Cubs Minor League News: Shaw with two hits and steals 30th base, Alcantara raking, more

Shaw is 14-for-32 in his last eight games (Photo courtesy: I-Cubs)

by Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - Thu Sep 19 08:00:02 GMT-05:00 2024

ROCHESTER—It has been six months since the Iowa Cubs were the lone team in action, and the last time it happened was the first three games of the 2024 season. Well, that was again the case on Wednesday, as Tennessee had the day off, leaving Iowa as the only team in action.

With the Chicago Cubs playing in the afternoon, fans had an opportunity to watch some of the top prospects on Wednesday, as some of their futures will be up in the air by the end of the week. Looking to make it two straight wins against the Red Wings, the Cubs delivered another solid pitching performance on the mound only to have a late Rochester run be the difference in the Red Wings 4-3 win.

In what will most likely be his final appearance of the season, Connor Noland turned out a respectable outing after struggling his last few outings. The right-hander battled through five innings, allowing three runs, and will finish his 2024 AAA stint with a 5.29 ERA. For the season, Noland has been one of the Cubs' most consistent pitchers, posting a 12-5 record across 25 starts and a very good 3.49 ERA.

Like Noland, Spenser Watkins was on the bump for one final time, and he delivered a slightly better outing, going five innings and allowing just two runs. It didn't take the Cubs long to open the scoring as they used a patient approach to get things rolling. Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcantara worked a pair of walks to set the Cubs offense up only to have the Matt Shaw double give Iowa an early 1-0 lead.

Ho-hum, just another Matt Shaw RBI, nothing new! pic.twitter.com/NsjMi8TCtg
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) September 18, 2024

It was a lead that looked to be in jeopardy in the second inning, as Noland completely lost his command and walked the bases loaded before getting out of the inning without damage. Noland continued to pitch into and out of trouble in the third, with Jackson Cluff leading off the bottom of the third with a solo blast to bring things back to even 1-1.

Rochester was just getting started as a one-out single from Brady House put another runner on base before a Riley Adams double put two runners in scoring position, only to see Noland escape another jam. After giving up the lead in the bottom of the third, the Cubs offense responded in the fourth with a one-out Matt Mervis single, giving Iowa another baserunner.

Mervis would eventually take second on a Hayden Cantrelle walk before hustling home on the Reivaj Garcia single to put the Cubs back in front 2-1. Like the last time the Cubs had the lead, the Red Wings didn't waste any time battling back as the CJ Stubbs double brought home another run and kept the pressure on the Iowa defense.

That double was followed by a pair of singles from Cluff and Trey Lipscomb, as Lipscomb pushed home the go-ahead run 3-2. Those were the game's final runs until the eighth inning, as Frank Scalzo Jr and Jimmy Herget tossed a pair of scoreless innings to give the Iowa offense a chance.

In the eighth, you had Shaw pick up a one out single to put the tying run on base, but with two outs he was in danger of being stranded on the bases. That was until Darius Hill came through with one of his biggest hits of the season, as his double brought in Shaw to once again tie things up 3-3.

DARIUS AFTER DARK! We're tied in the eighth! pic.twitter.com/rM3k3fS6GL
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) September 19, 2024

Looking to keep things where they were, Gavin Hollowell took the ball in the eighth as he looked to keep his strong start with the Cubs going.

Hollowell got off to a great start by retiring the first two hitters he faced, only to have a Stubbs walk to keep the inning alive. To make matters worse, Stubbs used his legs to swipe second as that came back to haunt the Cubs with Cluff cashing in on a go-ahead RBI single to give the Red Wings a late 4-3 lead.

30 stolen bases this year for Mr. Shaw! pic.twitter.com/ERN8fBUoO4
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) September 19, 2024

Needing one run to keep this game alive and down to their final three outs, the Cubs had their work cut out for them as one of the AAAs best closers, Rico Garcia was set to take the ball. Like Hollowell, Garcia couldn't have asked for a better start as he retired the first two hitters he faced to put him one out away from the save.

Caissie ensured that wouldn't happen as he extended the inning with a single, only for Alcantara to fly out to end the game with the Red Wings holding on 4-3.

Iowa had nine hits in the loss, with Garcia, Alcantara, and Shaw having two-hit games.