Torres gaining traction with Pelicans

It's been an uphill climb for Gleyber Torres this season, but the Cubs' top-ranked prospect is beginning to gain traction in his first year with Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach.

Torres had a season-high three hits, including a game-tying homer in the ninth, and scored three times for the Pelicans, who dropped a 6-5, 11-inning decision at Wilmington on Sunday afternoon.

Despite the loss, Torres has brought his average up more than 100 points by hitting safely in 11 of his last 13 games. MLB.com's 25th overall prospect has batted .340 with six extra-base hits and 11 runs scored in that span after beginning the year in a 4-for-38 funk with 15 strikeouts.

The 19-year-old shortstop helped fuel the Pelicans' comeback after they fell behind by four runs early. He flied out and struck out in his first two at-bats but reached on an infield hit to third leading off the sixth. Torres went first-to-third on a single by Cubs No. 3 prospect Ian Happ and scored Myrtle Beach's first run on Jason Vosler's sacrifice fly.

Torres sparked another rally by working a seven-pitch walk leading off the eighth. He came around to score two batters later on Yasiel Balaguert's single but saved his best for the ninth.

With the Pelicans trailing, 5-3, Charcer Burks drew a one-out walk and Torres blasted a 1-2 pitch over the right field fence for his second homer of the season in his 103rd at-bat He hit a career-high three homers last year in 126 games with Myrtle Beach and Class A South Bend. 

Torres completed his first three-hit day since the final game of the 2015 season with another infield single in the 11th.

His big day was spoiled when Wander Franco lined a walk-off single to center field off Pelicans reliever Jordan Minch (0-2) with one out in the 11th.

Happ also finished with three hits, including a double, for Myrtle Beach. Jake Stinnett, the Cubs' 22nd-ranked prospect, started for the Pelicans and gave up four runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts in five innings.

First baseman Robert Pehl went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs for the Blue Rocks, who have won three of four after losing 12 straight games.