Cubs Minor League News: Noland impressive, Stevens homers, Smith homers in 4th straight |
When the Minor League season ends, and we have an opportunity to dissect every game, you could make the case that this is one of the best overall weeks for the Cubs system. Even with the organization posting a 2-2 mark on Friday, it makes four days without a losing record which hasn't been something this organization can say a whole lot of apart from Tennessee.
Where has this Iowa team been all season? This is not a playoff team by any means, but they are certainly playing like one this week as another strong pitching performance, and some timely hitting led them to another win over the Mud Hens 3-2. Who would've thought the best pitcher in the Cubs system this season would be Connor Noland? After going six innings for Iowa last night, allowing two runs and striking out seven, Noland is now 4-1 since his promotion to AAA Iowa and has posted a 2.70 ERA. With Cade Horton out for the season, Noland is the favorite to win the organizational pitcher of the year. Noland was backed by a bevy of offense as all five of the Cubs runs came in the first two innings which does make things easier as a pitcher. Trayce Thompson opened the scoring with a two-run single in the first as the Cubs took a 2-0 lead and never looked back. Toledo pulled within 2-1 in the bottom of the first off an error, but with the Cubs offense adding three runs in the second, the Mud Hens were searching for answers. James Triantos and Moises Ballesteros picked up RBI singles as part of that three-run frame, with Kevin Alcantara pushing across the Cubs final run with an RBI groundout. This single from Moises Ballesteros drove in James Triantos and is your @GreatClips Clip of the Game! pic.twitter.com/TYSjKLhjrX Another hit from James Triantos🔥 pic.twitter.com/yNL4ezVUvk Those were the only runs Lael Lockhart would allow, but with only three innings in this one, he fell to 2-7 for the season. Still holding a 5-1 lead in the fifth, Bligh Madris came through with an RBI single to pull Toledo within 5-2, as that was the final run-off Noland. Toledo would then add an additional run on a Drew Maggi single a few innings later to make this a 5-3 game before falling by that score. Iowa had 12 hits in the win, with Ballesteros, Thompson, Darius Hill, and Jake Hager coming away with two. Along with Noland, Daniel Palencia had a dominating 1 2/3, striking out four of the five hitters he faced. Another W! pic.twitter.com/OrccyNVbSU
This has been a statement series for the Smokies thus far as they ran their winning streak to four straight over the Blue Wahoos. Friday was the first time they had to play from behind late, as a three-run eighth inning was the difference in their 5-3 win. Jimmy Endersby made the start for Tennessee, and after going five innings, allowing one run and striking out five, this was his best start of the season. They needed him to be at his best as Jacob Miller also tossed five innings for Pensacola and allowed two runs as the pitching set the tone for most of the game. This was a scoreless game until the third when Jacob Marsse connected for his seventh homer of the season to put Pensacola on top 1-0. It was the only run Endersby would allow, and with the Smokies tacking on two runs on a Fabian Pertuz double and the Cole Roederer single, he was in line for the win as the Smokies took a 2-1 lead into the sixth. It was in that inning when the Blue Wahoos battled back, with Graham Pauley picking up a game-tying single off of Ben Leeper before a Nathan Martoella homer gave the Blue Wahoos the lead in the seventh 3-2 as Leeper suffered his worst outing of the season. Still trailing by that 3-2 score in the eighth, Felix Stevens played hero as he connected for a game-winning three-run shot to put the Smokies on top 5-3 as they went on to win by that score. Pertuz has been on a tear all series, and with two hits, he led the team yet again. Five other players had a hit for the Smokies, who are starting to peak at the right time, which is hard to believe. Felix Stevens LAUNCHES a pinch-hit homerun to take the lead and ultimately win it! | @zips3mincarwash
Talk about a frustrating loss for the Cubs. Despite what the scoreboard shows, this was a well-played game for both sides, as one swing was the difference in this one. That swing came in the first inning as the Wilfredo Lara Grand Slam broke the game open 4-0 and was the hit that lifted the Sky Carp to a win. Take that hit away and the Beloit offense struggled to get much done as Nick Dean recovered from that Grand Slam to pitch five innings. He walked two, struck out three, and allowed five runs, but only one run after the first. He gave way to Tyler Santana and Jose Romero, who allowed just one hit in four innings while striking out four. Given a 5-0 lead after a Josh Zamora sacrifice fly in the fourth, Emmett Olson was well on his way to earning a win as he also went five innings, but threw five no-hit innings. He walked two and struck out nine as the Cubs bats couldn't touch him. The game's lone run for the Cubs came in the ninth inning off an Ariel Armas double, but it wasn't enough in the Cubs 5-1 loss. Final. pic.twitter.com/jKGoG6U3t6
This was the most exciting game of the night in the Cubs system, as both offenses came to play. However, backed by a pair of three-run innings, including their three-run seventh, the Riverdogs battled back to pick up the 7-6 win. Nazier Mule has had an up-and-down season this year, but after going 3 1/3 and allowing just one run, he showed plenty of potential. Mule was given plenty of support to avoid a loss as Jose Escobar connected for another homer to put the Pelicans in front 3-0 in the third with Owen Ayers adding his first homer in the fourth to push the Pelicans lead to 4-0. The lone run Mule allowed came in the fourth Jhon Diaz double before an Escobar single pushed the Pelicans lead to 5-1 in the fifth. It was the bottom of the fifth when the Riverdogs offense came to life as this was the first of two three-run frames. Adrian Santana had the big hit in the inning with a two-run single, making this a 5-3 game, while a wild pitch pulled the Riverdogs within 5-4. Still holding that lead in the seventh, it was Pelicans hottest hitter coming through as Cam Smith connected for his fourth homer in as many days to extend their lead to 6-4. 4 homers in 4 straight games?! Cam Smith’s power is unreal 🤯@Cubs | @Pelicanbaseball pic.twitter.com/FTRyufVbux Smith has been mashing the past two weeks, and you have to wonder if he will see time in South Bend before the season is over. However, his homer wouldn't be enough as Connor Hujsak answered with a homer of his own in the bottom of the seventh with, his being a game-winning three-run shot to give the Riverdogs a 7-6 win. Smith paced the Pelicans offense with three hits to push his average to .317, with Escobar adding two hits and a team-high four RBIs in the loss. Cam Smith homered again. That’s all we know.#MBPelicans pic.twitter.com/AV2aK80HRU Been there, @Threshers 😅https://t.co/cyoZQTNCVr https://t.co/bXltvlpfzHIOWA CUBS 5 - TOLEDO MUD HENS 3
TENNESSEE SMOKIES 5 - PENSACOLA BLUE WAHOOS 3
Box Score: https://t.co/xVMhnZXW6E pic.twitter.com/pCL5jWuhj9BELOIT SKY CARP 5 - SOUTH BEND CUBS 1
CHARLESTON RIVERDOGS 7 - MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 6
