Cubs Minor League News: Vazquez with two homers, Caissie crushes homer, Kilian impressive
Photo courtesy: I-Cubs

Cubs Minor League News: Vazquez with two homers, Caissie crushes homer, Kilian impressive
by - Senior Writer - Fri Aug 16 10:43:38 GMT-04:00 2024

Talk about a busy night on the diamond for the Cubs. Not only were all six teams in action, but there were multiple doubleheaders leading to eight total games of action. For the most part, things were very good for the Cubs and their system as they posted their first winning record of the week by going 5-3.

COLUMBUS CLIPPERS 9 - IOWA CUBS 5 (Game 1)

Thursday was an important day for the Iowa Cubs. Not only was this their first game of the weekend after a wet field postponed their first two games, but both ends of the doubleheader saw a pair of pitchers working their way back to the bigs. Game one featured left-hander Jordan Wicks making his second start with hopes of returning to the Cubs roster by September.

If that is the case, Wicks has a lot of work to do as he was roughed up for a second straight outing and allowed four runs in two innings of work. Both runs came in the second inning off the Raynel Delgado single to give the Clippers an early 2-0 lead. Iowa didn't waste any time tying things up as Owen Caissie and Luis Vazquez connected for a pair of solo homers in the bottom of the inning to pull even 2-2, but with those being the only runs Joey Cantillo would allow, this was the long day for the Cubs.

It was the third inning when the Clippers put the game away. They scored three times to take a 5-2 lead, and Kyle Manzardo Homer got things started. Bryan Lavastida picked up an RBI double to make things 4-2 with the Myles Straw single opening up a 5-2 lead. Straw was just getting started as he added a two-run double in the sixth after a Juan Brito homer in the fourth as it was all Columbus 8-2.

Trailing 9-2 in the seventh, the Cubs did a great job trying to battle back, with Vazquez connecting for his second homer of the game of what was a three-run inning. Chase Strumpf tacked on an RBI double later in the inning before coming home on the James Triantos sacrifice fly to make things 9-5 before falling by that score.

Vazquez and Caissie combined for four of the team's seven hits in the game, with three homers and three RBIs.

IOWA CUBS 5 - COLUMBUS CLIPPERS 1 (GAME 2)

Looking for a better result in game two, the Cubs turned to Caleb Kilian on the mound as he continues his rehab assignment. Kilian didn't quite qualify for the win, going 4 2/3, but with only one run allowed and six strikeouts, he seems ready to deliver on the big stage.

The only run Kilian would allow came in the second inning as former Iowa Cubs catcher Dom Nunez cashed in with an RBI single to put the Clippers in front 1-0. It was a lead that would hold until the fifth inning as Doug Nikhazy was dominant through four innings before allowing five runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Triantos managed to tie things up and started the scoring with an RBI single, but the Matt Shaw single put the Cubs in front for good 3-1.

Iowa kept the pressure on as Trayce Thompson got in on the fun with an RBI double to close out the scoring with the Cubs winning 5-1.

Shaw led the Cubs with two hits in the win, while combination of Keegan Thompson and Josh Staumont combined to toss 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

TENNESSEE SMOKIES 8 - BIRMINGHAM BARONS 6 (F/11)

Looking to avoid a rare 0-3 start to the week, the Smokies turned to Antonio Santos who has been very good this season. The hard-throwing right-hander continued to deliver with six strikeouts in 4 2/3, but after allowing four runs, he had his first start without a decision this season.

Considering how quickly the Smokies started, it was a rather disappointing day as the Smokies opened up a 4-0 lead two innings in. Pablo Aliendo started the scoring with an RBI single in the first, only to have their offense tack on three additional runs in the second. Christian Franklin and Luis Verdugo drove in two of those runs off RBI singles with Jonathon Long adding a double to make this a 4-0 game.

Those were the only runs the Smokies offense would score in regulation, as the Barons did a great job of battling back. That all started with a Nick Podkul homer in the fourth to pull the Barons within 4-1, but with one swing off the bat of Wilfred Veras in the fifth, this game was tied as he took Santos deep for the three-run shot to make things 4-4. Those were also the only runs of regulation for the Barons as Daniel Massaki, and Zac Leigh came in to toss a pair of scoreless outings and helped get the game to extras.

In those extra frames, both offenses came to life as Aliendo put the Smokies in front 5-4 with a single in the 10th only to have Mario Camilletti answer with a double. The very next inning was the same story as Fabian Pertuz put the Smokies in front with another single, only to have Jacob Gonzalez answer with one of his own.

Playing past the 11th inning for the first time this season, the Smokies wanted to make this a game they wouldn't forget as the Luis Verdugo double brought home the winning runs as the Smokies picked up the 8-6 win.

Verdugo was one of four Smokies with multiple hits, joining Franklin, Aliendo, and Ezequiel Pagon while also leading the way with three RBIs.

SOUTH BEND CUBS 6 - CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 4

After being the only full-season team that won on Wednesday, the Cubs were back on Thursday as they opened up a comfortable lead only to hold them off. Will Sanders made the start for the Cubs and delivered what could've been his best start of the season.

Sanders gave the Cubs six impressive innings, allowing two runs (1ER) while striking out eight before handing things off to the pen. This was a scoreless game until the third inning when Jacob Wetzel opened the scoring with a bases-loaded hit by pitch only to have the Jordan Nwogu single make things 2-0.

After Cedar Rapids pulled within 2-1 in the fourth, the Cubs continued to flex their muscles as Ethan Hearn left the yard in the fifth to extend the lead to 3-1 while Andy Garriola used an RBI double to put the Cubs in front 4-1. Cedar Rapids continued to battle back in the bottom of the sixth, with Rubel Cespedes using a single to make things 4-2.

The Cubs continued to take charge in the top half of the seventh with an RBI fielder's choice and a passed ball leading to two more runs as they took a 6-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh. In that inning, Cedar Rapids began to make things interesting as the Jose Salas triple pulled the Kernels within 6-3 before he came in to score on a bases-loaded walk, making this a 6-4 game.

Those would be the game's final runs for either side as the Cubs finished things off for the win. Hearn has been one of the hottest hitters in the Cubs lineup, which continued with another multi-hit game. Nwogu and Ed Howard also got in on the multi-hit binge as the Cubs banged out 10 hits in the win.

MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 8 - COLUMBIA FIREFLIES 0

Talk about setting the tone early in this one. Backed by a five-run second inning to open up a 5-0 lead, the Pelicans never looked back as they delivered an 8-0 shutout win. It was their first win in nearly two weeks, as they had minimal game action last week due to the weather.

Juan Bello was on the bump for the Pelicans, and he delivered an outstanding start. He gave the Birds six shutout innings, allowing just two hits and striking out three, while the Pelicans' pitching allowed just three hits in the game.

This was an offense that was struggling to score entering the game, but you wouldn't have guessed that based on their second-inning outburst. Drew Bowser started the scoring with an RBI to bring home the winning run, while the Dilan Granadillo single doubled the Pelicans lead 2-0. The big blow of that inning, and arguably the game, came off the bat of the rookie Ivan Brethowr, who connected for his first professional homer to give Myrtle Beach a 5-0 lead.

That would be all the offense they would need, but the Pelicans weren't done yet as an Alfonsin Rosario double made things 6-0 in the fourth before he added an RBI single later in the game to push the lead to 7-0. The Pelicans closed out the scoring with an eighth-inning double from Eriandys Ramon to cap off the 8-0 win.

Ramon was dialed in at the plate, going a perfect 4-4 with that RBI. Rosario was the only other player with multiple hits, as his two RBIs were the second most.

DSL BREWERS 8 - DSL CUBS RED 0

It was a day filled with Cubs and Brewers, as all three Rookie League games featured a Cubs vs. Brewers matchup. Two games didn't go the Cubs way, including this one, where DSL Red was shut out 8-0. Despite Luis Ghisays's decent pitching, allowing three runs in four innings, Stiven Sanchez was roughed up, allowing five runs in three innings.

Throw in Wande Torres and Joshua Quezada, who combined to strike out 13 Cubs and allow just four hits, and it was a long day for DSL Red. The Brewers only needed two innings to win this game, with Jhoanjel Saez connecting for a two-run triple to put the Brewers in front 2-0. Handelfry Encarnacion added a double in the third to push the lead to 3-0 with another RBI triple, making this a 5-0 game through five.

The Brewers then tacked on three more runs off a pair of homers from Joandrew Pena and Juan Ortuno to cap off their 8-0 win. Ludwing Espinoza was responsible for two of the team's four hits.

DSL CUBS RED 11 vs DSL BREWERS 0: Talk about a tail of two games for DSL Red. After being blanked by the Brewers in game one, the Cubs turned the tables in game two as a six-run seventh inning broke the game open for an 11-0 win. Edwardo Melendez was dialed in, giving the Cubs five shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out three.

Melendez was backed by some immediate offense as the Cubs pushed across four runs in the first to take an early 4-0 lead. Robin Ortiz opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly while the Edgardo De Leon homer pushed their lead to 4-0. Those would be the only runs the Cubs would score until late as the Jesus Rodriguez sacrifice fly extended their lead to 5-0 in the sixth before the offense erupted for six runs in the seventh.

While there was a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly responsible for two of those runs, it was the Leroy Escalante Grand Slam that did most of the damage and broke the game open to making things 9-0 before those other two runs crossed in what was an 11-0 win for the Cubs.

DSL BREWERS 11 - DSL CUBS BLUE 3

Looking to have the same luck DSL Red did during their second game, the Brewers jumped all over DSL Blue. They scored eight times in the first three innings to seize control before rolling to an 11-3 win. It took the Brewers a little while to get the scoring started, with Pedro Tovar making things a 1-0 game in the first before the Kevin Ereu double pushed their lead to 3-0.

The Brewers continued to add runs over the next two frames, with a Jorge Quintana double making things 5-0 in the second before Frederi Montero pushed that lead to 7-0 in the third. They would add another run in the third inning off a wild pitch, which was the final run until the seventh inning when the error made this a 9-0 game.

It took the Cubs eight innings to break through.

The Alexey Lumpuy homer made things 9-2 before the Brewers pushed their lead back to 11-2. Grenyerbert Velasquez got in on the homer fun in the ninth with a solo shot, but it wasn't enough, as the Cubs fell to the Brewers 11-3.

CHICAGO DOGS 7 - KANSAS CITY MONARCHS 5

Led by back-to-back three-run innings to open the game, the Dog's offense set the tone to deliver the series sweep. Dusty Stroup opened the scoring with an RBI double in the first before a two-run Jhonni Turbo single made this a 3-0 game.

One inning later, Stroup came through again as he connected for a three-run shot to push the Dog's lead to 6-0. Most of the Kansas City offense came in the bottom of the second as they scored four of their five runs to pull within 6-4. Abiatal Avelino started the scoring with an RBI single to score two runs, while the Frankie Tostado single pulled them within 6-4.

That was as close as they would get as each team scored their final runs of the game in the fourth, with Narcisco Crook connecting for a solo shot to close out the scoring for the Dogs. Stroup, Crook, and Brantley Bell led the Dogs with two hits, but Stroup delivered four RBIs.

FLORENCE Y'ALLS 11 - WINDY CITY THUNDERBOLTS 9

Despite their best offensive showing of the week, the Thunderbolts couldn't finish off the sweep as they fell to the Y'alls 11-9. Brennen Dorighi had another big night for the Bolts, picking up two hits and leading the way with three RBIs. Cam Phelts also had two hits for the Bolts.

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