It was a mixed start to the postseason for the two Chicago Cubs minor league teams whose playoff series got underway. One win, one loss.
Maybe I’ll start with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans’ loss, so we can dispense with that one quickly. The Pelicans trailed for just about the entire game, getting only a solo home run from a hobbled Kevin Alcántara in the run column:
The Pelicans get to come home against Charleston for Game Two tomorrow night. Hopefully they can keep the series alive.
Meanwhile, the South Bend Cubs, who got to open their series at home, took Game One in thrilling, come-from-behind fashion.
Starter Luis Devers held the Kernels to just one run over his six innings of work, but that still left the Cubs trailing into the bottom of the 8th inning when they finally got something cooking. Yohendick Pinango doubled to open the inning, Pablo Aliendo bunt singled (scoring Pinango on a bad throw), Kevin Made sac bunted Aliendo over, and Fabian Pertuz knocked him in for the lead.
The defense was spectacular, by the way, with the sneaky play at first base we talked about last night, and also this incredible double-play:
The bullpen following Devers was dominant – Michael McAvene, Riley Martin, and Jake Reindl each throwing a scoreless inning – and the celebration was ON.
The win came complete with multiple gatorade baths for infielder Fabian Pertuz, who had the game-winning knock: