Today’s word of the day is “oof.”

That pretty much sums up the day in the Cub system.

The night began a little early with Myrtle Beach taking on Augusta. It was a pitchers duel for 5 and 1/2 innings until Augusta scored three in the bottom of the sixth off Richard Gallardo. Myrtle Beach struggled to get anything going even though they had four hitters go 2-for-4 including BJ Murray, Kevin Alcantara, James Triantos, and Pete Crow-Armstrong. They just couldn’t string them together as the Pelicans lost 5 to 3 ending their 12 game win streak. 

South Bend got off to probably the roughest start of the night giving up four runs in the top of the first. South Bend then came back and thundered to an 8-4 lead. Unfortunately, the South Bend bullpen imploded and gave up nine runs in the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings. The Cubs came back to make it 13-10 and had the bases loaded with 2 outs in the bottom of the eighth and again in the ninth but did not get it done.

Max Bain made the start for Tennessee tonight and somehow he got through two innings. He gave up six runs on six hits with six walks. He also struck out sex and allowed to home runs. The vaunted Smokies offense could only muster one run in their head-to-head with first place Rocket City. Now the Smokies are two games back. Luckily, they play two tomorrow.

The Iowa Cubs get out to a three run lead quickly before coughing up a lead in the six and seventh innings to Memphis. Iowa would eventually lose 10-5.

Now it’s time to hand out some awards. 

However, I have a slight problem. 

The starting pitching was not good. So, to replace that award, we will have two reliever awards. Then again, it was not a scintillating night out of the pen for most of the affiliates. 

Nicholas Padilla of Tennessee will earn one of the awards as he went 2.1 innings and struck out 1 and, most importantly, he did not give up a run. Padilla is joined by his teammate Eury Ramos who struck out 3 guys in his one scoreless inning of work for the Smokies.

As for the Hitter of the Day, it came right down to the bottom of the ninth as Jonathan Sierra and Jordan Nwogu both had really good nights for South Bend. 

Sierra went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI on a bases clearing double. Nwogu went 2-for-5 with 3 RBI and he also hit a HR.

I am going with Sierra for today’s Hitter of the Day.

Mesa News of the Day

Yovanny Cruz pitched in an Extended Spring Training game today. That’s a great sign!!!

And Casey Opitz played again and might be close to returning to action at a full season affiliate.

Zac Leigh also pitched for the second time this week. I would not be surprised to see him in South Bend next week.