Matt Shaw – Picture by Rich Biesterfeld
Let’s start off tonight by going over some news…
MLB Pipeline also redid their position rankings this week in addition to their new top 100 prospect list and team lists. The Cubs placed 6 players in the top 10 at their positions.
– Matt Mervis and Haydn McGeary were at 6 and 7 for 1B.
– James Triantos was at 6 at 2B.
– PCA was the number 5 outfielder.
– Cade Horton was the third ranked right-handed starting pitcher.
– And Jackson Ferris was the number 9 lefty starting pitcher.
The games began in the middle of the afternoon as South Bend finally got to play for the first time since Thursday. The Cubs played a nine inning game followed by a seven inning nightcap. Let’s get to the matinee first.
The 3 Hit Club and Hitter of the Day
Matt Shaw is pushing to escape South Bend after just a couple of weeks. Today, he went 3-for-5 in game 1 and was peppering the ball with exit velocities over 100.
As for the rest of the game, the Cubs could not just catch up for the game that started in the second inning. Sheldon Reed finished the second inning and then Luis Devers got shaken up as he gave up 5 runs in 3.2 innings. The Cubs actually led 3-2 before Devers struggled in the fourth, fifth, and sixth. The Cubs mounted a comeback in the eighth and ninth inning when James Triantos doubled with his only hit to drive in 2. However, a rally in the ninth fell short as the Captains won 7-6. Ezequiel Pagan had 2 hits on the day while Ed Howard had 2 RBI on a single.
As for Iowa
The I-Cubs were rained out in Omaha and that same storm system is headed my way. Knowing my luck, it will hit right when I get out of my truck to walk into the school on the first day of institute tomorrow.
Tough Night in Biloxi
This game did not start out well as the Shuckers put up a four spot in the bottom of the first. With no Owen Caissie or Haydn McGeary in the lineup, the Smokies would have to find some different ways to get on the board. In the third, Andy Weber tripled and came home on the ground out to put the Smokies on the board. But they were going to need a lot more office to catch up to Biloxi. And no sooner did that happen. Then Biloxi put two more runs on the board in the bottom of the inning to take a 6 to 1 lead.
Eventually, the Smokies began to close in on Biloxi as Andy Weber had a two run single and BJ Murray drove in one. That made it 7-4 after 4. The Smokies closed within one in the sixth as Fabian Pertuz reached on a throwing error to score Andy Weber to make it 7-6.
Unfortunately, Biloxi erupted for 7 runs in the seventh to make it 14-6. Ouch!
The Smokies added one more run but lost 14-7.
Back on a Winning Streak
The pelicans had won five in a row before losing last night. It did not take them long to get going today as a Reivaj García walked, stole second, moved to third on a ground out, and came home on an Jefferson Rojas Single. Rojas then stole second and came home on a Parker Chavers single to give the Birds a 2 to 0 lead over the Woodpeckers. The Birds added a third run on a balk.
Starting Pitcher of the Day
Marino Santy was back making his second start since coming off the Development List. He went four scoreless, allowed a couple of hits, walked two, and struck out 3.
Eligio Paredes made his High-A debut and he went three innings and gave up a run. He gave up two hits and walked four, but he just allowed the one run.
The Pelicans added another run in the seventh as David Avitia hit a sac fly to bring in Ismael Mena. And the, in the eighth, Cristian Hernandez walked in a run and then Pedro Ramirez hit a 3 run single to make it 8-1.
Reliever of the Day
Jose Romero came on in the top of the eighth and struck out the side. He began the ninth with a K. And then another K. That gave him 5 over 2 innings. That’ll do!
The Nightcap
Well, this game was a Seventh Inning affair, it started off great for South Bend, as both Matt Shaw and Moises Ballesteros hit solo home runs in the top of the first to give the Cubs a lead.
That 2-0 lead lasted until the third when Michael Arias appeared to run out of gas as he walked 4 in 3.2 IP, which is a thing lately as he has reached his career high in innings with 4 weeks left. Nick Hull then made his High-A debut. It did not go well. He gave up 2 runs in 2.1 innings. At that point, it was 6-2 Lake County.
Kevin Alcantara did return today as he went 0-for-3 on the day. The Cubs wound up losing 6-3 and the sweep knocks them further away from a playoff spot. 7 games in fact.
