Chicago Cubs Minor League Report (May 22): Murray Plates Four for I-Cubs, Wing Whiffs Six at Myrtle Beach

Chicago Cubs Minor League Report - May 22

Affiliate Overview

Triple-A Iowa Cubs
Series vs. Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals): Redbirds lead, 3-1
Season Record: 19–29

Double-A Knoxville Smokies
Series vs. Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays): Biscuits lead, 2-0
Season Record: 21–20

High-A South Bend Cubs
Series at West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit Tigers): Cubs lead, 3-1
Season Record: 23–16

Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Series at Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (Chicago White Sox): Cannon Ballers lead, 4-0
Season Record: 18–23

Affiliate Highlights

Triple-A: Iowa Cubs

Season Record: 19–29
Series Opponent: Memphis Redbirds (30–19)
Series Standing: Trail, 3-1

May 22: The Iowa Cubs dropped Friday night’s contest to the Memphis Redbirds, 8-4, and have now lost 10 of their last 11 ballgames. The Redbirds plated five runs in their first trip to the plate but the Cubs were able to get two runs back in the bottom of the inning thanks to BJ Murray’s (2-for-4) two-run double. Murray then made it a 5-4 game in the second with a two-run single but Memphis would pull away with a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to ease to the 8-4 win. Javier Assad got the start for Iowa and took the loss, falling to 0-1 on the season. Assad allowed five runs on six hits over 3 2/3 innings of work, walking two and striking out one. Luke Little worked two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, issuing one free pass.

Double-A: Knoxville Smokies

Season Record: 21–20
Series Opponent: Montgomery Biscuits (22–19)
Series Standing: Trail, 2-0

May 22: The Knoxville Smokies had their game vs. the Montgomery Biscuits suspended in the bottom of the second, with the Smokies leading 1-0. The two teams will play a doubleheader tonight, with Friday’s game being played as a nine-inning contest with a seven-inning ballgame to follow.

High-A: South Bend Cubs

Season Record: 23–16
Series Opponent: West Michigan Whitecaps (14–19)
Series Standing: Lead, 3-1

May 22: The South Bend Cubs claimed at least a series split with a 5-4 victory over the West Michigan Whitecaps on Friday night at LMCU Ballpark. The Whitecaps took the lead in the contest with a run in the first but the Cubs got that run right back in the second through Justin Stransky’s (1-for-4) RBI-double. Cameron Sisneros (1-for-4) gave South Bend its first lead of the game with an RBI-single in the fifth but West Michigan hit back with three runs in the home half of the frame to take a 4-2 lead. Kane Kepley (1-for-5) sparked the Cubs’ rally in the seventh by stealing home, his 24th stolen base of the campaign, and South Bend would tie the game on an error. Leonel Espinoza (2-for-5) would give the Cubs the lead for good with an RBI-single, capping a three-run frame. Adam Stone picked up the win in relief for South Bend to improve to 3-0 on the season. He tossed 1 2/3 scoreless frames and did not allow a hit but issued four walks. JP Wheat worked two shutout innings and struck out three to earn his third hold of the year and Ethan Bell pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out two, to earn his third save.

Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Season Record: 18–23
Series Opponent: Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (22–21)
Series Standing: Trail, 4-0

May 22: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans saw their losing skid hit six games as they dropped Friday night’s ballgame to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, 3-2. The two teams traded zeroes through the first three innings before Yahil Melendez (2-for-4) broke the deadlock with a two-run single in the fourth. After four scoreless innings from Pelicans starter Kaleb Wing, who struck out six batters, the Cannon Ballers would score all three of their runs in the fifth and would hold their lead until the end of the game. Jose Escobar (2-for-4) also tallied a multi-hit effort for Myrtle Beach and Jordan Henriquez worked two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, whiffing three.

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