Cubs Minor League News: Franklin raking, Brown impressive, I-Cubs postponed, more |
What was supposed to be a full slate of games, including a doubleheader to make things a six-game day, turned into a four-game day as Iowa had their doubleheader vs. Omaha postponed. Given how the Iowa offense has performed this season, the only thing that can stop them is mother nature, which is a good thing.
Even with them having another day off, the other three affiliates took to the field and had four games to play between them. The results could have been better with the organization going 2-2, but it is still early in the season, and there is plenty of time for these teams to catch fire and get into a more consistent rhythm.
🚨❄️ Today's 4/16 doubleheader has been postponed. Make-up dates are yet to be determined. We appreciate your understanding! ❄️🚨 pic.twitter.com/43TGe4Uvuj
Seeing the Tennessee Smokies get off to a slow start is surprising and concerning when you look at the talent on this team. What is more concerning is being no-hit in game one of a doubleheader as Montgomery no-hit the Smokies for the 10-0 win. Porter Hodge got the start and went three innings, allowing three runs in the process. He took the loss due to a lack of offense and having Chris Kachmar come in and allow six earned runs in one inning of work. Most of the damage from Montgomery came in the fourth when they pushed nine runs across. Tristan Peters had a pair of solo homers in that inning, with Greg Jones adding a Grand Slam. You also had RBI singles from Blake Hunt, Erik Osterbag, and Alika Williams to provide the nine runs. Montgomery capped off their scoring with a sixth-inning RBI groundout to complete the no-hit win. That's a wrap on today. See you back home on Tuesday! pic.twitter.com/vYS4RyNbf6
After being no-hit earlier in the day, the Smokies had a lot to prove in game two and played much better. Despite that, their offense continued to struggle as they were doubled up by Montgomery 4-2. One of the positives to take away from this game was the pitching from Ben Brown, as he delivered a great start. Across five innings, Brown walked two and struck out seven while scattering three hits. He didn't allow a run which was something the Smokies desperately needed. The problem was Cole Wilcox was able to match Brown pitch for pitch and tossed four scoreless innings of his own. With both starters dialed in as much as they were, it took six innings for someone to break through, with the Smokies striking first. Miguel Amaya pushed across the game's first run with a sacrifice fly, putting the Smokies up 1-0 and giving Brown a chance to win this game. That lead didn't last long as Montgomery responded in the bottom of the sixth off of Cayne Ueckert, with Austin Shenton tying things up with an RBI single. With the score tied 1-1 after seven, extra innings would be needed to decide this one, with Luis Vazquez putting the Smokies back in front 2-1 with an RBI double in the eighth. Hoping to hold the Biscuits at one, Ben Hecht was on in the eighth inning and proceeded to allow a walk-off three-run shot to Logan Driscoll as the Biscuits completed the DH sweep 4-2. Tennessee was held to just two hits all day, with Vazquez and Amaya grabbing those hits in game two.
Despite the struggles against Beloit this weekend, the Cubs picked things up late and managed a series split. They did that with a dominating performance on Sunday, which this team needed. That all started with 2022 ninth-round pick Connor Noland making the start and giving the Cubs four innings of one-run ball. He set the tone while the offense backed him up, making things easier for Sam Thoresen and Carlos Guzman, who earned a three-inning save. The lone run off of Noland came in the first inning when Dalvy Rosario took him deep for the solo shot and a 1-0 lead. That lead didn't last long as South Bend put the pressure on Holt Jones and saw Haydn McGeary tie things up in the bottom of the first with a single, while Casey Opitz added a sacrifice fly to make things 2-1. Those two were just getting started and played a significant role in the Cubs four-run third, with McGeary adding another single to make things 3-1 with Optiz adding a two-run double to push the lead to 6-1. Fabian Pertuz had an RBI fielders choice mixed in for the other run that inning. Kevin Alcántara does his best PCA impersonation pic.twitter.com/DpRhA7aVWx Anytime you can drive in a run in three straight at-bats, you are doing something right, as McGeary picked up a sacrifice fly in the fourth and extended the lead to 7-1. Beloit did their best to battle back in the fifth with a Joshua Zamora double, but that was it for the offense as Yohendrick Pinango and Bradlee Beesley picked up RBI hits late in the game to cap off the scoring. McGeary led the way with three hits and three RBIs as he leads the team with 11 RBIs in nine games. Beesley and Opitz added a pair of hits, with Opitz driving in three to cap off a huge series.IOWA CUBS vs. OMAHA STORM CHASERS (DH Postponed)
MONTGOMERY BISCUITS 10 - TENNESSEE SMOKIES 0 (4/15 Makeup)
MONTGOMERY BISCUITS 4 - TENNESSEE SMOKIES 2 (F/8)
SOUTH BEND CUBS 10 - BELOIT SKY CARP 2
MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 6 - LYNCHBURG HILLCATS 5
Talk about a game within a game. After falling behind 5-0 early, the Pelicans offense came to life late and scored six times in the final five innings. That included a three-run eighth inning to give them the lead and the eventual win.
Kenyi Valdez got the start and didn't even make it out of the first inning allowing two runs (1ER) in just 2/3. He walked four as the command was an issue and gave way to Jose Romero and Angel Hernandez, who allowed three runs in less than three innings. Once the fifth inning got underway, the Pelicans took over with the offense coming to life and having Nick Hull toss four scoreless frames of relief with three punchouts to earn the win.
The Hillcats got off to a hot start, mainly due to Valdez's inability to find the zone. A passed ball led to the first run, while a bases-loaded walk made things 2-0 and ended his day. Moving to the second, you had Juan Benjamin double the lead with an RBI single, while the Nate Furman sacrifice fly in the third gave the Hillcats a 5-0 lead.
Despite being down big in the fifth, the Pelicans continued to battle back, and it was a matter of time until they chipped away at the lead. Having a balk bring home their first run certainly helped, as did a two-run shot from Christian Franklin to pull the Pelicans within 5-3.
CHRISTIAN FRANKLIN. OH MY.
— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) April 16, 2023
The hot start for @CF13_ continues with a two-run home run in the top of the fifth.#MBPelicans | #NextStartsHere pic.twitter.com/poYjLxbXaQ
Now that Hull was on the mound silencing the Hillcats, it gave the Pelicans a chance to take the lead, and that they did in the eighth with Andy Garriola going deep to tie things up 5-5.
The comeback is ON.@AndyGarriola hits his second home run of the season to tie the game at five in the eighth.#MBPelicans | #NextStartsHere pic.twitter.com/agphPdbsjy
— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) April 16, 2023
Miguel Pabon capped off the comeback bid with a game-winning sacrifice fly later in the eighth as the Pelicans picked up the massive 6-5 win.
Garriola had a massive day at the plate, picking up four hits with those two RBIs. Moises Ballesteros added three hits, while Pabon picked up two with the game-winning RBI.
Sundays are for comebacks.
— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) April 16, 2023
Birds rally from down 5-0 to win the series finale in Lynchburg.
Back at home starting Tuesday night against the Augusta GreenJackets.#MBPelicans | #NextStartsHere pic.twitter.com/nfCxPaYbd8
