Cubs Minor League News: Alcantara raking, Birdsell rocked, Paciolla clutch, more |
It was a lighter night on the diamond for the Cubs Minor League system, as only three teams were in action. That was due largely in part to Iowa having their game against Louisville postponed and set to have a doubleheader on Friday.
Still, with three teams in action, there was plenty of baseball to watch, especially with the Cubs and Marlins also seeing their game rained out. The overall results weren't great, and it was more of the same for one team, as the Cubs finished the night with a 1-2 record. IOWA CUBS vs LOUISVILLE BATS (Postponed) Today's April 18 game is postponed due to inclement weather. We will play a doubleheader tomorrow April 19 starting at 4:28 pm, with gates opening at 4:00 pm. Call the ticket office at 515-243-6111 to exchange your game tickets from April 18. https://t.co/cSJwpCsdLk pic.twitter.com/ekphbpljYV MONTGOMERY BISCUITS 15 - TENNESSEE SMOKIES 2 It has been a long time since the Smokies can say they have been whooped, but Montgomery took it to them on Thursday. That's surprising when you look at who started as Brandon Birdsell got hammered for the worst start of his young AA career. Birdsell struggled with his command from start to finish and had to deal with plenty of traffic as he allowed nine runs (5ER) in 3 1/3 innings. With Carson Williams providing the early offense for Montgomery with a pair of solo homers, it was the fourth inning when things got out of hand. Montgomery scored eight times in that fourth to take a 10-0 lead. The Biscuits benefitted from three RBI singles in that half of an inning from Jalen Battles, Nick Schnell, and Kenny Piper, while Tanner Murray connected for an RBI double. There was also a sacrifice fly and a bases-loaded walk mixed in, as nothing went right for the Smokies in that inning. After Williams added to his already big game with an RBI single in the fifth, the Smokies offense finally broke through as both of their runs came in the bottom of the fifth. Luis Verdugo was responsible for the first run with a sacrifice fly, while Kevin Alcantara delivered an RBI single. The Jaguar was hot in Tennessee. Montgomery would go on and tack on four runs later to close out the scoring in a 15-2 victory. Kevin Alcantara goes 4-4 as the Smokies drop Game 3. | @zips3mincarwash pic.twitter.com/LEMaLLOwRA BELOIT SKY CARP 7 - SOUTH BEND CUBS 2 It was more of the same for the Cubs on Thursday, as a lack of offense and a struggling pitching staff led to another loss. However, unlike most cases, the bullpen let them down as Sam Armstrong delivered 3 1/3 scoreless frames with four strikeouts as he has yet to allow an earned run in High-A. With Cade Gibson managing to get through five innings and allowing just two runs, the Cubs staff was under pressure to get things done, only for the bullpen to allow seven runs late. Both of the Cubs runs came in back-to-back innings, as it took four innings for either team to score. Jefferson Rojas opened the scoring with an RBI double in the fourth and Brennen Davis adding an RBI double in the fifth. Once the sixth inning rolled around, it was all Beloit as they pushed across four runs against Koen Moreno and ended the game with seven unanswered runs. Brett Roberts opened the scoring with a solo shot while an RBI fielders choice tied things up. That was followed by a pair of RBI singles from Johnny Olmstead and an RBI double from Yiddi Cappe as the Sky Carp took the lead for good 4-2. Beloit added three more runs later in the game to pull away, as South Bend's offensive struggles continued. Davis and Rojas had both RBIs and two of the three hits, with Brian Kalmer adding the other. MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 3 - KANNAPOLIS CANNONABALLERS 2 While offense was an issue all night for the Cubs system, they did manage to escape with a win as the Pelicans put an end to their long losing streak. Ty Johnson labored through 2 2/3 innings without allowing a run before the bullpen took over and tossed 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball. Both runs came against Luis Rujiano, and Jerel Vizcaino came through with three scoreless frames, allowing one hit and striking out four. Although the Pelicans haven't been able to get much length out of their starters, this win goes to the offense as they battled against Aldrin Batista, who struck out five in five innings, allowing just two runs (1 ER). Those two runs came in the bottom of the second, with an error leading to the game's first run and Frank Hernandez tacking on an RBI single to make things 2-0. The Pelicans' lead didn't last long as Rujiano gifted the Cannonballers their first run off a wild pitch, while Edrick Felix came through with an RBI single to tie things up 2-2. That score would hold until the bottom of the eighth when the Pelicans took the lead for good on the Christopher Paciolla double as they closed out the 3-2 win. Go-ahead RBI double by Christopher Paciolla! Pelicans lead 3-2!#MBPelicans | #YouHaveToSeeIt pic.twitter.com/gCuPwHcdXe Myrtle Beach had nine hits in the win, with Jacob Wetzel and Frank Hernandez leading the way with two. WE LIKE THAT.#MBPelicans | #YouHaveToSeeIt pic.twitter.com/k5M6d6wlyN
Kevin Alcántara (@Cubs' No. 5 prospect, MLB No. 58) recorded four hits for @smokiesbaseball, the 8th time he's hit that mark in his career: pic.twitter.com/lkQC4ljVJL
