Chicago Cubs Minor League Report (4/30): Pelicans Salvage Lone Win As Cubs System Drops Three

Iowa Bullpen Shines But Bats Strand Eight In 3-1 Loss

The Iowa Cubs collected eight hits at St. Paul but stranded eight runners in a 3-1 loss to the Saints. James Triantos went 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Jonathon Long also went 2-for-4 and drove in the team's only run.  

Charlie Barnes took the loss after five innings, allowing two hits, three earned runs, three walks, and a home run while striking out four. Luke Little, Ethan Roberts, and Tyler Beede combined for three scoreless innings out of the bullpen, with Little issuing two walks, Beede issuing one, and the trio combining for three strikeouts.

The Saints jumped ahead in the bottom of the third on a solo home run. Iowa's deficit grew in the bottom of the fifth when, with the bases loaded, a walk forced in the second run and a sacrifice fly drove in the third for a 3-0 lead.

Iowa cut the lead in the top of the eighth. With one out, Triantos singled, advanced to third on a fielding error, and scored when Long lined a single to left field. Chas McCormick flied out to end the inning, and the Cubs went down quietly in the ninth.

Smokies Held To Two Hits In 4-1 Loss At Rocket City

The Knoxville Smokies managed just two hits in a 4-1 loss to Rocket City. Jefferson Rojas doubled, and Alex Madera singled. Jordan Nwogu drew two walks and scored Knoxville's lone run, Owen Ayers picked up the team's only RBI on a sacrifice fly, and Andy Garriola and Edgar Alvarez each walked.

Grant Kipp took the loss after 1 2/3 innings, surrendering five hits, four earned runs, and three walks while striking out two. The bullpen kept the deficit at four. Luis Martinez-Gomez tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts, two walks, and a hit allowed, and Frankie Scalzo Jr. followed with two scoreless frames, allowing one hit, two walks, and striking out two.

The Trash Pandas got on the board first in the bottom of the first when an RBI single brought home a run. They tacked on three more in the bottom of the second. A walk preceded a wild pitch by Kipp that allowed a run to score, and a two-run single capped the rally to push the lead to 4-0.

Knoxville's only run came in the top of the sixth. With one out, Nwogu walked, Rojas doubled to right field to put runners on second and third, and Ayers lifted a sacrifice fly to center to bring Nwogu home. Garriola walked to extend the inning, but Alvarez struck out to leave two runners stranded. 

Espinoza's Two-Hit Night Lone Bright Spot In South Bend's 6-1 Loss

The South Bend Cubs were limited to four hits in a 6-1 home loss to Fort Wayne, with Leonel Espinoza accounting for two of them and the team's only run. Espinoza finished 2-for-2 with a double, a solo home run, and an RBI. Cole Mathis added a single and a walk, Matt Halbach singled, and Reginald Preciado was hit by a pitch before being lifted for Espinoza.

Koen Moreno took the loss after 4 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits, five earned runs, one walk, and a home run while striking out five. The bullpen held Fort Wayne off the board for a stretch. Nate Williams worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts, a walk, and a hit allowed.

The TinCaps scored single runs in the second, third, and fourth innings, then broke the game open in the top of the fifth on a two-run home run that pushed the lead to 5-0.

Espinoza got South Bend on the board in the bottom of the eighth with a home run to left center field that pulled the Cubs within 5-1.

Pelicans Plate Four In Second, Hold Off Columbia 4-2

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans plated all four of their runs in the bottom of the second inning and held off Columbia 4-2 at home. Alexey Lumpuy led the offense, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Michael Carico and Eli Lovich each added two hits, Alexis Hernandez tripled and walked, and Derniche Valdez singled, walked, and drove in a run. Jairo Diaz contributed an RBI on a sacrifice fly.

Edwardo Melendez delivered four innings of one-hit ball, walking one, striking out four, and allowing one unearned run. Victor Zarraga earned the win after 3 1/3 innings, giving up two hits and one earned run while issuing three walks and striking out six. Braylon Myers picked up the save with 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing two walks while striking out three.

Columbia scored an unearned run in the top of the second when a runner came home from third on a groundout that was extended by an error. Myrtle Beach answered immediately. Carico and Lovich opened the bottom half with back-to-back singles, and Hernandez walked to load the bases. Valdez walked to force in Carico, and Diaz lifted a sacrifice fly to score Lovich. After a lineout, Ty Southisene was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, and Lumpuy lined a two-run double to right field to make it 4-1. 

The Fireflies pulled within two with an RBI sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth, but Myers stranded the bases loaded with a strikeout to end the threat and retired Columbia in order in the ninth.

Cubs Transactions

• No Roster Moves

Top-20 Prospect Performance

1. Moises Ballesteros: DNP
2. Jaxon Wiggins: DNP
3. Jefferson Rojas: 1-for-3, 2B, K
4. Kevin Alcantara: DNP
5. Jonathon Long: 2-for-4, RBI
6. Ethan Conrad: DNP
7. Pedro Ramirez: 1-for-4, K, SB
8. Kane Kepley: DNP
9. Josiah Hartshorn: 0-for-4
10. James Triantos: 2-for-4, R
11. Brandon Birdsell: DNP
12. Cole Mathis: 1-for-3, BB
13. Angel Cepeda: DNP
14. Kaleb Wing: DNP
15. Will Sanders: DNP
16. Juan Cabada: DNP
17. Jostin Florentino: DNP
18. Dominick Reid: DNP
19. Ty Southisene: 0-for-3
20. Erian Rodriguez: DNP

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