Cubs Minor League News: Rookie League Action

Patrick Gorski - USA Today Sports

by Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - Wed Jul 17 07:30:08 GMT-05:00 2024

As we continue through the All-Star Break, with the All-Star game set to take place tonight, the Focus continues to be on the Cubs Rookie League teams as well as some Independent Baseball. Today was a little bit quieter on the diamond as both DSL teams took the field, the only teams in the Cubs system seeing action.

Weather once again played a factor in one of those games, as only one game went final during the day. Fortunately, the Cubs were on the winning side of that game, going 1-0 on the day with one Suspended contest.

DSL CUBS RED 6 - DSL ORIOLES 5 (F/8)

Coming off a gut-wrenching loss to DSL Blue on Monday, DSL Red was back on the diamond Tuesday as their busy week of action continues. Once again, this game went right down to the wire as they found a way to get it done as they walked off the Orioles 6-5.

All of the Orioles offense came in the first three innings as they came out swinging against Frailin Alejo who allowed five runs in two innings. Take him out of the equation, and the Cubs' pitching was lights out as they surrendered just three hits and the rest of the way to go with seven punchouts. Justin Florentino was part of that group as he lowered his ERA to 1.57 with another solid performance.

A two-run Hector Campusano double got the scoring started for the Orioles in the first before they extended their lead to 4-1 in the second off a pair of RBI doubles from Breiny Ramirez and Steven Martinez. Those doubles came after an Enyel Rosario grounder put the Cubs on the board, but with DSL Red trailing 5-1 in the third following another RBI from Christian Astudillo, things weren't looking good for the Cubs.

That was until the bottom of the fourth when a two-run Ronnyel Espinoza triple jump-started the Cubs offense and pulled them to within 5-3. That score would hold until the seventh as the Cubs continued to battle back with a Cesar Lugo single tying things up 5-5 and forcing extras. The Cubs capped off their comeback bid in the eighth as Jesus Rodriguez delivered a walk-off RBI double to lift the Cubs 6-5.

Rodriguez and Lugo led the Cubs with two hits, and Lugo picked up two RBIs. Espinoza also grabbed two RBIs in the win for Red as they bounced back from a tough loss on Monday.

DSL ROYALS 2 - DSL CUBS BLUE 1 (Suspended in the third)

It has been a tough summer in the DSL weather-wise, which continued on Tuesday with the Cubs and Royals getting suspended in the third. That came after a pair of miscues led to two second-inning runs for the Royals as they opened up a 2-0 lead.

Those errors were only part of the issue, as Geovanny Vasquez struggled with his command but still managed to work around trouble. Opposing him was Damian Jimenez, who was dialed in through three innings, allowing just one run and striking out three. That run came in the third off the Ludwing Espinoza single, and that is where things will resume.

CHICAGO DOGS 4 - MILWAUKEE MILKMEN 3 (F/10)

Coming off an 8-5 extra-inning loss earlier in the day from their suspended game, the Dogs were looking to even things up in their series with the Milkman. What was looking to be a bounce-back win turned into a nightmare late as the Milkman rallied in the ninth to score three times and forced extras.

Kenny Serwa was on a mission on the mound as he gave the Dogs one of their season's best performances. Serwa went eight innings, scattering three hits and striking out 11.

Kenny Serwa ends his 8th scoreless inning with his 11th strikeout of the game!

📺 https://t.co/ZyIk7dOVpK | 🌭#NoKetchup pic.twitter.com/oX22OHePrK
— Chicago Dogs (@TheChicagoDogs) July 16, 2024

He was backed by some instant offense in the first inning as the Brantley Bell two-run homer gave the Dogs an early 2-0 lead.

Brantley Bell launches a ball over the left field wall to put the Dogs up 2-0 in the first!🔥

📺 https://t.co/ZyIk7dPtfi | 🌭#NoKetchup pic.twitter.com/Ubcu2EAJll
— Chicago Dogs (@TheChicagoDogs) July 16, 2024

That would be all the offense for them until late, as Ryley Widdell was equally as good, going six innings and striking out four to go with those two runs allowed. After eight shutout innings, Serwa was lifted in the ninth for Cal Coughlin looked to lock things down. Erik Ostberg did his best to keep things close with a solo shot in the ninth as the Milkmen were within 2-1.

That homer seemed to awaken the Milkmen offense as Coughlin walked the next batter he faced before a double had a pair of runners in scoring position and one out. Following another pitching change, the Milkmen managed to tie things up off an Abdiel Layer sacrifice fly before taking the lead on the Oscar Santos double to cap off a three-run ninth with Milwaukee in front 3-2.

Just when you thought this one was over and that the Dogs would lose again, Dusty Stroup came through with his biggest hit of the day as his third hit left the yard to make things even again, 3-3, and once again, this game was ticketed for extras. This time, the Dogs got the last laugh as the Johnni Turbo sacrifice fly brought home the winning run in the Dogs 4-3 walk-off win.