Cubs Minor League News: Grand slams, Late rallies, and Streaking South Bend

Jerry Lai - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 2 hours ago

Another day and another full slate of Minor League action as the Cubs Minor League system was busy on Thursday night. While some of the results weren't what the Cubs were hoping for, they at least brought more excitement than the major league team as they finished the night with a strong 3-3 showing.

WORCESTER RED SOX 13 - IOWA CUBS 10

If you are a fan of offense, then this was the place to be as both the Red Sox and Cubs put on an offensive fireworks display. Even with Owen Caissie now in the majors, the Cubs' offense did more than enough to win this game, battling back from a huge deficit to make things interesting late, 13-10.

Will Sanders was on the hook for his first loss in AAA in this one, as this was his worst start of the season. Sure, Sanders walked four and struck out nine in 3 2/3, but with eight runs allowed, he made things difficult for the Cubs and their offense. Four of those runs came in the first as David Hamilton opened the game with a solo homer, only to have Nate Eaton and Mikey Romero tack on a pair of singles to make this a 4-0 game.

The Cubs did their best to battle back in the bottom of the first with Chase Strumpf picking up a single off the third base bag, but with Krisitan Campbell going deep in the second, it was the Cubs trailing 6-1. Despite the massive early deficit, Iowa continued to battle back with James Triantos picking up an RBI forceout in the third only to have the Kevin Alcantara double pull Iowa within 6-3 in the third.

Worcester continued to keep the pressure on in the fourth with Romero tacking on another RBI single to push the lead to 8-3, only to have Jhostynxon Garcia deliver his 17th homer in the sixth, stretching the lead to 9-3. Following a pair of seventh-inning RBI singles from Jonathon Long and Strumpf to make this a 9-5 game, it was a pair of eighth-inning homers from Eaton and Trayce Thompson that broke the game open and had the Cubs facing a 13-5 deficit late.

Trailing by eight and down to their final outs, the Iowa offense continued to battle back as they started to make things interesting late. Alcantara started the massive rally with a solo shot, only to have a Parker Chavers groundout and a wild pitch lead to two more runs to make this a 13-8 game.

Iowa pulled within 13-10 on a Triantos single before falling by that score as the Cubs' ninth-inning rally came up short. Triantos, Alcantara, and Strumpf paced the Cubs with two hits and combined for seven of the 10 RBIs.

KNOXVILLE SMOKIES 8 - ROCKET CITY TRASH PANDAS 6

It may have taken three games for the Smokies to get some runs in this series, but this was a game where runs came early and often. Backed by a five-run first and then a three-run third, all eight of the Smokies' runs came in the first three innings as they made that hold in what was an 8-6 win.

With Walker Powell taking the ball for Knoxville, the Smokies offense took it upon themselves to give him plenty of support as a bases-loaded walk from Reivaj Garcia put the Smokies on top for good, 1-0. That was only the start of what was a five-run first inning as Pablo Aliendo delivered the big blow with a Grand Slam to make this a 5-0 game.

Rocket City managed to keep things close in the early going, using an Oscar Colas homer in the bottom of the first to pull within 5-2. Then came the third inning, where both offenses continued to do damage, with the Smokies scoring three more times to open up an 8-2 lead. All it took to open the floodgates was an error, as that was followed by the Carter Trice sacrifice fly and a Corey Joyce walk, as it was all Smokies.

As good as Powell has been since starting his rehab, Powell wasn't at his best in this one as he limped through three innings, allowing five runs. Three runs came immediately after the Smokies added three runs as another Colas homer made this an 8-4 game, only to have the Korey Holland blast pull the Trash Pandas within 8-5.

Despite not scoring another run from the fourth inning on, the Smokies pen did their job with Tyler Santana setting the tone with 2 2/3 strong innings, allowing just a Holland homer in the fifth to make this an 8-6 game before winning by that score. Knoxville had six hits in the win, with Aliendo leading the way with two hits and four RBIs.

SOUTH BEND CUBS 6 - BELOIT SKY CARP 2

Look out, Midwest League, here come the Cubs as the South Bend Cubs remain the hottest team in the Midwest League. Beloit is finding that out firsthand this week as another strong performance across the board gave the Cubs a 6-2 win.

This time, it was Kevin Valdez earning the win, tossing 5 1/3 innings of one-run baseball. He walked three and struck out three as his command was an issue at times. With Luke Lashutka striking out four across four scoreless frames, the Cubs found themselves down 1-0 as a fourth-inning sacrifice fly gave the Sky Carp the lead.

It was in the fifth when the Cubs began to battle back as Brian Kalmer's homer put the Cubs on the board 1-1. Then came the sixth when the Cubs offense was in full swing as they tacked on five more runs to open up a commanding 6-1 lead. Once again, it was Ariel Armas coming through with a massive hit as his two-run Triple proved to be the game-winning hit with the Cubs in front 3-1.

A Rafael Morel double added two more runs, with Kalmer capping off the big inning with a single to make this a 6-1 Cubs lead. Taking over for Valdez in the sixth was Yency Almonte, as he continues to rehab from offseason shoulder surgery. Almonte was far from perfect, allowing a solo shot to Jesus Hernandez, but that was it as the Cubs win again 6-2. Armas and Kalmer paced the Cubs with two hits and two RBIs.

COLUMBIA FIREFLIES 7 - MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 2

It has been a long time since the Pelicans dropped two games in a row, but that happened on Thursday as the Fireflies opened an early lead and never looked back. Coming off his best start of the season, Nazier Mule wasn't sharp, walking four and striking three across five innings. He was also charged with four runs as his up-and-down season continues.

Mule fell behind early as a first-inning error led to the game's first run before a third-inning sacrifice fly and a Jose Cerice single pushed the Fireflies' lead to 3-0. That would be all they would need as Kendry Chourio was lights out on the mound, striking out four across five no-hit innings. Trailing 4-0 in the sixth, the Fireflies continued to do damage as a bases-loaded walk pushed the lead to 5-0 with Hyunchan Um adding a two-run shot in the seventh, extending the lead to 7-0.

It took eight innings for the Pelicans to finally break through as Christian Olivo's two-run blast put an end to the shutout and made this a 7-2 game. That was it for the offense as the Pelicans are facing adversity for the first time in a while. Olivo was responsible for two of the team's three hits, with Matt Halbach adding the other.