Cubs Minor League News: Rookie League Monday |
Dustin Riese
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- 1 day ago
Monday marked the start of a new week and, of course, a new week of Minor League action. As is the case more often than not, Monday is all about the Rookie Leagues as they take center stage for what we like to call Rookie League Monday around here, and it was the Cubs kicking their week off in style by posting their first unbeaten Rookie League showing of the season.
Things have gotten off to a very good start for the DSL Blue Squad, as they have won four of their first six games. That includes a 5-3 win on Monday against the Brewers, as the Cubs started fast and let their pitching take care of the rest. Erick Hernandez was a big reason for that, as he allowed just one run across 3 2/3 innings with five strikeouts. Hernandez was backed by an offense that scored two runs in the third, with Luis Sanchez starting things off with an RBI single ahead of the Darlyn De Leon sacrifice fly that put the Cubs in front 2-0, and they would never look back. The Brewers not only responded with a Juan Martinez triple in the fourth to pull within one, but it was the Romano Donato homer that made this a 2-2 game in the fifth. Speaking of homers, Robin Ortiz delivered the big fly as his two-run shot in the sixth proved to be the game-winning hit and had the Cubs in front 4-2. The Brewers would pull within one on an error later in the game, but that was as close as they got as the Cubs tacked on a late run off a wild pitch to win 5-3. Ortiz paced the Cubs with two hits and two RBIs in the win.
Six games into the DSL season, and the DSL Red squad entered Monday's game in search of their first win. Although it didn't come easy, it was the Cubs picking up their first win as they handed the Royals a 7-6 walk-off loss in 12 innings. When you look at the Cubs pitching, Luis Ghisays had a day as the right hander set the tone. Ghisays not only lasted four innings, allowing two hits, but also an unearned run, as his ERA is 2.25 for the season. He walked two and struck out four in what was otherwise a shaky day pitching-wise. The only run he allowed came off a second-inning error, but it was the Cubs finding a way to tie things up later in the inning on a Jeury Ramirez triple. That score would hold until the fifth, and the moment Ghisays was out of the game, it was the Royals' offense that exploded as they struck for three runs in the fifth to open a 4-1 lead. All those runs came on one swing, with Alan Angulo clearing the bases with a bases-loaded triple, and just like that, the Royals were in front by three. Add in an Omar Mejia double in the seventh, and the Cubs found themselves down 5-1 late and in desperate need of a rally. It was in the eighth when that rally came as the Cubs offense not only came to life, but scored five times to erase what was a four-run deficit and turned it into a 6-5 Cubs lead. Diego Gonzalez got the party started with a two-run double, but it was Ramirez finishing things off with how he started as his three-run blast put the Cubs back in front. Just as quickly as the Cubs grabbed the lead, it was gone as Juan Garcia picked up a massive RBI single in the ninth to tie things up 6-6 and send the game into extras. While neither team was able to do anything in the first couple of innings, it was the Cubs coming through late as the Juan Cabada single lifted the Cubs to a 7-6 walk-off win in 12 innings. Cabada was one of four players to register two hits, joining Ramirez, Diego Gonzalez, and Luis Leon. Ramirez also paced the Cubs in RBIs as he delivered a game-high four RBIs in the win.
Although the Cubs are still struggling in the standings at 7-18, they are one of the hottest teams in the ACL over the past week, with wins piling up. This was one of those games where the Cubs' pitching stole the show, as a pair of two-run innings was all the Cubs' arms would need in a 4-1 win. Of all the games taking place on Monday, all eyes were on this one as Shota Imanaga took to the mound for the first time since his hamstring injury. Although he only lasted two innings, Imanaga looked good, striking out four in what was the first of several rehab starts. He gave way to Ronny Lopez, who went the final five innings, allowing one run and striking out four. Entering the fourth with a scoreless tie, it was the Cubs putting an end to that as the Jan Luis Reyes triple put the Cubs on top 2-0 and proved to be the game-winning hit. Those were also the only runs Jhon Medina would allow as he struck out five across four-plus solid innings. Still holding their 2-0 lead in the sixth, it was the Henniel Alcala double that broke the game open to extend the Cubs lead to 4-0. The Rockies managed to score off Lopez in the bottom of the sixth on an Aldalay Kolokie single, but it wasn't enough to top the Cubs 4-1. The Cubs had just five hits in the game, with Derik Alcantara leading the way with two. #ArizonaComplexLeague; 05-09-2025DSL BLUE CUBS 5 - DSL BREWERS 3
DSL CUBS RED 7 - DSL ROYALS 6 (F/12)
ACL CUBS 4 - ACL ROCKIES 1
A great day to be a #Cubs fan. Not only did #ShotaImanaga start the game and looked good in the 1st inning (in for the 2nd). #FernandoCruz (SS) made his stateside professional debut.@MiLB @Cubs @realcubsinsider @brendan_cubs @BleacherNation pic.twitter.com/Ly4er3FrOY
