Cubs Minor League Daily: Dramatic Rally Features Eloy Jimenez HR, Matt Rose Walk-Off

On a night when every team but Iowa scored at least five runs, it was the Myrtle Beach Pelicans who put up some of the most dramatic moments.

We’ll start in the bottom of the eighth. The Pelicans had been trailing by two since the fifth, but in the top half of the frame that deficit doubled to four.

Enter Eloy Jimenez:

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That shot (I’d love to know the exit velocity on that thing) pulled the Pelicans back to within two. The bullpen posted a zero in the top of the ninth, so Myrtle Beach entered their final at bats needing a pair of runs to tie. And a familiar face stepped up to play the hero again:

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That one stayed in the yard, but a double to left center from Jimenez capped a two run rally and set the stage for extra innings. And in that tenth inning, it was Matt Rose who provided the fire power:

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I think that one left the yard faster than the one Jimenez hit to the same spot. His reward? A gatorade shower before he even made it across the plate.

Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Nashville 12, Iowa 3
Iowa’s ninth inning rally came just a touch short.

  • Casey Kelly: 5 IP, 7 R (6 ER), 10 H, 1 BB, 4 K
  • Jack Leathersich: 1.2 IP, 4 K
  • Jeimer Candelario: 2 for 4
  • Chris Dominguez: 2 for 4, 2B
  • Chesny Young: 2 for 4, 2 2B
  • Double A: Tennessee Smokies
    Tennessee 10, Montgomery 2
    The Smokies posted crooked numbers in the first, fourth, and eighth innings.

  • Trevor Clifton: 6 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 3 BB, 5 K
  • Charcer Burks: 5 for 6, 2B, SB
  • Andrew Ely: 3 for 5, SB
  • David Bote: 2 for 4
  • Jason Vosler: 2 for 5, 3B, HR
  • Ian Rice: 2 for 4
  • High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
    Myrtle Beach 7, Down East 6 in ten innings
    This was a back and forth game late, but ultimately the Pelicans tied it in the bottom of the ninth to force extras.

  • Adbert Alzolay: 6 IP, 3 R, 8 H, 8 K
  • P.J. Higgins: 3 for 4
  • Eloy Jimenez: 2 for 5, 2B, HR
  • Matt Rose: 1 for 5, HR
  • Trent Giambrone: 2 for 4, 2B
  • Low A: South Bend Cubs
    South Bend 5, Lake County 2
    The Cubs are now tied for the second first half playoff slot, but they still aren’t in first.

  • Manuel Rondon: 5 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 4 K
  • Matt Swarmer: 4 IP, 1 H, 4 K
  • Vimael Machin: 3 for 4, 2B
  • Wladimir Galindo: 1 for 4, HR
  • Luis Ayala: 1 for 4, 2B
  • Other Notes

  • The wind in Iowa was blowing out to center at 13 MPH. Both starting pitchers did a nice job getting groundball outs; Kelly just had trouble avoiding runs.
  • One of these days we are going to have to talk about Erick Castillo. He is a catcher for the Smokies, and to some degree he has been playing in the shadow of Ian Rice (who is having a very nice season). But Catillo, who just turned 24 in February, isn’t having such a bad year himself. He still has a ways to go before he hits the 100 PA threshold, but he is over two thirds of the way there and currently has a line of .273/.329/.394 with a home run. Those aren’t top prospect numbers, but they do suggest that Castillo might have a major league back up potential.
  • That five hit game for Charcer Burks is, I think, the first of his career. I also believe it is the first of the season for the Cubs’ farm system. The 22-year-old outfielder is now hitting .309/.405/.451 on the year, good for the 8th best OPS in the Southern League. His teammate, Jason Vosler, is second in the league (.291/.383/.552).
  • written by

    Luke Blaize is the Minor League Editor at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @ltblaize.

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