Cubs Minor League News: Strumpf homers again, Sanders rocked, Murray raking, more

Cubs Minor League News: Strumpf homers again, Sanders rocked, Murray raking, more
by - Senior Writer - Sat Jun 03 10:00:30 GMT-05:00 2023

Another day and another Friday filled with plenty of minor league action for the fans to keep tabs on.

However, unlike Thursday, which saw the Cubs post an unbeaten record on the night, wins were tough to come by as the organization went 0-3. That includes another suspended game where Myrtle Beach Pelicans were trailing 2-0 in the fourth as the Cubs system has had three games suspended due to weather this week.

COLUMBUS CLIPPERS 15 - IOWA CUBS 2

Scoring 15 runs in a game is hard enough, but when you score 15 times and only need three innings to put up that many runs, it becomes even more impressive. That was precisely what Columbus did on Friday as they used three massive innings to put away the Cubs.

Just when you thought Ben Brown was on the verge of knocking on the MLB door, he has a start like this which is considered a setback. Brown struggled with his command throughout his four innings and allowed six runs. However, only three runs were earned, so the line is better than it looks. On the other hand, Cam Sanders didn't even last an inning and was charged with five runs with five walks.

Their struggles alone made life difficult, as did the start from Gavin Williams. Across his five innings, Williams walked four, but struck out nine while also allowing two runs on just two hits. Columbus wasted no time grabbing the early lead and used a pair of first-inning homers to take a 5-0 lead. The first was a two-run shot from Bo Naylor, with Daniel Schneemann making things 5-0 after his blast.

The long ball played a considerable role in the second, with Chase Strumpf picking up his second AAA homer to make things 5-2.

Those would be the lone runs of the night for the Cubs, as it was a long night. Despite the massive first inning from Columbus, Brown was able to settle in a little bit to limit the damage, but things came unglued in the fifth.

A two-run triple from Micah Pries started things off before he came into score on the Marcos Gonzalez single. That was followed by three bases-loaded walks as the Clippers opened up an 11-2 lead. Columbus added to that lead in the eighth with two more bases-loaded walks and a two-run Richie Palacios double to put the Cubs away 15-2.

CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS 7 - TENNESSEE SMOKIES 5

Although this was a loss for the Smokies, most of this game was well-played, as the Smokies did what they needed to win. The problem was a six-run fifth inning that put the Lookouts in front for good, and they ran with it from there.

Porter Hodge was the tough-luck loser in this one, as his start went from excellent to terrible in minutes. After tossing four shutout innings to begin the game, Hodge lost his touch in that fifth and was charged with all six runs in that inning. With Sam Benschoter getting through six innings and allowing two runs, that was more than enough for the Lookouts to win this game.

As mentioned above, take away that fifth inning, and the Smokies played well, especially early on when they grabbed the lead. Haydn McGeary was responsible for that with an RBI fielder's choice in the first inning, while BJ Murray Jr doubled the lead with a triple in the third.

Still holding that 2-0 lead in the fifth, the Lookouts offense used patience to get rolling and then began to slug their way to the win.

Jacob Hurtubise was hit by a hit with the bases loaded to bring home the first run of the game for Chattanooga, while Noelvi Marte tied things up with a sacrifice fly. The big blow of the inning came from Alex McGarry, whose bases-loaded triple put the Lookouts in front for good, 5-2. McGarry would come around to score later in the inning as the Rece Hinds double capped off the six-run frame with the Lookouts leading 6-2.

Looking to rally in the later part of the game, Owen Caissie picked up a rare sacrifice fly where not one run but two runs came into the score to pull the Smokies within 6-4. Jordan Nwogu added another sacrifice fly in the eighth to make things 6-5, but that was as close as things would get with Hinds pushing across the game's final run in the ninth.

McGeary, Murray Jr, and Pablo Aliendo led the way with two hits in the loss, with Pete Crow-Armstrong picking up three walks.

FORT WAYNE TIN CAPS 4 - SOUTH BEND CUBS 3

Like in the Tennessee game, this was a painful loss for the Cubs as they played primarily a complete game. Had it not been for one rough inning of their own, who knows how this game would have turned out, as a four-run frame is all Fort Wayne would need?

Brandon Birdsell was on the hook for that four-run inning as he labored to get through 3 2/3. Despite allowing four runs on seven hits, he walked two and struck out five, as his ERA is still a very good 2.97. The Cubs pen was very good after his departure, with Joe Nahas and Didier Vargas tossing 4 1/3 no-hit innings.

All the runs charged to Birdsell came in the fourth inning as the Cubs found themselves in an early 4-0 hole. After a wild pitch aided the game's first run, the Marcos Castanon double put the Tin Caps up 2-0. A Carlos Luis two-run single capped off the second inning as the Cubs found themselves in a massive hole.

Despite the Tin Caps offense failing to score the rest of the way, they wouldn't need it, as Ryan Bergert was excellent on the mound. Not only did he get through six innings, but it was six shutout innings as the Cubs bats were silenced through seven. Once the eighth inning rolled around, you saw the Cubs start to make their comeback bid as the James Triantos single cut the deficit in half 4-2.

Later in the inning saw, Bryce Ball came through again and used a sacrifice fly to pull the Cubs within 4-3. Unfortunately, that was it for their offense, as they were unable to do anything the rest of the way and dropped their third game of the week.

Triantos was responsible for two of the team's five hits while driving in two.

SALEM RED SOX 2 - MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 0 (Suspended)

As mentioned above, Friday marked the third time this week the Cubs system has had a game suspended, with this one coming in Myrtle Beach. Despite Nick Hull allowing just one hit through three innings, his command was an issue, and he is left trailing 2-0.

The lone hit against Hull brought home the game's first run as Jhostynxon Garcia picked up an RBI single in the first to make things 1-0. Salem doubled that lead in the second with an RBI groundout, and that is where things will sit heading into tomorrow. Reivaj Garcia led off the game with a hit for Myrtle Beach, as that is their only hit so far.

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