Chicago Cubs Minor League Report: Franklin Posts Career Day, Long Continues Power Surge

Chicago Cubs Minor League Report: Cubs Affiliate Overview (May 22–23)

• Triple-A Iowa Cubs
Series at Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Guardians): Tied 2-2
Season Record: 26–20

• Double-A Tennessee Smokies
Series at Biloxi Shuckers (Milwaukee Brewers): Shuckers lead 3–1
Season Record: 20-21

• High-A South Bend Cubs
Series vs. Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee Brewers): Timber Rattlers lead 4–0
Season Record: 10–33

• Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Series at Hickory Crawdads (Texas Rangers): Tied 2–2
Season Record: 17–25

Triple-A: Iowa Cubs
Season Record: 26–20
Series Opponent: Columbus Clippers (21–25)
Series Standing: Tied 2-2

May 22: The Iowa Cubs snapped a brief three-game losing skid with an emphatic 10-2 victory over the Columbus Clippers on Thursday. Christian Franklin (4-for-6) recorded the first four-hit game of his professional career and also collected a career-high five RBI. Jonathan Long went 3-for-5 with a home run, his fifth of the season. James Triantos (2-for-3) and Hayden Cantrelle (2-for-4) also tallied multi-hit efforts. Nate Pearson improved to 3-1 on the season by tossing two scoreless innings in relief, allowing one hit and striking out three.

May 23: The I-Cubs evened their series against the Clippers with a 7-5 triumph. Christian Franklin (1-for-4) led off the ballgame with a home run, extending his hitting streak to six games, and Owen Caissie (2-for-5) and Ben Cowles (1-for-4) tallied RBI-doubles as part of a three-run first inning. Jonathan Long (2-for-5) homered for the second consecutive game, giving the Cubs a two-run cushion in the ninth. Michael Fulmer (1-2) picked up the win in relief, working 2 1/3 shutout innings, whiffing four batters without issuing a walk. Luke Little struck out five batters over two scoreless frames, and Gavin Hollowell earned his second save of the season with a scoreless ninth.

Double-A: Knoxville Smokies
Season Record: 20–21
Series Opponent: Biloxi Shuckers (26–17)
Series Standing: Trail 1–3

May 22: The Knoxville Smokies allowed just two runs on two hits but came up short in a 2-1 defeat to the Biloxi Shuckers. Grant Kipp took no decision in his start, turning in four scoreless frames to go along with five strikeouts. Pedro Ramirez (1-for-3) drove in the Smokies’ only run of the contest with a single in the third.

May 23: The Smokies were held to just one run for the second-straight ballgame, falling to the Shuckers 3-1. Pedro Ramirez was the lone Smokie batter to tally multiple hits in the game, going 2-for-4, while BJ Murray Jr. (0-for-2) drove in Knoxville’s only run with a sacrifice fly in the first. Will Sanders took the loss in the start, allowing three runs on seven hits over five innings, picking up five strikeouts.

High-A: South Bend Cubs
Season Record: 10–33
Series Opponent: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (20–23)
Series Standing: Trail 0–4

May 22: South Bend’s losing skid hit five games after dropping Thursday’s contest to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 5-2. Andy Garriola extended his hitting streak to 12 games by going 3-for-4. Jefferson Rojas also put together a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-4. Brayden Risedorph worked two scoreless innings in his High-A debut, allowing two hits, walking one, and striking out one.

May 23: The Cubs dropped their sixth-straight game, falling to the Timber Rattlers 2-1. Drew Bowser went 2-for-3 and was the only South Bend batter to pick up multiple hits in the ballgame. Nick Dean (0-3) took the loss on the mound despite turning in his first quality start of the season. Dean allowed just two runs on six hits, striking out a season-high-matching seven batters.

Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Season Record: 17–25
Series Opponent: Hickory Crawdads (20–22)
Series Standing: Tied 2-2

May 22: Myrtle Beach dropped Thursday’s contest to Hickory, 6-1, being limited offensively to just six hits. Yahil Melendez was the lone Pelican batter to put together a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-4 at the dish with an RBI.

May 23: The Pelicans evened up their series with the Crawdads with an 8-7 win in 11 innings on Friday. Leonel Espinoza went 3-for-6 with a run and an RBI, while Owen Ayers (2-for-5) and Christian Olivo (2-for-5) also put together multi-hit efforts. Dominic Hambley (1-0) picked up his first of the season in relief, turning 2 1/3 scoreless innings to go along with three strikeouts.

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