Chicago Cubs Minor League Report (5/1): Kevin Alcántara Crushes 10th Homer of Season, Pelicans Win Fourth Straight

Chicago Cubs Minor League Report - May 1

Triple-A Iowa Cubs
Series at St. Paul Saints (Minnesota Twins): Tied, 2–2
Season Record: 15–15

Double-A Knoxville Smokies
Series at Rocket City Trash Pandas (Los Angeles Angels): Tied, 2-2
Season Record: 12–13

High-A South Bend Cubs
Series vs. Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego Padres): TinCaps lead, 3-1
Season Record: 12–10

Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Series vs. Columbia Fireflies (Kansas City Royals): Pelicans lead, 4-0
Season Record: 13–12

Triple-A: Iowa Cubs

Season Record: 15–15
Series Opponent: St. Paul Saints (13–17)
Series Standing: Tied, 2-2

May 1: The Iowa Cubs evened their series at the St. Paul Saints with a 6-5 comeback victory on Friday night at CHS Field. Jonathan Long (3-for-5) opened the scoring in the first with an RBI-double but the Saints equaled the tally in the home half of the inning. The Cubs would regain the lead in the second on James Triantos’ (0-for-4) RBI-groundout. The hosts went back in front in the third by pushing three runs across to take a 4-2 lead and increased their advantage with another run in the fourth. The I-Cubs made it a one-run game by scoring two in the fifth, thanks to another home run from Kevin Alcántara (2-for-4), his 10th of the campaign, a two-run shot. Alcántara would then provide the biggest swing of the ballgame in the eighth, driving in two more with a double to give Iowa the 6-5 lead late. Gabe Klobosits worked a scoreless ninth, striking out a pair, to record his second save of the season. Zac Leigh earned his first win of the season, retiring all four batters he faced, picking up three punchouts.

Double-A: Knoxville Smokies

Season Record: 12–13
Series Opponent: Rocket City Trash Pandas (11–14)
Series Standing: Tied, 2-2

May 1: The Knoxville Smokies evened their series at the Rocket City Trash Pandas with a dominant 6-1 victory on Friday night at Toyota Field. Carter Trice (1-for-5) gave the Smokies a 1-0 lead with his first home run of the year in the third. The Trash Pandas tied the game in the fifth with their first run of the ballgame. Knoxville took control of the contest with two runs in the sixth, on an Andy Garriola (1-for-4) solo shot and a two-run double from Karson Simas (1-for-2). The Smokies added three more in the seventh to go ahead 6-1, all coming off the bat of Owen Ayers (1-for-5), who crushed a three-run blast for his second of the season. Jake Knapp took no decision in his start, allowing one run on one hit over 4 1/3 innings of work, whiffing four batters. Tyler Ras picked up the win in relief, tossing 1 2/3 scoreless innings, yielding three hits and striking out one.

High-A: South Bend Cubs

Season Record: 12–10
Series Opponent: Fort Wayne TinCaps (10–15)
Series Standing: Trail, 1-3

May 1: The South Bend Cubs dropped their third-straight contest, falling 6-2 to the Fort Wayne TinCaps on Friday night. The TinCaps claim at least a series split with the win. The Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the second through sacrifice flies from Justin Stransky (1-for-2) and Kane Kepley (1-for-2). Fort Wayne cut the lead in half with a run in the fourth and would later take a 4-2 advantage with three runs in the seventh. The visitors would add two more in the ninth and South Bend would go down in order in the home half of the inning to end the game. Brooks Caple got the start for the Cubs but did not factor into the decision. Caple worked three scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out two.

Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Season Record: 13–12
Series Opponent: Columbia Fireflies (11–14)
Series Standing: Lead, 4-0

May 1: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans claimed a series victory by winning their fourth-straight ballgame, 8-7 in walkoff fashion, over the Columbia Fireflies. The Fireflies took a 1-0 lead after one but the Pelicans grabbed their first lead of the game with four runs in the second. Alexis Hernandez (1-for-4) cleared the bases with a three-run double and Alexey Lumpuy (2-for-5) drove in another with a single. Columbia cut the lead to one with two runs in the fifth but Myrtle Beach got both of those runs back in the home half of the frame on Logan Poteet’s (2-for-4) two-run shot, his third of the season. The visitors took their first lead of the contest with four runs in the seventh but Jose Escobar (1-for-4) leveled the game at 7-7 with an RBI-triple in the bottom of the inning. After the Fireflies were held scoreless in the ninth, Ty Southisene (1-for-4) drew a walk to start the inning and would make it to third on a pair of wild pitches. Michael Carico (0-for-2) was intentionally walked, bringing Poteet to the plate, who drove in his third run of the game with a single, ending the ballgame. Mason McGwire got the start for the Pelicans, but did not factor into the decision. McGwire allowed one run on four hits over four innings of work, striking out four. Eli Jerzembeck earned his first win of the season by working the final two innings of the game, allowing no runs on two hits to go along with three strikeouts.

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