs were earned. He walked six and struck out four.

Windy City did manage to pick up seven hits in the loss, with Robert Chayaka delivering three of those hits as his recent hot streak continues. Windy City will look to win this series's final two games, which will ensure them a .500 week.

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