Cubs Minor League News

Patrick Gorski - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - 5 hours ago

With the Chicago Cubs game against the Milwaukee Brewers postponed, the focus shifted to the Minor Leagues for the first time in what felt like forever. Coming off a winless night to begin the week on Tuesday, the Cubs' system bounced back in a big way on Wednesday, posting a 3-1 record for the evening.

IOWA CUBS 5 - NASHVILLE SOUNDS 4

What started as a rough start from Will Sanders and company turned into a great ball game as the Cubs found a way to pick up the win 5-4. Since being promoted to AAA, all Sanders has done is win ballgames, improving to 3-0 for the season.

He struggled with his command a bit in this one, walking four and striking out three across five innings, but with three runs allowed, he did enough to keep his team in the game. Sanders got off to a slow start, allowing two runs in the first inning, with one coming on an RBI forceout and the other coming from a Bobby Dalbec double that made things 2-0.

Iowa responded with a pair of runs in the third as Owen Caissie put the Cubs on the board with an RBI groundout, while Moises Ballesteros' single brought things back to even 2-2. Nashville continued to keep the pressure on in the bottom of the third as the Andrew Vaughn double put the Sounds back on top 3-2 and proved to be the final run Sanders would allow.

The back-and-forth affair continued into the fifth, where Ballesteros connected for the go-ahead RBI double that saw the Cubs retake the lead 4-3. Ben Cowles added an RBI double in the sixth to put Iowa on top 5-3, as that proved to be the winning run in the Cubs' 5-4 win. Cowles and Ballesteros led the way with two hits as Ballesteros also drove in three to pace the Cubs.

BILOXI SHUCKERS 6 - KNOXVILLE SMOKIES 2

The lone team to lose on Wednesday came in AA as the Smokies took one on the chin to the Shuckers 6-2. This was one of those games that was decided early, as the Shuckers scored five times in the first three innings to put the game away, including a four-run second to break things open.

Despite giving the Smokies five innings on the mound, Sam Armstrong took the loss as he was charged with five earned runs to fall to 1-5. Armstrong was given an early 1-0 lead with Corey Joyce picking up a first-inning RBI single, but things quickly went south after that as the right-hander surrendered all five of his runs in the second and third innings.

Following a wild pitch that tied things up, Bladimir Restituyo delivered the game-winning hit as his three-run shot put the Shuckers on top for good, 4-1. Luis Lara would follow suit with an RBI single in the fifth to make this a 5-1 game, which is all Tyson Hardin would need as the right-hander struck out five across six innings in his first career AA start.

Knoxville did their best to keep things close early, with BJ Murray Jr making this a 5-2 game with a solo homer in the fifth, but that was it as Biloxi added another run later in the game to close out a 6-2 win.

Knoxville was held to five hits in the loss.

SOUTH BEND CUBS 4 - LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS 2

Backed by a three-run fifth inning to take the lead, it was the Cubs getting back to their winning ways and doubled up the Captains 4-2. Tyler Schlaffer continued his strong run of starts to pick up another win as the right-hander went seven strong innings, allowing two runs on two hits with five strikeouts.

Both of those runs came in the third inning, with Christian Knapczyk opening the scoring with an RBI double before a wild pitch made this a 2-0 game. That was it in terms of the offense for the Captains, as they managed just one hit the rest of the way, as Schlaffer did his part to give the Cubs offense a chance.

Cameron Sisneros put the Cubs on the board with his first High-A RBI in the third, using an RBI double to make this a 2-1 game. That score would hold until the fifth when the Cubs' offense not only came to life, but erupted for three runs to close out the 4-2 win. Jefferson Rojas is credited with the game-winning hit as his RBI double put the Cubs on top for good, 3-2.

Sisneros added an RBI single later in the inning as part of his two-RBI night as the Cubs took care of business 4-2. Sisneros paced the Cubs with three hits and two RBIs and was one of four players to record multiple hits. James Triantos, Carter Trice, and Rojas also had two hits.

MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 8 - FAYETTEVILLE WOODPECKERS 7

Talk about a strange game down on the beach. Despite 15 total runs scored, all of the scoring came across four innings, as 14 of the 15 runs came in those innings. That included a three-run ninth inning by the Birds to lift them to an 8-7 walk-off win.

Will Frisch struggled in this one, allowing seven runs in just 3 2/3 innings, but it was the performance of Chris Clarke that stood out. Continuing his rehab train with a low-A appearance, Clarke was dominant on the mound as he didn't allow a single run in 5 1/3 innings, striking out seven and allowing two hits to pick up the win.

Trailing 1-0 after a second-inning Cesar Hernandez homer, the Pelicans' offense showed signs of life as they scored five times in the third inning to take a 5-1 lead. Angel Cepeda tied things up with a bases-loaded walk, but it was the bases-clearing triple by Yahil Melendez that was the big blow and put the Birds on top 4-1. Leonel Espinoza would add an RBI single as part of that massive inning, as it was all Pelicans early, 5-1.

Just as quickly as the Pelicans grabbed the lead, it was gone as the Woodpeckers responded with a six-run fourth to retake the lead. While the Jason Schiavone double and a bases-loaded hit by pitch only led to two runs, it was the Waner Luciano Grand Slam that was the big blow as the Woodpeckers were back in front 7-5.

That score would hold until the bottom of the ninth when the Pelicans had one last rally left in them. It all started with an Owen Ayers single that had the Pelicans within 7-6 and still threatening. Add in the Ty Southisene RBI forceout, and this game was tied as it was looking like extra innings would be on the horizon, only to have an errant pickoff throw lead to the winning run as the Pelicans walked off the Woodpeckers 8-7.

Melendez had the big day at the plate, picking up two hits and driving in three to lead the Birds. Espinoza and Jose Escobar also had two hits in the win.