Cubs Minor League News: Owen Caissie homers, Chris Flexen with a gem, BJ Murray walk-off |
Dustin Riese
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- 4 hours ago
This has not only been a tough week for the Cubs but also an interesting one, as virtually every game has had some twists and turns. Saturday was no different, as several games were filled with endless drama, leading to a 2-2 record for the night.
What a difference 24 hours makes. After watching both offenses put on a show on Friday, it was all about the pitching on Saturday as the Cubs and Saints scored one run. Fortunately, that run went to the Cubs as they took care of business 1-0. It's starting to become the norm for Chris Flexen to turn in quality outings, and this was another one of those starts. After going six shutout innings and allowing two hits, Flexen has lowered his ERA to 0.40 for the season. He walked one and struck out seven before handing things over to Tom Cosgrove, Tyson Miller, and Brandon Hughes. Facing off against Flexen was Minnesota Twins Ace Paolo Lopez, who is out on a rehab assignment. Lopez was nearly as good, going 4 2/3 and allowing one run, which came from an Owen Caissie homer in the fifth. CAISSIE CRUSHER That was the only run anyone would need as the Cubs took care of business 1-0. Jonathon Long, Caissie, and Moises Ballesteros (2) provided the four hits for the Cubs. WHAT A GAME pic.twitter.com/xS4TbkcjHe WHAT A THROW BY OWEN CAISSIE TO END THE GAME AND GET THE WIN! pic.twitter.com/p30wDl2t0l
Although this week was an exciting week with the Smokies opening up their brand new facility, it took until Saturday for the real fireworks to happen. It took some late heroics to get it done as BJ Murray Jr came through with a game-tying homer in the seventh and followed that up with a two-run walk-off single in the ninth to give the Smokies the 5-4 win. Sam Armstrong took the ball for Knoxville, and although he only made it four innings, it was four solid innings. He walked two, struck out three, and allowed just two runs. After allowing a sacrifice fly in the second that gave the Lookouts the lead, the Jack Rogers double in the fourth gave the Lookouts the 2-0 lead and had the Smokies looking for answers. A big reason for that was the four shutout innings that TJ Sikkema put together as he handcuffed the Smokies offense. Once he left the game, the Smokies offense finally started to show signs of life as Murray Jr opened up a massive night with an RBI single to make this a 2-1 game through five. After Rogers added another RBI single in the sixth to push the lead back to two at 3-1, Ed Howard kept things close by using an RBI grounder to make this a 3-2 game. One inning later, it was Murray Jr coming through again as he unloaded for a long solo shot to right, and just like that, it was a 3-3 game. Murray Jr. was just getting started as he was the offense in the game for the Smokies. Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth after Hector Rodriguez put the Lookouts in front in the top of the ninth, the Smokies had an opportunity to make things happen late as an infield single from Pedro Ramirez loaded the bases with no outs. That set the stage for Murray Jr, who delivered his third RBI hit of the game, using a single to score two and gave the Smokies a 5-4 walk-off win. HAVE A NIGHT BJ MURRAY!! #KnoxvilleSmokies pic.twitter.com/SFxMnFkpvi BJ Murray steals the show as the Smokies walk it off on a Tennessee Saturday night!!! | @zips3mincarwash
The Cubs can't buy a win on the road, falling to 0-8 away from home. This was one of those games where the Cubs had the lead most of the night, only to let one slip away in extras. Ryan Gallagher made another start for South Bend, but his struggles continued after allowing three runs in less than two innings. Gallagher was given an early 1-0 lead in the first after a run scored on a double play before another two runs came home in the second to put the Cubs in front 3-0 early. After that, it was all West Michigan until late, when the Whitecaps rallied for three in the bottom of the second. A pair of RBI singles from Abel Bastidas and Seth Stephenson were mixed with a Brett Callahan homer to make this a 3-3 game. Stephenson was just getting started as he added a second RBI single in the fourth to tie things back up after Andy Garriola went deep in the top of the fourth. Andy's at it again! Garriola with his second @hoosierlottery home run in as many days, and we're tied at 4 halfway home!#SBCubs pic.twitter.com/qgmU3vV86w With things still level in the eighth, it appeared as if the Ariel Armas homer would be enough to get the job done as he connected for a three-run shot to put the Cubs in front 7-4. Go ahead, Ari! What a time for your first @hoosierlottery home run in the pros!#SBCubs pic.twitter.com/NR1llI5McZ Once again, the Whitecaps had the answers, with Bastidas picking up an RBI single ahead of the Josue Briceno double, and just like that, we were tied again, 7-7. West Michigan closed out their four-run eighth inning with another Callahan single to put them in front late, as the Cubs had some work to do. Leave it to Garriola to come through as he added a massive RBI double in the top of the ninth inning to make this an 8-8 game and helped send this one to extras. When we needed him most, Andy Garriola came through!#SBCubs pic.twitter.com/P5XCITZL0o In the extra frame, the Cubs stayed hot as they struck first on the Rafael Morel sacrifice fly to put them back in front, 9-8. As was the case throughout the game, West Michigan not only had the answers with Stephenson tying things up with a single, but it was Callahan cashing in for the fourth time as he connected for the walk-off single to lift the Whitecaps to a 10-9 win. West Michigan walks it off in 10 on a single.
It was a rough go for the Pelicans on Saturday as they fell to the Greenjackets 9-1. What made this result so strange was that all nine of the Greenjackets' runs came in two innings in what was otherwise a well-pitched game. Making the start for the Birds was Yenrri Rojas, who lasted just one inning before handing things off to JP Wheat and the pen. Wheat was locked in early, keeping the Greenjackets off the board until the fourth before Augusta touched him up for four runs. Those runs came after Cameron Sisneros opened the scoring in the top of the fourth to put the Pelicans in front 1-0, as the Nick Montgomery long ball gave the Greenjackets the lead for good, 2-1. A scoreless game hates to see him coming. 🫢 They would add two more runs in that half of an inning as Myrtle Beach found themselves down 4-1. That score would hold until the sixth inning when Mac Guscette connected for a Grand Slam to break the game open at 8-1 as part of a five-run inning. A John Gil RBI groundout would be the final run of the day for either side as the Birds took one on the chin, 9-1.IOWA CUBS 1 - SAINT PAUL SAINTS 0
1-0 I-CUBS! pic.twitter.com/qpF8vuVBWy
KNOXVILLE SMOKIES 5 - CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS 4
Box Score: https://t.co/0syZHctKLI pic.twitter.com/5V3d0a4h4wWEST MICHIGAN WHITECAPS 10 - SOUTH BEND CUBS 9 (F/10)
The series finale begins at 2 PM tomorrow afternoon.#SBCubs pic.twitter.com/xpBmVYQ5LsAUGUSTA GREENJACKETS 9 - MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 1
For the second straight night, Cameron Sisneros drives home the first run of the game! pic.twitter.com/SOqaYUjofv
