Cubs Minor League News: Young homers in 4th straight, Long and Ramirez homer, more |
The Cubs Minor League system has forgotten how to win games the past two weeks. Either that, or they are just running out of gas, as the last two weeks have been a struggle. Not only were wins tough to come by a week ago, but that has continued into this week, where they limped to a 1-3 record again on Friday.
The only bright spot about their struggles on Friday was the pitching, as three of the four games saw the Cubs do a great job keeping their opponents in check. Two of those games saw the Cubs staff hold their opponents to just one run, as runs were tough to come by.
What once looked like a special season has come crashing down, as we can safely assume that the Cubs are again missing the postseason. Riley Thompson made the start and gave the Cubs 3 1/3 inning of one-run ball before turning it over to Chris Clarke and the bullpen. This one is going to hurt more than the rest as Michael Rucker got lit up for three runs in the ninth which proved to be the winning runs for Omaha. Opposing Thompson was Max Castillo, who delivered a strong start. Not only did he pitch into the seventh, but he allowed just one run as the Cubs offense was searching for answers. It took three innings for the game's first run to score as Samad Taylor used an RBI single to put Omaha in front 1-0. That lead held until the fifth when Jared Young homered for the fourth-straight game as things were back to even 1-1. Big fly for JY!! Jared Young now has a home run in FOUR straight games. pic.twitter.com/jnw9C6CogK Looking to grab the lead late, it was David Bote coming through for the Cubs as his RBI single gave Iowa a 2-1 lead in the seventh which they took into the ninth inning. With Rucker coming on to close things out, the Cubs liked their chances, but instead, it was Rucker picking a horrible time to struggle. Not only did the right-hander allow a solo shot to CJ Alexander to tie things up, but he would allow a two-run blast to Taylor later in the inning to put Omaha in front 4-2 as they would win by that game. The middle of the Cubs lineup did the most damage with Young, Bote, Yonathan Perlaza and Bryce Windham all having two hits.
The Smokies should send Pensacola a Christmas card after this week, as they are doing the dirty work for the Smokies. Despite another heartbreaking loss with this one coming via a walkoff, Pensacola knocked off Rocket City once again as the Smokies moved one game closer to playoff clinching. Kohl Franklin has had a rough go this season and with Cade Horton shut down for the season he knew he had to pick up the slack. Friday was evidence that he has that ability as he gave the Smokies six innings of one-run ball while striking out four. He gave way to the recently promoted Frank Scalzo Jr. who tossed two shutout innings with five strikeouts before Cayne Ueckert took over for the final few frames. While Franklin was good, Domingo Robles was even better as the right-hander pitched into the seventh and allowed just one run with seven strikeouts. The lone run of the game against Franklin came in the bottom of the third when Cal Conely ripped an RBI single to make things 1-0. That score held until the fifth when Pablo Aliendo hustled out an RBI triple to tie things up 1-1, but that was it for the Smokies offense. With the game tied 1-1, it was going to take extras to decide this one, and unfortunately, it was the Braves coming through as an error in the bottom of the 10th paved the way for the winning run as the Braves walked off the Smokies 2-1. The Smokies had just two hits in the loss with Andy Weber joining Aliendo.
Judging by how they have looked this week, the Cubs wish they could face Quad Cities every series because they have looked good in their final season series. Their strong play continued on Friday as a strong pitching performance from Nick Hull paired with a three-run seventh inning is all the Cubs would need. Hull made his final start of the 2023 season and delivered four strong innings with a 3.24 ERA in High-A. He allowed just one run while the rest of the bullpen took care of the Quad Cities offense. Opposing Hull was Ben Kurdna, who not only pitched until the seventh but held the Cubs scoreless until the seventh before taking the loss. South Bend fell behind early as the Herard Gonzalez sacrifice fly in the second inning put Quad Cities up 1-0 as the Cubs had to come from behind. That is something they have had to do a lot of this season, but when your pitching only allows one run, it does make life easier. Still trailing 1-0 in the seventh, the Cubs offense finally came to life and did just enough to pick up the win. An RBI fielder's choice by Josh Rivera tied the game, but it was the Jacob Wetzel RBI double to gave the Cubs a 2-1 lead and proved to be the winning run. Liam Spence added an RBI double of his own as the Cubs took care of the River Bandits again 3-1. Tonight's hero, with his parents sitting in the front row, Jacob Wetzel!@BKingSports caught up with the man who delivered the game-winning hit. pic.twitter.com/b20yIrssqi It's gotta be the hair, Cotton. It's beautiful. Feathered and lethal.
While most of the night was about the pitching, that was not the case in Myrtle Beach, as the offense stole the show. Marino Santy pitched well, but not great, as he was charged with three runs in three innings, but none of those runs were earned. After Brian Kalmer opened the scoring with an RBI double in the bottom of the first, Columbia responded with three runs in the third as a sacrifice fly from Spencer Nivens tied things up. Later in the inning, Trevor Werner came through with an RBI single to make things 3-1, as those were the lone runs off of Santy. Immediately after serving up the lead, the Pelicans took it back, using a pair of homers. Pedro Ramirez delivered the big blow as his three-run shot put Myrtle Beach up 4-3, with Jonathan Long adding a solo shot to extend the lead to 5-3. PEDRO RAMIREZ! A 3-run home run for the Pelicans! It happened so quick, we could barely keep up! Jonathon Long hits a solo home run! After pulling within 5-4 in the fourth, Columbia took the lead for good in the sixth as Werner capped off a massive day with Grand Slam to make things 8-5 Columbia. He would add an additional RBI single later in the game as he finished with seven RBIs in the win. Trailing by four in the seventh, the Pelicans did a great job of trying to battle back, with Malcolm Quintero going deep to make things 9-6 with a wild pitch making things 9-7. Aloha homerun #3! That was as close as they would get as Columbia tacked on two more runs late to close out the 11-7 win. Back at it again tomorrow...6:05 PM.#MBPelicans | #NextStartsHere pic.twitter.com/xfXT3hrHnwOMAHA STORM CHASERS 4 - IOWA CUBS 2
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) September 9, 2023
MISSISSIPPI BRAVES 2 - TENNESSEE SMOKIES 1 (F/10)
SOUTH BEND CUBS 3 - QUAD CITIES RIVER BANDITS 1
CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN!#NextStartsHere pic.twitter.com/P9Cnv69nfuCOLUMBIA FIREFLIES 11 - MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 7
Birds up 4-2 in the bottom of the third. #MBPelicans | #NextStartsHere pic.twitter.com/6Cw7X0eQTW
That extends the lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the third.#MBPelicans | #NextStartsHere pic.twitter.com/mjhd7mGn6i
Malcom Quintero's solo homerun cuts the lead to 9-6.#MBPelicans | #NextStartsHere pic.twitter.com/QjrZEJc6gu
