NEWSLETTER
Lately it seems that the Major League Cubs have made a habit of low probability, late inning rallies to pull off unlikely wins. Turns out that is an organizational trait these days. We have already had Tennessee rally for eight runs in the ninth for a very improbable win; last night we saw three more late inning rallies, albeit of a slightly small scope.
And that’s despite the Smokies being rained out. Twice.
Iowa needed five runs in the top of the ninth, their first runs all day, to force their game against Round Rock into extra innings. Myrtle Beach trailed by a run in the top of the ninth… until a four run rally turned that game completely around. And South Bend did not wait for the ninth. They staged their five run outburst in the bottom of the eighth, the sequel to their two runs in the seventh, to turn a two run deficit into a three run lead that proved to be just barely large enough.
Developmentally, this is nothing more than a fun coincidence. So far I’ve not seen any mathematical evidence that clutch-ness exists in a form not explained by normal variance, but six more months of games like this might have me taking a fresh look at those numbers and wondering if the Cubs haven’t found the secret.
Regardless, it made for a fun day of baseball.
Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Round Rock 8, Iowa 7 in thirteen innings
The Cubs got five in the ninth and two in the tenth, but that was it.
Double A: Tennessee Smokies
They were scheduled for a doubleheader, but rain washed both games away.
High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Myrtle Beach 7, Down East 4
The Pelicans trailed most of the game, but a four run ninth turned the game into a win.
Low A: South Bend Cubs
South Bend 9, Dayton 8
Eleven total runs were scored in the final four half innings of this wild one.
Other Notes
