Cubs Minor League Report: Strong Pitching Carries Chicago Affiliates to 3-1 Night

[Travis Klosinski]

Chicago Cubs Transactions

• Chicago Cubs sent LHP Jordan Wicks on a rehab assignment to Iowa Cubs.
• Chicago Cubs signed free agent LF Dylan Carlson to a minor league contract.
• Chicago Cubs transferred RHP Cade Horton from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Right forearm strain.
• Chicago Cubs selected the contract of RHP Corbin Martin from Iowa Cubs.

Bethancourt's Three-Hit Night Powers Iowa Past Columbus

Iowa rallied past the Columbus Clippers for a 7-6 road win, with Christian Bethancourt driving in three runs on a 3-for-4 night that included a solo home run in the seventh and a two-run double in the eighth. The Cubs struck first in the top of the second, when Ben Cowles launched a two-run homer that also scored Chas McCormick. 

The Clippers cut into the deficit with two in the sixth before Iowa pushed back in the seventh, when Bethancourt's homer and a James Triantos RBI double that scored BJ Murray gave the Cubs a 4-2 edge.

Columbus retook the lead in the bottom of the seventh with a three-run inning, but Iowa responded with three in the eighth. McCormick drew a bases-loaded walk that brought in Pedro Ramírez, and Bethancourt followed with his two-run double that scored Kevin Alcántara and Dylan Carlson. Triantos finished 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a stolen base, and Cowles went 1-for-4 with the homer and two RBIs.

Iowa drew six walks and managed eight hits, stranding six runners. On the mound, Jordan Wicks opened with three scoreless innings on his rehab assignment, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two. Ty Blach followed with three and two-thirds innings of two-run ball, and Gabe Klobosits worked around a solo home run in the ninth to close it out.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
James Triantos (2B)	5	0	2	1	0	2
Jonathon Long (1B)	4	0	0	0	1	2
Pedro Ramírez (3B)	5	1	1	0	0	1
Kevin Alcántara (CF)	3	1	0	0	1	2
Dylan Carlson (LF)	3	1	0	0	1	1
Chas McCormick (RF)	2	1	0	1	2	0
Ben Cowles (SS)	4	1	1	2	0	0
Christian Bethancourt (C)	4	1	3	3	0	0
BJ Murray (DH)	3	1	1	0	1	0

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Jordan Wicks	3	1	0	0	1	2	0
Ty Blach	3 2/3	4	2	2	4	2	0
Charlie Barnes	1/3	1	0	0	0	0	0
Collin Snider	1	1	3	3	0	0	1
Gabe Klobosits	1	2	1	1	1	0	1

Santy's Strikeout Barrage Wasted in Knoxville's Loss

The Knoxville Smokies fell 13-4 at Pensacola, unable to recover from an early deficit and a seven-run Blue Wahoos sixth inning. Starter Jake Knapp allowed six runs on four hits, three walks, and two home runs across three and one-third innings while striking out three. Luis Rujano was tagged for seven runs, six earned, on three hits and four walks in two innings. Marino Santy was the lone bright spot on the mound, striking out eight in two and two-thirds scoreless innings with no hits allowed and two walks. 

Andy Garriola led the offense with a 2-for-4 night that included a three-run home run in the fourth and a run-scoring single in the fifth that plated Jordan Nwogu. Ethan Hearn drove in the final Smokies run with an RBI single later in the fifth, scoring Edgar Alvarez. Jordan Nwogu reached three times with two hits, a double, and a stolen base, and scored once. Edgar Alvarez walked three times and added a double, coming around to score twice. Ariel Armas finished 2-for-4 with two stolen bases. Knoxville collected nine hits and drew four walks but left eight runners on base and struck out 11 times as a team.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Alex Ramírez (CF)	4	0	1	0	1	1
Jordan Nwogu (LF)	4	1	2	0	0	1
Miguel Useche (PH)	1	0	0	0	0	1
Karson Simas (SS)	5	0	0	0	0	2
Edgar Alvarez (1B)	1	2	1	0	3	0
Andy Garriola (RF)	4	1	2	3	0	1
Ethan Hearn (DH)	4	0	1	1	0	1
Ariel Armas (C)	4	0	2	0	0	0
Devin Ortiz (3B)	4	0	0	0	0	1
Alex Madera (2B)	4	0	0	0	0	3

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Jake Knapp	3 1/3	4	6	6	3	3	2
Luis Rujano	2	3	7	6	4	1	1
Marino Santy	2 2/3	0	0	0	2	8	0

Kepley Swipes Three as South Bend Routs Beloit

South Bend cruised to a 12-5 home win over the Beloit Sky Carp behind a balanced attack and seven team stolen bases. Leadoff man Kane Kepley went 2-for-3 with two walks, two RBIs, a run scored, and three stolen bases. Cameron Sisneros finished 3-for-5 with a double, three RBIs, and a stolen base, and Owen Ayers added a 2-for-4 night with a home run, three RBIs, a walk, and a stolen base. Kade Snell drove in three runs on a 2-for-5 effort.

The Cubs broke through for four runs in the second, when Sisneros ripped a two-run double that scored Leonel Espinoza and Matt Halbach, then Kepley followed with a two-run single that scored Sisneros and Drew Bowser. South Bend pushed across five more in the seventh, with RBI singles from Owen Ayers, Kade Snell, Cameron Sisneros, and Drew Bowser doing the damage. Ayers capped the scoring with a solo home run in the eighth. 

Starter Koen Moreno turned in four innings of one-run ball, allowing one hit and three walks while striking out five. Grayson Moore worked two and two-thirds scoreless innings in relief, allowing two hits and one walk. The Cubs drew 13 walks on the night and left 15 runners on base.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Kane Kepley (CF)	3	1	2	2	2	0
Angel Cepeda (DH)	2	0	0	0	0	0
Reginald Preciado (DH)	4	1	0	0	0	2
Owen Ayers (C)	4	2	2	3	1	2
Kade Snell (RF)	5	1	2	3	1	2
Leonel Espinoza (LF)	0	1	0	0	4	0
Brian Kalmer (LF)	2	0	0	0	0	1
Matt Halbach (3B)	6	2	2	0	0	3
Cameron Sisneros (1B)	5	2	3	3	0	1
Drew Bowser (2B)	4	1	1	1	1	1
Christian Olivo (SS)	1	1	0	0	4	1

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Koen Moreno	4	1	1	1	3	5	0
Ethan Bell	1/3	2	2	1	2	0	0
Grayson Moore	2 2/3	2	0	0	1	0	0
Nate Williams	2	4	2	2	0	2	0

Three Homers, Combined Shutout Lift Myrtle Beach Over Kannapolis

Myrtle Beach rolled to a 6-0 home win over the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers behind three home runs and a three-pitcher shutout. Josiah Hartshorn led the offense with a 3-for-4 effort that included a two-run home run in the first, a double, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Cole Mathis went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in the fifth, and Derniche Valdez added a solo shot in the fourth while finishing 2-for-4. 

The Pelicans struck right away in the bottom of the first when Ty Southisene doubled, advanced, and scored on Hartshorn's home run. In the third, Cole Mathis came around to score on a Logan Poteet RBI single. Valdez's solo homer in the fourth pushed the lead to 4-0, and Mathis's two-run blast in the fifth, which also scored Hartshorn, capped the scoring. Southisene finished 1-for-5 with a double and a run, and Poteet reached three times with a single, two walks, and an RBI.

Myrtle Beach collected 10 hits, drew four walks, and left seven runners on base. On the mound, Victor Zarraga opened with four scoreless innings, allowing three hits and one walk with one strikeout. Ben Johnson followed with three scoreless innings of one-hit ball, walking two and striking out three. Jackson Brockett closed it with two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out one.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Ty Southisene (SS)	5	1	1	0	0	2
Josiah Hartshorn (RF)	4	2	3	2	0	0
Cole Mathis (1B)	4	2	2	2	0	2
Michael Carico (DH)	3	0	0	0	1	1
Logan Poteet (C)	2	0	1	1	2	1
Eli Lovich (LF)	4	0	0	0	0	1
Ludwing Espinoza (2B)	4	0	0	0	0	1
Derniche Valdez (3B)	4	1	2	1	0	1
Derik Alcantara (CF)	3	0	1	0	1	1

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Victor Zarraga	4	3	0	0	1	1	0
Ben Johnson	3	1	0	0	2	3	0
Jackson Brockett	2	1	0	0	0	1	0

Cubs Top-20 Prospect Performance

1. Moises Ballesteros: DNP
2. Jaxon Wiggins: DNP
3. Jefferson Rojas: DNP
4. Kevin Alcántara: 0-for-3, R, BB, 2 K
5. Jonathon Long: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
6. Ethan Conrad: DNP
7. Pedro Ramírez: 1-for-5, R, 2B, K
8. Kane Kepley: 2-for-3, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 3 SB
9. Josiah Hartshorn: 3-for-4, 2 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI
10. James Triantos: 2-for-5, 2B, RBI, SB, 2 K
11. Brandon Birdsell: DNP
12. Cole Mathis: 2-for-4, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K
13. Angel Cepeda: 0-for-2
14. Kaleb Wing: DNP
15. Will Sanders: DNP
16. Juan Cabada: DNP
17. Jostin Florentino: DNP
18. Dominick Reid: DNP
19. Ty Southisene: 1-for-5, R, 2B, 2 K
20. Erian Rodriguez: DNP

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