Chicago Cubs Minor League Report (May 19): Kepley Homers for South Bend, Coppola Whiffs Nine for Pelicans

Chicago Cubs Minor League Report - May 19

Affiliate Overview

Triple-A Iowa Cubs
Series vs. Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals): Redbirds lead, 1-0
Season Record: 18–27

Double-A Knoxville Smokies
Series vs. Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays): Biscuits lead, 1-0
Season Record: 21–19

High-A South Bend Cubs
Series at West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit Tigers): Whitecaps lead, 1-0
Season Record: 20–16

Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Series at Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (Chicago White Sox): Cannon Ballers lead, 1-0
Season Record: 18–20

Affiliate Highlights

Triple-A: Iowa Cubs

Season Record: 18–27
Series Opponent: Memphis Redbirds (28–18)
Series Standing: Trail, 1-0

May 19: The Iowa Cubs saw their losing streak reach eight games after suffering a 6-3 defeat to the Memphis Redbirds on Tuesday at Principal Park. The Redbirds took the lead in the first but Kevin Alcántara (1-for-5) was able to bring the Cubs level with an RBI-single in the third. The teams traded runs in the fifth, with James Triantos (2-for-4) tying the game for Iowa at 2-2 with an RBI-triple. Memphis went ahead for a third time on the night with a run in the seventh and doubled its lead with another in the eighth to make it 4-2. Justin Dean’s (1-for-3) solo shot in the eighth cut the deficit to one but the Redbirds pulled away with two runs in the ninth to earn the series-opening win. Ryan Jensen got the bulk of work in relief after I-Cubs starter Connor Noland departed in the second following being struck by a comebacker in the right leg. Jensen worked 2 1/3 scoreless frames, allowing just two hits while striking out four.

Double-A: Knoxville Smokies

Season Record: 21–19
Series Opponent: Montgomery Biscuits (21–19)
Series Standing: Trail, 1-0

May 19: The Knoxville Smokies opened their series against the Montgomery Biscuits with a 3-1 defeat on Tuesday night at Covenant Health Park. The Biscuits jumped out to a 3-0 lead after scoring twice in the second and adding their third in the third. The Smokies finally got on the board in the seventh when Edgar Alvarez (1-for-2) doubled home Ed Howard (1-for-1). Knoxville would be held to just five hits in the ballgame with no batter able to record a multi-hit effort. Yenrri Rojas started on the mound for the Smokies, taking the loss and falling to 1-3 on the year. Rojas allowed three runs on six hits over five innings of work, striking out four while issuing no walks. Jace Beck worked three scoreless frames in relief, yielding one hit while punching out seven.

High-A: South Bend Cubs

Season Record: 20–16
Series Opponent: West Michigan Whitecaps (14–16)
Series Standing: Trail, 1-0

May 19: The South Bend Cubs dropped their series opener to the West Michigan Whitecaps, 6-4, on Tuesday night at LMCU Ballpark. The Whitecaps plated a run in both the second and third innings before the Cubs got on the board in the sixth through an RBI-single from Kade Snell (1-for-4). West Michigan responded with four runs in the home half of the sixth to make it a 6-1 game. South Bend was able to make it 6-4 in the seventh thanks to a three-run blast from Kane Kepley (1-for-4), his second of the season. The Cubs weren’t able to rally further, ultimately dropping the contest. Nazier Mulé suffered the loss in the start, allowing one run on one hit over 1 1/3 innings of work, but issued four walks to go along with three strikeouts.

Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Season Record: 18–20
Series Opponent: Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (19–21)
Series Standing: Trail, 1-0

May 19: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans saw their losing skid his three games as they dropped their series opener to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, 3-1. Pelicans starter Pierce Coppola set career-best marks in innings pitched (5 1/3) and strikeouts (9) but allowed three runs on one hit and three walks and was handed the loss, falling to 0-2 on the campaign. The Cannon Ballers took the lead with a run in the fourth and would later make it 3-0 with two runs in the sixth. Myrtle Beach got their lone run of the contest in the seventh on Jose Escobar’s (2-for-3) RBI-single. Mason McGwire worked 1 2/3 scoreless frames out of the bullpen, striking out one. McGwire has posted a 1.93 ERA (3 ER/14.0 IP) in four appearances this month, striking out 20 while issuing just four walks.

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