Cubs Minor League News: Houser pitches gem, Franklin raking, Leeper impressive, more |
Sunday wasn't a good day for the Cubs and their system. Not only did the Chicago Cubs fall to the Toronto Blue Jays 1-0 on the big field, but then the Cubs Minor League system proceeded to go 0-4. That was on the heels of a 1-5 Saturday showing as the Cubs had a rough end to the week.
Despite having one of the most lethal offenses in Minor League baseball, wins are tough for this team right now, as their pitching hasn't made things easy. Today, it was a mix of both the pitching and a lack of offense as the Clippers took care of the Cubs 7-2. Adrian Houser deserved a much better fate in this one, as he gave the Cubs six impressive innings, allowing just one run and striking out three. Considering how Ryan Webb tossed 5 2/3 scoreless frames to go with four strikeouts, Houser was on the losing end of another strong start. The only run Houser would allow came on a third-inning sacrifice fly as the Clippers made that lead hold until the seventh. Whether it be Jack Neely, Cam Sanders, or Daniel Palencia, the Cubs bullpen struggled to get outs as they allowed six runs in three innings. Four of those runs scored in the seventh, with George Valera using a double to make things 2-0 and Myles Straw tacking on a single to extend their lead to 3-0. Columbus would tack on two more runs in the seventh to push their lead to 5-0 before stretching it to 7-0 in the ninth. Both of the Cubs run came in to score in the ninth, with Trayce Thompson putting an end to the shutout with an RBI single while an error aided the second run in the Cubs 7-2 loss. Thompson was responsible for one of the Cubs two hits as Moises Ballesteros joined him. Off to Toledo we go. pic.twitter.com/eH11sjAYTr
For the third time this week, the Barons gave the Smokies all they could handle as they managed to salvage a series split with a 4-1 win. All four of the Barons' runs came in the first two innings, with Matt Thompson serving three of those in the second. Michael Turner opened a three-run second inning with an RBI single to put the Barons in front 1-0, while a passed ball and a bases-loaded walk pushed their lead to 3-0. Birmingham would tack on their final run of the game in the fourth off an RBI groundout, which is all Jairo Iriarte needed to pick up the win. The right-hander gave the Barons six impressive innings, scattering just four hits and striking out five. Most importantly, he got through six innings without allowing a single run. It took nine innings for Tennessee to get on the scoreboard as the Haydn McGeary sacrifice fly ended the shutout in a 4-1 Barons win. The Smokies picked up six hits in the loss, with Christian Franklin responsible for three of those hits. Tennessee also saw right-hander Ben Leeper continue his rehab by striking out three in another scoreless outing. We're back home on Tuesday. | @zips3mincarwash
As was the case for most of the Cubs affiliates on Sunday, the offense was tough to come by. The Cubs scored just one run in their 4-1 loss. Nick Hull took the ball for the Cubs, and despite allowing two runs in three innings, he was saddled with the loss, as the Cubs' offense couldn't get anything done. Both runs off Hull came in the second inning off the Poncho Ruiz single, as the Kernels opened up a 2-0 lead. Had they not scored the rest of the way, those runs would've been enough, as it goes down as the game-winner in this one. Cedar Rapids added two runs later in the game off a wild pitch and error to push their lead to 4-0. The lone run for the Cubs came in the eighth inning as the Jacob Wetzel single put an end to the shutout in what was a 4-1 loss. Wetzel was one of five players who grabbed a hit in the loss, with Cristian Hernandez leading the Cubs with two hits. Fought til the end. pic.twitter.com/jHaTnl0YBg
After playing their way back into the playoff picture on the strength of a massive three-week hot stretch, the Pelicans have cooled off. It now looks like they will miss the postseason for the first time since 2021. Having only one game last week didn't help, as the Pelicans struggled in a 6-4 loss. For the first time since making his Low-A debut, JP Wheat started to show some promise on the mound as he allowed just one run in three innings. That run came on an Austin Charles first-inning single, but with Carter Trice tacking on a sacrifice fly in the second inning to tie things up, Wheat was able to settle for a no-decision. Sacrifice by Trice!#MBPelicans | #YouHaveToSeeIt pic.twitter.com/E4iRPyiovt His two walks and four strikeouts were also encouraging signs, as command has been an issue for him this season. With things still tied 1-1 entering the sixth, the Fireflies' offense put the game away. They pushed across three runs to take a 4-1 lead. Carter Frederick and Callan Moss delivered a pair of RBI singles in that inning, with an RBI groundout leading to the fourth run. Looking to keep things close in the bottom of the sixth, Owen Ayers cashed in with an RBI single to pull the Birds within 4-2. RBI single for Owen Ayers!#MBPelicans | #YouHaveToSeeIt pic.twitter.com/roXaj0fVyL That was as close as they would get as the Fireflies tacked on two more runs on the Charles RBI double to put the Fireflies in front 6-2. Myrtle Beach did manage to keep things close late as they tacked on a pair of runs in the ninth to pull within 6-4. Jose Escobar added the first of those runs with his first homer of the season, with Drew Bowser following suit with a solo shot to close out the scoring in the 6-4 Fireflies win. First homerun for Jose Escobar as a Pelican!!#MBPelicans | #YouHaveToSeeIt pic.twitter.com/UkjIYWX4cH Bowser Bomb!! 💣#MBPelicans | #YouHaveToSeeIt pic.twitter.com/xmwhq4UPzU Escobar was one of two players to record multiple hits as Ludwing Espinoza joined him. On the road against Charleston next week.#MBPelicans | #YouHaveToSeeIt pic.twitter.com/pCWG8zil6xCOLUMBUS CLIPPERS 7 - IOWA CUBS 2
BIRMINGHAM BARONS 4 - TENNESSEE SMOKIES 1
Box Score: https://t.co/4XkFk0fIlY pic.twitter.com/okzkHPRcClCEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 4 - SOUTH BEND CUBS 1
COLUMBIA FIREFLIES 6 - MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 4
