Cubs Minor League News: Kilian and Devers impressive, Caissie raking, Aliendo homers, more |
Not only did the MLB trade deadline come to pass, but Tuesday was also a very exciting time in the Cubs minor League system. It was a day filled with promotions as several players moved onto different levels in the Cubs, creating a ton of buzz for the next two months.
With the new-look teams set to take the field on Tuesday, there were eight teams to keep tabs on throughout the night. Granted, the Cubs minor League system may not have scored 20 like the MLB team, but they did still have some success as they posted a pair of wins and had the lead in another game that got suspended.
Some losses are harder to swallow than others, and this one could be one of those games for the Cubs. Caleb Kilian was on the bump for the Cubs and gave Iowa six impressive innings on the mound. He walked one, struck out six, and gave up one run to lower his ERA to 3.97. He wound up with a no-decision as the Cubs bullpen imploded. Kilian was dealin’ tonight pic.twitter.com/tTErWjB5Lj Opposing Kilian was Jack O'Laughlin, who held the Cubs scoreless through five innings and struck out eight. The lone run off of Kilian came in the first inning when Tyler Nevin cashed in with an RBI single to make things 1-0. That was the game's lone run for quite a while, as it took Iowa six innings to cash in. Luis Vazquez doing gold glove things. pic.twitter.com/t25cwftsj8 Once the sixth inning rolled around, Miles Mastrobuoni put the Cubs on the board as he connected for a rare homer to make things 2-1 in favor of Iowa. Those would be the only runs the Cubs would score as Toledo took the lead for good in the seventh on a pair of homers from Grant Witherspoon and Johan Camargo to make things 3-2. Camargo added an RBI single in the eighth to make things 4-2 before the Toledo offense erupted for four runs in the ninth to break the game open. Wenceel Perez had the big blow in that inning with a bases-loaded RBI triple to extend the lead to 7-2. Joe Rizzo capped off the scoring with an RBI single as Toledo took care of the Cubs 8-2. Iowa had four hits in the game, with Alexander Canario leading the way with two. Pete Crow-Armstrong made his AAA debut and went 0-3 with a walk and three strikeouts. 🚨Ladies and Gentlemen, help us Welcome Pete Crow-Armstrong!! #gocubsgo pic.twitter.com/Mvc7jmkNlp The final from Principal Park pic.twitter.com/NQaDmrxd5h
The Smokies have been on an impressive tear to begin the second half, which is why they have built a five-game lead in their division. This could be a crucial week for them as they face the team chasing them and could bury them the rest of the way. Led by a strong five-innings start from Walker Powell, who allowed two runs, it was another relentless offensive game for the Smokies as they took down the Lookouts 9-2. Tennessee didn't waste any time getting the scoring started as the Cole Roederer single put them in front for good, 1-0 in the first. The Smokies weren't done that inning as Pablo Aliendo connected for a three-run shot to make things 4-0. 3 run HR for Pablo Aliendo. pic.twitter.com/DPqup43Kz0 That would be all the offense they would need, as the Smokies pitching staff was more than up to the challenge. James Free ended the shutout with a solo shot in the second, but Owen Caissie responded with the first of his two homers in the third to make things 5-1. Owen Caissie with the oppo taco Tuesday two-fer. pic.twitter.com/062sQzy3d1 Roederer added a second RBI single later in the third as the Smokies were in complete control 6-1. Chattanooga continued to play long ball against Powell in the first, with Reece Hinds making it 6-2 with his solo shot. That was all they would get offensively in what was otherwise a quiet day. Tennessee scored three times in the next three innings, with Caissie adding a sacrifice fly in the fourth, while Andy Weber picked up an RBI single in the fifth. Caissie capped off the scoring with his 20th homer in the bottom of the sixth as the Smokies rolled 9-2. Coming off his Player of the Week honors last week, Caissie picked up where he left off as he led the way with three hits and three RBIs. BJ Murray Jr and Weber also added three hits, with Roederer picking up two hits and two RBIs. Owen Caissie continues his hot streak with 2 HOMERUNS tonight as the Smokies win the series opener 9-2! @owen_caissie #BestYearEver #SmokiesBaseball pic.twitter.com/o2cmiVD6lw
The 2023 season has been a struggle for the Cubs, but this could be a crucial week to get back into the second-half race. Facing off against a Wisconsin team one game ahead of them in the standings, the Cubs sent a message in their series opener as they scored six times in the first three innings to roll 9-2. Luis Devers was on the mound and delivered his best start of the season. Devers gave the Cubs five shutout innings allowing just one hit and striking out six as he looked like the 2022 version of himself. Devers was followed by Max Bain, Stephen Gonsalves, and Tyler Santana, as the Cubs pitching did a great job. South Bend came out on fire against Nate Peterson, who didn't even make it out of the first inning. James Triantos opened the scoring for the Cubs with a two-run shot in the first, while Christian Franklin followed that up with a two-run shot in the second to build a 4-0 lead. Last night, @JamesTriantos got the scoring started with his fourth @hoosierlottery home run of the season! pic.twitter.com/l1GL1nNlXg Oh man, here is the Christian Franklin HR. His 4th in 8 games, and they haven’t been cheap. pic.twitter.com/366Jr4gUoP That would be all the offense the Cubs would need, but they weren't done yet. Already with a pair of two-run innings, Felix Stevens made it three as his two-run double extended the Cubs lead to 6-0. His double was followed by the Moises Ballesteros double in the seventh as the Cubs were in control 7-0. Ballesteros bashing balls off walls. pic.twitter.com/52P4KqQP3F The lone runs of the game for Wisconsin came in the sixth inning when Jose Acosta took Bain deep for the two-run shot and made things 7-2. South Bend closed out the game with a pair of runs in the eighth when Triantos used an RBI triple to push the lead to 8-2 while the newly promoted Josh Rivera capped off the scoring with a sacrifice fly as the Cubs took game one 9-2. Everyone in the Cubs lineup had a hit, with Ballesteros leading the way with three. 2023 first-rounder Matt Shaw made his South Bend debut with two hits, as did Franklin and Triantos. The Matt Shaw triple: pic.twitter.com/kPWGl0kq6p After getting his 2nd straight win and facing just 1 over the minimum in 5 dominant innings, Luis Devers spoke with @BKingSports. pic.twitter.com/4jMwaTPCnU CUBS WIN!! TOLEDO MUD HENS 8 - IOWA CUBS 2
TENNESSEE SMOKIES 9 - CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS 2
SOUTH BEND CUBS 9 - WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS 2
Just 2 games back of the final playoff spot in the West!#NextStartsHere pic.twitter.com/bO9QutSBq8
MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 4 - DOWN EAST WOOD DUCKS 0 (Suspended in the first)
The Pelicans were not on the field for long on Monday as the weather suspended their game in the bottom of the first. However, their offense did the job in the top half of the first and built a 4-0 lead for when this game picks back up.
All four of the Pelican's runs came without a hit as the bases-loaded walk to Parker Chavers opened the scoring with a wild pitch making things 2-0. An error later in the inning brought home the other two runs as the Pelicans will take a 4-0 lead into the completion of this game.
Game tonight is suspended. We will do a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 5:30 pm. 💧☔️
— Down East Wood Ducks 🦆 (@GoWoodDucks) August 1, 2023
ACL WHITE SOX 3 - ACL CUBS 2
DSL TIGERS 4 - DSL CUBS BLUE 3
DSL TIGERS 3 - DSL CUBS BLUE 2
DSL CUBS RED 1 - DSL ORIOLES 0 (Suspended)
Looks like Kevin Alcantara is in Mesa to do some rehab. Pic via his Instagram pic.twitter.com/ruIStLrzio
— Todd ⚾️🐻🦌 (@CubsCentral08) August 2, 2023
