NEWSLETTER
The Iowa Cubs were rained out, but the rest of the farm was in action, and so was Kevin Alcántara, who picked up four hits and now has seven in his last three games as he breaks out of an 0-for-26 slump to open the season. That and more in today’s Cubs Farm Report.
Cubs Farm Report | April 19, 2024
Triple-A Iowa Cubs (11-6)
Thursday’s game between the Iowa Cubs and Louisville Bats at Principal Park has been postponed due to wet grounds and inclement weather in the forecast. The two teams will make up yesterday’s game with a doubleheader today.
Double-A Tennessee Smokies (6-5)
The Tennessee Smokies were on the wrong end of a lopsided affair on Thursday evening, dropping their contest with the Montgomery Biscuits 15-2. Smokies starter Brandon Birdsell allowed nine runs (five earned) on seven hits, three walks, and two home runs in three and a third innings of work last night. Offensively, the Smokies struggled to help their struggling pitching staff out, plating just two runs on seven hits while going 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and leaving six on base.
Kevin Alcántara was the lone bright spot for the Smokies last night, going 4-for-4 with four singles and an RBI in the losing effort. Alcántara has picked up seven hits in his last three games (including a double and a home run) after starting the season 0-for-26.
Notable Performances
Kevin Alcántara | 4-4, RBI
Matt Shaw | 0-4, K
Brandon Birdsell | 3.1 IP, 7 H, 9 R, 5 ER, 3 BB
FINAL: Smokies 2, Montgomery Biscuits 15 | Box Score
The Jaguar was hot in Tennessee.
Kevin Alcántara (@Cubs' No. 5 prospect, MLB No. 58) recorded four hits for @smokiesbaseball, the 8th time he's hit that mark in his career: pic.twitter.com/lkQC4ljVJL— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 19, 2024
High-A South Bend Cubs (3-9)
The South Bend Cubs struggled to get anything going offensively on Thursday, scoring two runs on just three hits in another loss to the Beloit Sky Carp. Brennen Davis, Jefferson Rojas, and Brian Kalmer were the only Cubs to get hits, with Davis and Rojas the only two to drive in a run for South Bend. South Bend starter Sam Armstrong threw three and a third scoreless innings, but Koen Moreno allowed four runs in two and a third innings in relief of Armstrong.
Notable Performances
Brennen Davis | 1-2, 2B, RBI, BB
Jefferson Rojas | 1-4, 2B, RBI
Sam Armstrong | 3.1 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 4 K, 3 BB
FINAL: Cubs 2, Beloit Sky Carp 7 | Box Score
Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans (3-9)
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans ended their six-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. The win improved their record to 3-9, while the Cannon Ballers dropped to 6-6. Reginald Preciado‘s throw to home plate sealed the win by preventing the tying run from scoring. The Pelicans’ pitching staff recorded 14 strikeouts, with reliever Jeral Vizcaino earning the win after pitching three shutout innings.
Shane Marshall secured the save in the final inning. Offensively, Christopher Paciolla‘s eighth-inning double drove in the go-ahead run, while Frank Hernandez contributed with an RBI single in the second inning. The Pelicans totaled nine hits in the game.
Notable Performances
Reginald Preciado | 1-3, BB, 2 R
Frank Hernandez | 2-4, RBI
Jeral Vizcaino | 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 K
FINAL: Pelicans 3, Cannon Ballers 2 | Box Score
