Chicago Cubs Minor League Recap: Matt Mervis homers and 2023 draft picks rack up hits

South Bend Cubs (A+) (45-53)

The South Bend Cubs beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 13-4

This game was never in question. The Cubs took a 6-0 lead in the first inning and then expanded it to 8-0 in the fifth, 11-0 in the seventh, and finally 13-0 in the eighth. The Timber Rattlers scored four runs in the top of the ninth but they’d still fall well short of making a game out of it as the Cubs took the victory. 

Ezequiel Pagan (OF) went 2-for-5  with a double, a single, a walk, two RBI and a run scored. 

Moises Ballesteros (C) went 2-for-6 with two singles, three RBI and two runs scored. 

Felix Stevens (OF) went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, four RBI, and a run scored.

Josh Rivera (SS) had a solid game as he went 1-for-3 with a single, three walks, and three runs scored. 

Christian Franklin (OF) went 2-for-3 with two singles, two walks and two runs scored. 

Brandon Birdsell (RHP) was stellar. He went five scoreless innings and only allowed two hits and no walks while striking out five to lower his ERA on the year to a sparkling 2.36.