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Cubs Minor League News: Suzuki's rehab start, Bote raking, Caissie crushes homer, more
Photo courtesy: Iowa Cubs

Cubs Minor League News: Suzuki's rehab start, Bote raking, Caissie crushes homer, more
by - Senior Writer - Thu May 09 10:03:23 GMT-04:00 2024

For the second day in a row, there were five Minor League games to keep tabs on as the Cubs system remains busy. Coming off a 1-4 showing on Tuesday, the Cubs bounced back with a much better performance on Wednesday as they finished the night with a 3-2 record. Several of those games came down to the bitter end, and one game also went extra innings.

IOWA CUBS 9 - COLUMBUS CLIPPERS 8

At one point early in the season, the Cubs not only played in close games but also were involved in extra-inning games. After getting away from that for a while, the Cubs are now getting back to those drama-filled performances as they walked off the Clippers 9-8 on Wednesday.

Most of the Cubs' damage came in the first and ninth innings, which was huge considering Julio Teheran's start. This was the first time Teheran has looked like a reliable arm since the Cubs acquired him. He pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs and striking out six. Both runs came on the Johnathan Rodriguez single in the first, which put the Clippers up 2-0.

It didn't take Iowa long to respond, with Seiya Suzuki opening the scoring for the Cubs with an RBI single while the Owen Caissie blast gave Iowa a 4-2 lead.

Iowa continued to build on their lead with an RBI fielders choice in the fourth ahead of the Ali Sanchez single in the fifth as the Cubs opened up a 6-2 lead.

Once the sixth inning began, the Columbus offense came to life, and it came against a pair of Iowa relievers.

First, Luke Little was touched up for two runs, with Micah Pries delivering an RBI single to make things 6-4. One inning later, Riley Thompson struggled immensely, as he was touched up for four runs that put the Clippers in front 8-6. Daniel Schneeman opened that big inning with an RBI double, while Jose Tena and Pries added RBI singles later.

It was in the bottom of the ninth when the real drama happened as the Cubs were looking for another late-game rally. That all started with a David Bote single to make things 8-7 while bases-loaded walks to Curt Casali and Matt Mervis brought home the winning runs in the Cubs 9-8 walk-off win.

Bote had his best game of the season as he paced the Cubs with four hits out of the No. 8 spot.

CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS 5 - TENNESSEE SMOKIES 4 (F/8)

In their first game of a double-header, the Smokies and Lookouts went toe to toe as the standard seven innings weren't enough. All that meant was that the Lookouts would walk things off one inning later as they took care of the Smokies in game one. Blake Whitney started what was a bullpen game for the Smokies as Frank Scalzo Jr, Joe Nahas, and Zac Leigh all saw action.

Nahas had the best overall results with four punchouts, but Scalzo Jr has yet to allow a run this season and could soon be on his way to AAA. Ivan Johnson opened the scoring for Chattanooga with a second-inning triple, only to have James Triantos tie things up in the third with a bases-loaded walk.

With one swing in the fourth inning, the Lookouts took a 1-1 game and made it 4-1 as Daniel Vellojin connected for a bases-clearing RBI double. Down by three in their final at-bats, the Smokies started to show signs of life as Triantos kept things close with a two-run double as part of his three-RBI game. Triantos would come around to score on the Cole Roederer single, and just like that, it was 4-4 and heading to extras, only to have Nicholas Northcut walk things off in the eighth with a single.

CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS 6 - TENNESSEE SMOKIES 2

The goal coming into any double-header is to split the two games, which wasn't in the cards for the Smokies on this day. Chris Kachmar had a rough go on the mound, allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings with five strikeouts. His struggles proved to be too much as Chase Petty struck out six in five strong innings for Chattanooga.

Like in game one, it was the Lookouts striking first as Tyler Callihan took Kachmar deep in the first for the 1-0 lead. The Smokies responded in the third with the Hayden Cantrelle single to tie things up before a double play added an additional run to put them in front 2-1. That would be all the offense they would get as the Lookouts ended the game with five unanswered runs.

Four of those runs came in the next two innings, with Jack Rogers and Northcut connecting for a pair of solo shots in the fourth, with Anthony Alford adding a two-run single in the fifth. Chattanooga closed out the scoring in the sixth off the Callihan single as they closed out the sweep 6-2.

SOUTH BEND CUBS 7 - CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 6

The Cubs certainly don't make it easy on themselves, but they did manage to get the job done to hold off the Kernels 7-6. Will Sanders continues to take his bumps as a starter, as the Cubs top-30 prospect got through four innings and was charged with four earned runs.

The first of those runs came on a first-inning homer by Luke Keaschall to put the Kernels up 1-0, only to have Felix Stevens deliver a grand slam at the bottom of the first to put the Cubs up 4-1.

Homers continued to play a massive role early in the game for both sides, with Keoni Cavaco going deep in the third to make things 4-2.

South Bend added to its lead in the bottom of the third, with Ethan Hearn picking up a sacrifice fly before a balk, as the Cubs opened up a 6-2 lead. Pedro Ramirez added a sixth-inning homer to extend the lead to 7-4, which would go down as the game-winner. Holding that three-run lead entering the ninth, the Kernels made things interesting, which all started with Willie Joe Garry Jr.'s homer.

Danny De Andrade added an RBI single later in the ninth to make things 7-6, but they wouldn't get any closer as Jose Romero locked things down for the save. Garcia and Rafael Morel led the way with two hits, with Stevens pacing the team with four RBIs.

MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 4 - AUGUSTA GREENJACKETS 2

The Pelicans have struggled this season, and this could be considered a transition year. Part of the learning process is learning how to win close games, and with a 4-2 win on Wednesday, the Pelicans added one to the win column.

Mason McGwire continues to battle through command issues this season, but with one run allowed in 3 2/3 innings, he is finally starting to figure out ways to limit the damage. McGwire was backed by some early run support, which started with an Alfonsin Rosario double to make things 1-0 with a wild pitch, putting the Birds up 2-0.

After pulling within 2-1 in the second on the Jacob Godman single, Augusta brought things to even in the sixth with Kade Kern delivering an RBI single. It didn't take long for the Pelicans to respond as they were gifted a run in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead before adding on in the eighth off the Christopher Paciolla fielder's choice to cap off the scoring.

Rosario led the offense with two hits, and that RBI as his impressive season continues.

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