Chicago Cubs Minor League Report (May 1-2): Ballesteros Continues Hitting Streak, Mulé Dominant Again

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Cubs Affiliate Overview (May 1–2)

Triple-A Iowa Cubs
Series vs. Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays): Tied 2–2
Season Record: 15–12

Double-A Tennessee Smokies
Series vs. Rocket City Trash Pandas (Los Angeles Angels): Smokies lead 2–1
Season Record: 12–11

High-A South Bend Cubs
Series at Cedar Rapids Kernels (Minnesota Twins): Kernels lead 3–1
Season Record: 7–18

Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Series at Carolina Mudcats (Milwaukee Brewers): Tied 2–2
Season Record: 10–15

Triple-A: Iowa Cubs
Season Record: 15–12
Series Opponent: Buffalo Bisons (12–17)
Series Standing: Tied 2–2

May 1: The I-Cubs were handed a lopsided 8-1 defeat by the Buffalo Bisons. Jordan Wicks had an uncharacteristic rough start on the mound, giving up seven runs on nine hits over 2 2/3 innings of work, striking out just one batter. Michael Fulmer turned in 2 1/3 shutout frames in relief, whiffing two batters, and Gavin Hollowell fired two scoreless innings, striking out two. Moisés Ballesteros pushed his hitting streak to 17 games by going 1-for-4. Chase Strumpf went 2-for-3 with a run, double, home run and an RBI.

May 2: Iowa evened up its series with Buffalo with a 4-2 victory. Matt Shaw went 1-for-2 with a run and two walks while Moisés Ballesteros went 1-for-4 with an RBI to extend his hitting streak to 18 games. James Triantos made his return to the lineup and 1-for-4 with a double. The I-Cubs got plenty of solid outings from their arms, led by four innings of one-run ball from Keegan Thompson, who made the start. Thompson whiffed five batters and did not issue a walk. Tyson Miller worked a scoreless frame and Ethan Roberts, making his first Triple-A appearance since being optioned on April 27, finished the contest by tossing 1 1/3 shutout frames, striking out two.

Double-A: Knoxville Smokies
Season Record: 12–11
Series Opponent: Rocket City Trash Pandas (7–16)
Series Standing: Lead 2–1

May 1: Knoxville had its three-game winning streak snapped with a 5-3 loss to Rocket City. BJ Murray Jr. posted his sixth multi-hit effort of the season by going 2-for-4 with a run. Right-hander Sam Armstrong worked his first quality start of the campaign, spinning six innings of two-run ball, yielding four hits and striking out four batters.

May 2: Postponed.

High-A: South Bend Cubs
Season Record: 7–18
Series Opponent: Cedar Rapids Kernels (15–9)
Series Standing: Trail 1–3

May 1: South Bend’s losing skid reached seven games following an 8-7 defeat at Cedar Rapids. Cubs No. 7 prospect Jefferson Rojas (MLB.com) went 2-for-3 with a run, home run and a season-high four RBIs, just one shy of his career-high mark. Cristian Hernandez went 1-for-4 with a run and a double. Jaxon Wiggins entered the game in relief, as the Cubs opted to use an opener, and allowed four runs, two earned, on two hits over three innings of work, striking out two and issuing three walks.

May 2: The Cubs snapped their seven-game losing skid with an 8-4 victory over Cedar Rapids. Jefferson Rojas went 2-for-5 with two runs and an RBI and Reginald Preciado went 1-for-5 with a team-high two RBIs. Eight of the nine South Bend batters hit safely in the ball game and six hitters drove in a run. Vince Reilly tossed 1 2/3 shutout innings, as did Johzan Oquendo, who picked up the win to improve to 3-1 on the campaign.

Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Season Record: 10–15
Series Opponent: Carolina Mudcats (17–8)
Series Standing: Tied 2–2

May 1: Myrtle Beach got into the win column in its series at Carolina with a 9-6 win in 10 innings. Nazier Mulé continued to dominate on the mound, allowing just one run on three hits over five innings of work, striking out five. Mulé has tallied at least five punchouts in all four of his starts this season and has allowed two runs or fewer in all of those outings. Cameron Sisneros went 4-for-5 with two doubles, three RBIs and a walk. Seven of the nine Pelican hitters in the contest recorded a hit and five had multi-hit efforts.

May 2: The Pelicans survived a four-run ninth from the Mudcats to win their second-straight contest, 7-6, and even the series. Owen Ayers went 3-for-5 with a run, two doubles and three RBIs. Leonel Espinoza went 2-for-5 with a run, double and two RBIs, as eight of the nine Myrtle Beach batters tallied a hit, with four posting multi-hit efforts. Kevin Valdez picked up the win in the start, allowing just one run over five innings of work, yielding three hits and striking out for batters.

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