Cubs Minor League News

Jerry Lai - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - 7 hours ago

It was another day and another full slate of games, as the Cubs Minor League system was busy on Thursday. Overall, the results speak for themselves, as the Cubs went (2-4) on the day while several players continued their strong runs of play.

COLUMBUS CLIPPERS 6 - IOWA CUBS 5

Not only have the Cubs stumbled out of the gates to start the second half, but the way they have been losing makes it worse. One day after blowing a 6-0 lead to fall by a run, the Cubs found themselves in front late again, only to allow three runs in the ninth to fall 6-4.

Despite allowing three runs in five innings, Tommy Romero was locked in on the mound as the right-hander struck out a season-high eight batters. All of the runs he allowed came in the first four innings, with Jhonkensey Noel opening the scoring with an RBI double in the first before Christian Cairo's single in the second made this a 2-0 game.

The fast start for the Clippers continued into the fourth when Milan Tolentino touched them all, but that was it for their offense until late, as Keegan Thompson and most of the pen did a phenomenal job of keeping the Clippers' offense in check. Carlos Perez continues to be one of the hottest hitters in the game, and after he put Iowa on the board with a solo shot in the fourth, this was a brand-new game.

That 3-1 score would hold until the eighth when Moises Ballesteros pulled the Cubs within one with a sacrifice fly, only to have Perez come through yet again for his second homer of the night as Iowa took a 4-3 lead late. Hoping to close things out late, Riley Martin made the pitches, but Columbus did a great job of putting the ball in play as RBI doubles from Brayan Rocchio and Juan Brito led to three runs to put Columbus back in front before holding on for the 6-5 win.

With three more hits and three RBIs, Perez is up to .291 for the season and leads the entire Cubs organization with 16 homers while also driving in 48. Jonathan Long added two hits, as did Hayden Cantrelle in the loss.

KNOXVILLE SMOKIES 9 - BIRMINGHAM BARONS 3

The Smokies didn't take long to get back to their winning ways, taking care of business on Thursday. Sparked by a five-run first and a four-run third, the Smokies offense was humming as they made quick work of Birmingham 9-3.

Antonio Santos got the start for the Smokies, and despite allowing just two runs, he only lasted four innings for a no-decision. He walked two and struck out two as his ERA fell to 1.93. Santos was backed by some instant offense in the first as BJ Murray Jr put the Smokies on top for good with one swing as his three-run shot opened up a quick 3-0 lead. Felix Stevens would tack on an RBI single as part of the five-run first inning, with Jordan Nwogu tacking on a triple as it was all Smokies early.

Both of the runs charged to Santos came in the third, with Caden Conner getting Birmingham on the board with a single. Ryan Galanie added a sacrifice fly to make this a 5-2 game, but that was as close as things would get as the Smokies pushed across four more runs in the bottom of the inning to put the game away.

Stevens played a role in that with his two-run double, while Nwogu and and Pedro Ramirez capped off the scoring with a pair of RBI singles to put the Smokies on top 9-2 before winning 9-3. Nwogu had a great day at the plate, leading the Smokies with three hits and driving in two. Stevens added two hits and three RBIs in the win as he is happy to be back with the Smokies.

SOUTH BEND CUBS 5 - CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 0 (Suspended)

The only game that didn't go final came in Cedar Rapids, where the Cubs held a 5-0 lead before rain suspended the game in the third. South Bend couldn't have asked for a better start as Ariel Armas opened the scoring with an RBI single as part of a three-run first inning.

Cameron Sisneros had a double as part of that first, with Ivan Brethowr adding a sacrifice fly as the Cubs offense was off and running early. South Bend would go on to add two more runs in the third off a Rafael Morel double, which is where things will pick up on Friday as the Cubs look to continue their hot start to the second half.

Evan Aschenbeck will most likely be finished after tossing two scoreless frames to start his outing.

COLUMBIA FIREFLIES 3 - MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 2

In what was a fantastic pitching matchup throughout, it was the Fireflies coming away with the win as they walked off the Pelicans with a ninth-inning homer. The loss may be one thing, but it doesn't detract from the start that Yenri Rojas had as the right-hander was dialed in.

Rojas not only gave the Pelicans six innings but also did so by allowing just one run and striking out two, as his ERA now stands at 2.61 for the season. Rojas was given an early 1-0 lead when the Pelicans scored on a second-inning balk, only to have that score hold until the Leonel Espinoza groundout made this a 2-0 game in the fifth.

That would be all the offense for the Pelicans, but considering how Rojas was pitching, it was looking like one run would be enough. With Hyungchan Um putting an end to the shutout with a sixth inning RBI single, it was the Fireflies' turn to rally as they tied things up in the seventh.

Columbia then found a way to cap off their comeback bid in the ninth as Brennon McNair delivered the walkoff homer to give the Fireflies a 3-2 win. Matt Halbach paced the Pelicans with two hits as Myrtle Beach had seven hits in the loss.

ACL ROCKIES 3 - ACL CUBS 1

For the second time in as many starts, Brandon Birdsell was dealing, but has nothing to show for it as the Rockies topped the Cubs 3-1. The right-hander is continuing to rehab from a Spring shoulder injury and gave the Cubs four strong innings of one-run, two-strikeout baseball, as his ERA is 1.50.

Birdsell gave way to Jake Brentz, whom the Cubs traded for a week ago, who allowed a run in one inning as he wasn't as sharp. The lone run charged to Birdsell came in the third when Wilder Dalis connected for an RBI double to put the Rockies on top 1-0. They would add a run in the fifth off a Dalis single, which would be all they would need, as Alison Zacarias was locked in through five shutout innings.

It took six innings for the Cubs to scratch across a run, with Ludwing Espinoza delivering an RBI groundout to make this a 2-1 game. That was it for the Cubs and their offense as the Rockies closed out the scoring in the seventh on a Roldy Brito single.

DSL CUBS BLUE 2 - DSL ORIOLES 0: Despite being outhit 3-2, the Cubs relied on their pitching as they topped the Orioles 2-0. Although Ariel Ramos only lasted three innings, it was three shutout innings as his ERA sits at 2.08 for the season.

Neither one of the Cubs came from a hit as Juan Tomas pushed home the game-winning run in the third inning off a bases-loaded walk. Josias Ramirez added the game's final run off a sacrifice fly in the fifth as the Cubs took care of business 2-0. Tomas was one of two players to record a hit, joining Luis Sanchez.

DSL GIANTS 8 - DSL CUBS RED 6

While one DSL team was using its pitching to secure a win, the other was forced to rely on its offense, as DSL Red had enjoyed plenty of offensive success. The only problem was watching their pitching serve up a pair of four-run frames, as that is all the Giants needed to secure the win.

It took three innings for either side to score as the Cubs opened the scoring on a pair of miscues to take a 2-0 lead. The first was a bases-loaded hit by a pitch to Juan Cabada, while an Ivan Cespedes walk pushed the lead to 2-0. The Giants didn't need to wait long to respond as they picked up their first of two four-run frames in the bottom of the third to grab the 4-2 lead.

Vinicius Dos Santos put the Giants on the board with a single, while doubles from Yosneiker Rivas and Evan Estevez made this a 4-2 Giants lead. Not only did the Cubs battle back with a Cabada single in the fourth, but they pushed across two more runs in the fifth off a bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch to retake a 5-4 lead.

Saul Ramirez kept the train moving for the Cubs in the sixth as his sacrifice fly was the final run of the day for the Cubs with DSL Blue in front 6-4. As was the case the last time the Cubs held a two-run lead, it was the Giants offense coming through in the bottom of the sixth with Ricardo Crespo picking up a single to make this a 6-5 game.

After a wild pitch tied things up 6-6, Rivas delivered the knockout blow as his RBI single pushed home the winning run and had the Giants on top 7-6. An additional run wound up scoring on that play, off an error, as the Giants picked up the 8-6 win. Cabada was responsible for two of the four hits and two RBIs to lead the way.