Chicago Cubs Minor League Report (May 5): Hartshorn's Three-Hit, Three-RBI, Night Highlights Strong Start to the Week for Cubs Affiliates

Chicago Cubs Minor League Report - May 5

Affiliate Overview

Triple-A Iowa Cubs
Series vs. Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Guardians): Clippers lead, 1–0
Season Record: 15–18

Double-A Knoxville Smokies
Series vs. Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox): Smokies lead, 1-0
Season Record: 14–14

High-A South Bend Cubs
Series vs. Lansing Lugnuts (Athletics): Cubs lead, 1-0
Season Record: 13–12

Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Series at Hickory Crawdads (Texas Rangers): Pelicans lead, 1-0
Season Record: 14–14

Affiliate Highlights

Triple-A: Iowa Cubs
Season Record: 15–18
Series Opponent: Columbus Clippers (18–16)
Series Standing: Trail, 0-1

May 5: The Iowa Cubs dropped their third-straight contest, falling 9-6 to the Columbus Clippers on Tuesday at Principal Park. Pedro Ramirez (1-for-4) gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the first with an RBI-single but the Clippers would take a 6-1 lead after scoring three runs in each the third and fourth innings. Columbus added another run in the fifth but Iowa was able to break the scoring run in the home half of the frame on BJ Murray’s (1-for-5) three-run blast. The I-Cubs cut the lead to one with two more runs in the sixth thanks to Justin Dean’s (2-for-5) two-run triple. That’s as close as the Cubs would get in the ballgame as the Clippers scored a run in each the seventh and eighth inning to pull away for the 9-6 victory. Ty Blach took the loss in the start, allowing six runs on 10 hits over 3 2/3 innings of work, striking out three and walking one.

Double-A: Knoxville Smokies
Season Record: 14–14
Series Opponent: Birmingham Barons (13–15)
Series Standing: Lead, 1-0

May 5: The Knoxville Smokies opened their series against the Birmingham Barons with a 10-4 victory on Tuesday at Covenant Health Park. The Smokies jumped out to a 4-0 lead thanks to a pair of two-run blasts from Jefferson Rojas (2-for-4) in the first and Karson Simas (1-for-4) in the second. Carter Trice (3-for-4) plated three with a triple in the fourth to make it 7-0. The Barons scored all of their runs in the contest in the sixth to get back into the game but RBI-singles from Rojas and Andy Garriola (1-for-4) put Knoxville up 9-4. Owen Ayers (2-for-3) put the finishing touches on the night with an RBI-single in the eighth to make it 10-4 as the Smokies cruised to a win. Yennri Rojas picked up his first-career Double-A win in the start, tossing five scoreless frames, allowing just three hits and striking out four. Vince Reilly worked two shutout innings in relief, yielding just one hit and whiffing one.

High-A: South Bend Cubs
Season Record: 13–12
Series Opponent: Lansing Lugnuts (11–17)
Series Standing: Lead, 1-0

May 5: The South Bend Cubs moved back above .500 with a dominant 9-1 victory in their series opener vs. the Lansing Lugnuts on Tuesday at Four Winds Field. Ty Southisene (2-for-3) got the Cubs on the board in the first with an RBI-double and Cole Mathis (2-for-3) doubled the lead later in the inning with an RBI-groundout. Kane Kepley (2-for-4) made it 3-0 by racing home on a passed ball in the third. The Lugnuts plated their lone run of the contest in the fourth but South Bend would put the ballgame out of reach with five runs later in the frame. Christian Olivo (1-for-4) singled home a run with the bases loaded and Kepley followed with a walk to bring in another. Southisene picked up his second RBI of the night on a sacrifice fly to make it 6-1 and Kade Snell (1-for-5) and Mathis followed with back-to-back RBI-singles to give the Cubs a 9-1 advantage. Cole Reynolds took no decision in the start, tossing three scoreless frames, allowing no hits and no walks to go along with five strikeouts. Adam Stone picked up the win in relief to improve to 2-0 on the season, allowing one run on four hits over three innings of work, whiffing one batter.

Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Season Record: 14–14
Series Opponent: Hickory Crawdads (16–12)
Series Standing: Lead, 1-0

May 5: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans moved back to .500 on the season with a 7-5 series-opening win over the Hickory Crawdads on Tuesday night at L.P. Frans Stadium. Josiah Hartshorn (3-for-5) gave the Pelicans a 1-0 lead in the first with an RBI-double and the visitors would later add another run in the inning to go up 2-0 after their first trip to the plate. The Crawdads cut the lead in half with a run their first time up and would later take a 4-2 lead after pushing three runs across in the fourth. Hartshorn brought Myrtle Beach within a run with an RBI-single in the fifth and Jose Escobar (2-for-4) gave them the lead again with a two-run blast in the sixth to make it 5-4. The two teams traded runs in the eighth, with the Pelicans in front 6-5 heading into the final frame. Hartshorn collected his third hit and third RBI of the game with a single, giving Myrtle Beach a much needed insurance run. Jordan Henriquez worked a 1-2-3 ninth to convert the multi-inning save, his second of the season. Victor Zarraga picked up the win in relief, allowing one run on three hits over 3 2/3 innings of work, striking out two.

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