Cubs Minor League News: Ramirez and Pagan raking, Pertuz homers, Kipp impressive, more |
For the second consecutive night, the Cubs Minor League system was cut in half as the two teams who had off on Monday took to the diamond last night for their series opener. Barring any weather issues this week, it will be a full slate of games the rest of the way, as this is the final week where all four of the Cubs affiliates will be in action.
Similar to how things went on Monday with the Cubs pulling out a win against Saint Paul, their system did manage to win a game as the Tennessee Smokies got back to their winning ways and took care of business. However, South Bend had a shot to win their game only to let it get away late as the Cubs system settled for a 1-1 split.
With just 12 games remaining in the regular season and a spot already clinched in the postseason, the Smokies' focus is to remain healthy and work out all the kinks. Although health has been an issue at times this season, they have managed to post the best record in the Southern League. Tuesday's game was a bit of an interesting one, as all of the runs came after the sixth inning. That included a four-run seventh inning from Tennessee, which was the difference as the Smokies took care of business again 5-2. For the first time in a long time, Chris Kachmar was unable to earn a decision as he was pulled after just 4 2/3. Kachmar pitched well enough at times as he didn't allow a run, but with seven hits allowed and four walks, he wasn't sharp. Joe Nahas took over from there, working 2 2/3 solid innings before Zac Leigh and Blake Whitney closed it out. For the Braves, Landon Harper put the team on his back as he shut the Smokies offense out through six innings, walking one and striking out three. With things tied 0-0 entering the seventh, Tennessee went to work offensively and broke the game open in a big way. A bases-loaded walk to Casey Opitz opened the scoring and put the Smokies on top for good, 1-0, but the Brett Bateman single will go down as the winning hit as he pushed the Smokies lead to 3-0. BJ Murray Jr. added another RBI single in that inning to make this a 4-0 game, and they never looked back. Mississippi did a great job battling back over the next two innings, with Ethan Workinger using an RBI double to put the Braves on the board in the seventh ahead of the eighth inning single from Keshawn Ogans to make this a 4-2 game. That was as close as they would get as Fabian Pertuz connected for a solo shot in the ninth to close out the 5-2 win. Bateman and Murray Jr. paced the Smokies with four hits and three runs driven in. That's a dub. | @zips3mincarwash
What started as a promising game with the Cubs in front 4-1 turned sour quickly as Fort Wayne scored three times in the seventh before forcing extras late. They would then score in each of the two extra innings to take the lead and held on for the 6-5 win. With Grant Kipp making the start, South Bend was trying to win one for the Kipper, who has had an up-and-down season. Kipp only lasted four innings, but with one run allowed and seven punchouts, he was about as good as he has been at any point this year. Chase Watkins and a bevy of relievers took over from there as the Cubs' long season continued. Trailing 1-0 in the third after Devin Ortiz brought home the game's first run, the Cubs responded as a Pedro Ramirez triple tied things up before he came in to score on a wild pitch to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead. Those were the only runs Isaiah Lowe would allow as he struck out four and surrendered eight hits across five innings. Still holding a 2-1 lead in the sixth, Ramirez came through again as his RBI double brought home two more and pushed the Cubs lead to 4-1. However, the lead didn't last long, as Fort Wayne was about to go off on the Cubs pen. What started with an Ethan Salas double to make this a 4-2 game was capped by another Oritz single as Fort Wayne scored three times in the seventh to make this a 4-4 game and helped send this one to extras. In the extra frames, it was the Cubs striking first on an Ezequiel Pagan double in the top of the 10th only to have an RBI groundout in the bottom of the 10th make this a 5-5 game and kept things going. Fort Wayne would finish things off one inning later as the walk-off Tyler Robertson double lifted the Tin Caps to a 6-5 win. South Bend had 12 hits in the loss, with Ramirez leading the way with four hits and three RBIs. Pagan tacked on three hits to go with his RBI, while Ariel Armas added two. Battled tonight. pic.twitter.com/7YIHbHDyNuTENNESSEE SMOKIES 5 - MISSISSIPPI BRAVES 2
Box Score: https://t.co/qAkx9x7JGp#LastYearBestYear #NextStopWrigley #Cubs pic.twitter.com/dElKKobpbPFORT WAYNE TIN CAPS 6 - SOUTH BEND CUBS 5 (F/11)
