Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 24 (2024)

Outfielder Brennen Davis came off the injured list and reported to Triple-A Iowa today.

Outfielder Alfonsin Rosario, the Cubs’ sixth-round draft pick last year, has been promoted to Myrtle Beach. Outfielder Jefferson Encarnacion went down to Mesa.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs slaughtered the Buffalo Bison (Blue Jays), 8-2.

Chris Clarke gave up a two-run home run to Will Robertson in the fourth inning, but he and the bullpen shut down Buffalo otherwise. The final line on Clarke was two runs on six hits over four innings. Clarke walked two and struck out seven.

Sam McWilliams got the win with three innings of no-hit, no run relief. McWilliams walked two and struck out five.

Richard Lovelady tossed the final two innings in a non-save situation. Lovelady gave up two hits and no runs. He struck out two and walked no one.

In his first game back, DH Brennen Davis hit a three-run home run in the third inning. Davis was 2 for 4 with a walk.

First baseman Jake Slaughter was the biggest force on offense out of the nine hole in the lineup. Slaughter connected on a two-run home run in the third, just one batter after Davis hit his home run. It was Slaughter’s third home run. He finished the night going 4 for 5 with a double and the home run. He also drove in the first run of the game with a single in the second inning, giving him three total RBI tonight.

RIght fielder David Peralta was 2 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored.

Left fielder Owen Caissie went 2 for 5 with a double and a stolen base. Caissie scored once and drove home one run.

Brennen Davis goes deep:

Jake Slaughter does likewise:

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies took out the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels), 5-4.

Brandon Birdsell started and got the win after allowing just one unearned run on four hits over five innings. Birdsell struck out seven and walked two.

Frankie Scalzo Jr. came on to get the save with the Smokies holding a 5-3 lead in the ninth. He retired the first two batters and it looked as it the save would be routine, but a single, an error, another single and a stolen base reduced Iowa’s lead to 5-4 and put the potential tying and winning run on third and second base. But Scalzo finally nailed down the save with a strikeout.

The final line on Scalzo was one unearned run on two hits over one inning. He struck out one.

Catcher Moises Ballesteros hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning. It was his third home run this season. Ballesteros was 2 for 4.

Center fielder Kevin Alcántara stayed hot, going 2 for 5 with an RBI double and a run scored. Alcántara also stole a base.

Shortstop Hayden Cantrelle was 2 for 4 with a stolen base.

Second baseman Matt Shaw was 0 for 3 with a walk and a sacrifice fly. Shaw stole two bases and scored one run.

Here is the home run by Ballesteros [VIDEO]

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs got held up by the Quad Cities River Bandits (Astros), 4-2.

Will Sanders start went a lot better than his last one. Tonight he allowed just one run on two hits over three innings. Sanders struck out six and walked one.

The loss went to Angel Hernandez, who took the mound to start the fourth inning. He was fine until the sixth inning, when he gave up a three-run home run. Hernandez pitched 2.2 innings and was charged with three runs on three hits. He walked one and struck out one.

Center fielder Brett Bateman singled to lead off the bottom of the first and came around to score the first run of the game. Bateman was 2 for 3 with a walk.

Catcher Jake Opitz went 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored.

Third baseman Reviaj Garcia was 2 for 4.

Shortstop Jefferson Rojas extended his hitting streak to 11 games after going 1 for 3 with a walk.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans skinned the Lynchburg Hillcats (Guardians), 15-2.

Starter Nick Dean allowed one run on just two hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out five.

Ty Johnson relieved Dean and got the win because Dean didn’t go five innings. Johnson surrendered one run on three hits over 3.2 innings. He struck out five and walked two.

Third baseman Christopher Paciolla hit his first home run of the year with the bases empty in the fourth inning. Paciolla went 1 for 5 with two total runs batted in.

In the sixth inning, first baseman Carter Trice connected with a man on for his second home run on the season. Trice went 2 for 5 with a double and the home run. He scored twice.

Right fielder Leonel Espinoza was 3 for 5 with a triple. Espinoza scored twice and had two runs batted in.

Everyone in the Birds lineup had at least one hit. Second baseman Cristian Hernandez was 1 for 4 with a walk and a two-run double in the fourth inning. That hit extended his hitting streak to start the season at 12 games. Hernandez has at least one hit in ever game he’s played this season. He also scored once.

The video angles from Lynchburg aren’t good, but here is Paciolla’s home run.

And Trice’s home run.