Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 31

The Iowa Cubs were run over by the Round Rock Express (Astros), 8-1.

Starter Trevor Clifton took the loss after allowing three runs on four hits over five innings. Two of the runs came on a two-run home run to Lorenzo Quintana, who later homered off James Norwood. Clifton walked five and struck out six.

Iowa had three hits tonight. All three came in the fourth inning. Robel Garcia led off the inning with a double and Mark Zagunis singled him home. Garcia was 1 for 4 and Zagunis was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies lost to the Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers), 8-5.

Thomas Hatch pitched well but was let down by his bullpen and defense. Hatch pitched 5.1 innings and gave up just one unearned run on three hits. He struck out four, walked one and hit one batter.

Michael Rucker gave up three runs in relief of Hatch. But the loss came when Tommy Nance gave up three runs (and one inherited runner) in a four-run bottom of the eighth. Nance’s final line was three runs on two hits, including a three-run home run over just one-third of an inning. Nance walked one and struck out one.

Shortstop Vimael Machin went 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored three times.

Catcher Jhonny Pereda was 2 for 4 with a double and three RBI.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were tabled by the Potomac Nationals, 6-3 in a game that ended after five innings because of rain.

Luis Lugo gave up four unearned runs after an error by first baseman Luke Reynolds in the top of the first and that was pretty much all she wrote. The final line on Lugo was four unearned runs on four hits over four innings. He walked three and struck out three.

The Pelicans three runs tonight came on two home runs in the fourth inning. Third baseman Cam Balego hit a solo home run, his fourth of the year. Balego went 1 for 1 with a walk.

Two batters later, DH Jimmy Herron connected for a two-run blast, his third. Herron went 1 for 2.

Highlights:

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs bent the knee to the Dayton Dragons (Reds), 5-4.

Starter Brailyn Marquez surrendered four runs on seven hits over 4.2 innings. Marquez walked three and struck out three.

South Bend scored twice in the top of the ninth and got the tying run to second base, but Jonathan Sierra grounded out to end the game.

First baseman Tyler Durna was 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored one run and drove in one.

DH Andy Weber went 2 for 5 with an RBI single in the ninth.

Catcher Gustavo Polanco went 2 for 4.

Source: https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/5/31/18648205/chicago-cubs-minor-league-trevor-clifton-mark-zagunis-brailyn-marquez-thomas-hatch