Chicago Cubs Minor League Recap: Cody Bellinger is Back

Iowa Cubs (AAA)
Tennessee Smokies (AA)
South Bend Cubs (A+)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans (A)

Iowa Cubs (AAA)

The Iowa Cubs lost to the Indianapolis Indians 7-4

Iowa fell behind early and never came back. They went down 1-0 in the top of the second and then gave up another four runs in the top of the fifth. They mounted a bit of a comeback on Jared Young’s two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth but they wouldn’t score again until the eighth inning and it wouldn’t be enough to mount the comeback.

Cody Bellinger (1B) got a rehab start yesterday and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.

Jared Young (DH) went 2-for-3 with two home runs, a walk, three RBI and two runs scored. If Mervis continues to struggle, Jared Young may get a shot at the major league level sooner rather than later as he’s now carrying a .313/.425/.560 slash line.

Sergio Alcantara (2B) went 2-for-4 with a double and a single.

David Bote (SS) is quietly putting together a solid season at AAA as he went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

Nick Neidert (RHP) went 4.2 innings and gave up five earned runs on five hits and four walks while only striking out one.

Ryan Jensen (RHP) was solid today. He went 1.1 scoreless innings and didn’t walk anyone and only gave up one hit while striking out one.

Brendon Little (LHP) may be the next man up out of this bullpen. The lefty went two innings and gave up an earned run on two hits and a walk.

Cam Sanders (RHP) gave up an earned run on two hits and a walk while striking out two in the inning of work he had.

Tennessee Smokies (AA)

The Tennessee Smokies lost to the Birmingham Barons 7-6

The Smokies were cruising in this one after taking a 5-0 lead in the top of the second. Then they wasted a great start from DJ Herz as they gave up seven runs split between the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. It may come as a shock, but Pete Crow-Armstrong still managed to put together a solid game in this one though.

Pete Crow-Armstrong (OF) went 2-for-5 with two singles, two RBI, a run scored and his 16th stolen base of the season.

Luis Vazquez (SS) hit with authority yesterday. He went 3-for-5, coming up only a triple short of the cycle as he also hit his 8th double and 9th home run of the season with two runs scored and three RBI.

DJ Herz (LHP) went five scoreless innings giving up just four hits and two walks while striking out nine batters.

Blake Whitney (RHP) opened the floodgates in the sixth and seventh innings. He went 1.2 innings and gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk while only striking out one.

South Bend Cubs (A+)

The South Bend Cubs lost to the Cedar Rapids Kernels 3-2

South Bend had as many errors as they had hits yesterday. If you’re reading a minor league baseball recap, you don’t need me to tell you that is not a recipe for success. Connor Noland was fine to start the game but the offense just never got going despite how busy Ezequiel Pagan was on the base paths.

Ezequiel Pagan (OF) went 1-for-3 with a single and a walk and he also stole two bases.

Yohendrick Pinango (OF) had a similar line to Pagan as he also went 1-for-3, but his hit was a double and he also drew a walk. The other major difference is that he was caught stealing and picked off of first base rather than successfully stealing either of the times he got on base.

Jacob Wetzel (OF) went 1-for-2 with his first home run of the season, a walk, two RBI and a run scored.

Connor Noland (RHP) pitched five innings and gave up two runs on two hits, no walks and two strikeouts.

Adam Laskey (LHP) relieved Noland and pitched a perfect sixth inning, striking out all three of the batters he faced.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans (A)

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans lost to the Fredericksburg Nationals 6-4

The rough day continued for Cubs’ affiliate teams as Myrtle Beach allowed for the clean sweep. Grant Kipp, who had been stellar his last couple of times out, gave up five runs (only two of which were earned) and the bats couldn’t put together an offensive performance to overcome that early hole as they fell to, a still very impressive, 34-24 on the season.

Andy Garriola (OF) went 2-for-4 with his 12th double of the season and a run scored.

Cristian Hernández (SS) went 2-for-3 with two singles, a walk, an RBI and a run scored but he was picked off of first base once and caught stealing second base as well.

Moises Ballesteros (C) went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run scored.

Reivaj García (2B) went 2-for-4 with a double, a single, a walk, and two RBI.

Jefferson Rojas (SS) is worth getting excited about a little bit. The 18 year-old went 2-for-4 with two singles, an RBI and a run scored.

Grant Kipp (RHP) wasn’t his normal dominant self. There were plenty of errors by the Pelicans (4) today that hurt his ability to get out of innings but he only went five innings and gave up five runs (two earned) on five hits, a walk and six strikeouts.

Yovanny Cabrera (RHP) pitched the final two innings and only gave up a walk and no hits while striking out two.

Starlyn Pichardo (RHP) gave up one unearned run on two hits and a walk while striking out one across two innings.

Chicago Cubs Minor League Recap: Cody Bellinger is Back