Cubs Affiliates Split Four As Mathis And Lumpuy Go Deep

[Travis Klosinski]

South Bend and Myrtle Beach claimed wins while Iowa and Knoxville suffered narrow defeats. Cole Mathis launched a two-run homer in the sixth as South Bend topped Lansing 3-1, with Koen Moreno tossing four scoreless innings. Grant Kipp struck out eight over five frames in Knoxville's 4-1 loss. Myrtle Beach rallied for six runs in the eighth to top Hickory 9-7. Connor Noland fanned five over five innings in Iowa's 4-2 loss.

Cubs Transactions

• Chicago Cubs designated RHP Corbin Martin for assignment.
• Chicago Cubs recalled RHP Gavin Hollowell from Iowa Cubs.
• Athletics traded RHP Tyler Ferguson to Chicago Cubs.
• Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Tyler Ferguson to Iowa Cubs.

Iowa Cubs Drop Close Decision To Columbus On Late Home Runs

The Iowa Cubs fell 4-2 to the Columbus Clippers, dropping a tight game decided by back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning. Iowa managed five hits and stranded four runners.

The Cubs pushed both of their runs across in the bottom of the third. Ben Cowles drew a leadoff walk, Scott Kingery followed with a single, and Owen Miller singled to load the bases. Justin Dean grounded into a double play that scored Cowles for the tying run. After BJ Murray walked, Kingery scampered home on a wild pitch during Pedro Ramirez's strikeout to give Iowa a 2-1 edge.

The game was at a tie until the eighth thanks to great defensive plays, particularly from Kingery at second. 

In the eighth, Paul Campbell allowed solo home runs to two consecutive Columbus batters that flipped the score for good. Connor Noland started for Iowa, working five innings while allowing two runs on four hits with five walks and five strikeouts. Campbell took the loss, surrendering two runs on three hits over four innings with four strikeouts.

BJ Murray, Kevin Alcantara, James Triantos, Scott Kingery, and Owen Miller each collected a base hit. Iowa drew three walks but did not record an RBI as a team.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Justin Dean	3	0	0	0	1	0
BJ Murray	3	0	1	0	1	0
Pedro Ramírez	4	0	0	0	0	1
Kevin Alcántara	4	0	1	0	0	1
Christian Bethancourt	3	0	0	0	0	1
James Triantos	4	0	1	0	0	2
Ben Cowles	2	1	0	0	1	0
Scott Kingery	3	1	1	0	0	0
Owen Miller	3	0	1	0	0	0

 

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Connor Noland	5	4	2	2	5	5	0
Paul Campbell	4	3	2	2	0	4	2

 

Owen Ayers' Solo Shot Not Enough In Knoxville Loss

Owen Ayers' second-inning home run gave the Knoxville Smokies an early lead, but the offense could not add to it as the Birmingham Barons rallied for a 4-1 win. Knoxville committed three errors and stranded six.

Ayers connected on a solo shot to left center in the bottom of the second for Knoxville's lone run. The Smokies finished with five hits and went silent over the final seven innings.

Birmingham tied the game in the third on a triple. An error by Ayers in the sixth allowed an unearned run to score, putting the Barons ahead. Birmingham added insurance in the ninth on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single.

Grant Kipp turned in a strong start, allowing one run on three hits over five innings while striking out eight without walking a batter. Jace Beck took the loss with two innings of relief, surrendering one unearned run on one hit with one walk and four strikeouts. Evan Taylor worked a clean inning, while Luis Rujano gave up two runs on two hits with two walks in the ninth.

Ayers' homer was Knoxville's only extra-base hit. Jordan Nwogu, Ariel Armas, Hayden Cantrelle, and Karson Simas each added a single. Jefferson Rojas, Nwogu, and Cantrelle drew walks for the Smokies.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Carter Trice	4	0	0	0	0	0
Jordan Nwogu	3	0	1	0	1	0
Jefferson Rojas	3	0	0	0	1	1
Andy Garriola	3	0	0	0	0	0
Owen Ayers	4	1	1	1	0	1
Ariel Armas	4	0	1	0	0	2
Alex Ramírez	4	0	0	0	0	0
Hayden Cantrelle	2	0	1	0	1	1
Karson Simas	3	0	1	0	0	0

 

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Grant Kipp	5	3	1	1	0	8	0
Jace Beck	2	1	1	0	1	4	0
Evan Taylor	1	0	0	0	0	1	0
Luis Rujano	1	2	2	2	2	1	0

 

Cole Mathis' Three-Run Sixth Powers South Bend Past Lansing

The South Bend Cubs broke open a scoreless game with a three-run sixth inning, holding on to defeat the Lansing Lugnuts 3-1. Cole Mathis' two-run homer was the centerpiece of the rally, and Koen Moreno led a strong pitching effort. 

Lansing scratched out their only run in the eighth on a wild pitch, but the Cubs held on. Moreno started and tossed four scoreless innings on two hits, walking two and striking out five. Jackson Brockett earned the win with two scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out five. JP Wheat was charged with the run on one hit over 1 1/3 innings, fanning two. Ethan Bell recorded the save across 1 2/3 innings, allowing two hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

Mathis finished with the homer, two RBI, a walk, and a run scored. Bowser had two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Snell added two singles, a stolen base, and a run scored. Kane Kepley and Alex Madera each had a hit, while Sisneros walked twice and scored.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Kane Kepley	4	0	1	0	0	0
Ty Southisene	4	0	0	0	0	0
Cameron Sisneros	2	1	0	0	2	1
Cole Mathis	3	1	1	2	1	1
Kade Snell	4	1	2	0	0	0
Leonel Espinoza	4	0	0	0	0	1
Drew Bowser	4	0	2	1	0	1
Justin Stransky	3	0	0	0	0	2
Alex Madera	3	0	1	0	0	0

 

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Koen Moreno	4	2	0	0	2	5	0
Jackson Brockett	2	0	0	0	0	5	0
JP Wheat	1 1/3	1	1	1	0	2	0
Ethan Bell	1 2/3	2	0	0	1	4	0

 

Pelicans Rally For Six In Eighth To Top Hickory

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans erased a four-run deficit with a six-run eighth inning to beat the Hickory Crawdads 9-7. The rally featured five walks, an error, and an RBI single by Alexis Hernandez.

Myrtle Beach trailed 7-3 entering the eighth. After two quick outs, the Pelicans loaded the bases on consecutive walks from Michael Carico, Logan Poteet, and Jose Escobar. Yahil Melendez reached on a missed catch error that allowed Carico and Poteet to score, cutting the lead to 7-5. Eli Lovich walked, and Darlyn De Leon drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Escobar. Hernandez then singled to center to plate Melendez and Lovich for the go-ahead runs. De Leon scored on a wild pitch during Josiah Hartshorn's at-bat, and Hartshorn walked before Alexey Lumpuy struck out to end the frame.

Earlier, Logan Poteet homered in the fourth for the team's first run, and Lumpuy's two-run homer to right center in the sixth had pulled the Pelicans within 4-3.

Mason McGwire started and allowed three runs, one earned, on six hits over four innings, walking one and striking out seven. Braylon Myers earned the win despite a rough outing, allowing four runs on four hits across three innings with one walk and four strikeouts. Riely Hunsaker closed the door with two scoreless innings, recording one strikeout and earning the save.

Hernandez led the offense with two hits, two RBI, and a stolen base. Lumpuy added a hit and two RBI on his homer. Poteet went 2-for-3 with the homer and a walk. Jose Escobar collected two hits and two walks.

 

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Alexis Hernandez	5	0	2	2	0	1
Josiah Hartshorn	4	1	0	0	1	1
Alexey Lumpuy	5	1	1	2	0	1
Michael Carico	3	1	0	0	2	2
Logan Poteet	3	2	2	1	1	0
Jose Escobar	3	1	2	0	2	0
Yahil Melendez	5	1	0	0	0	2
Eli Lovich	3	1	0	0	1	2
Darlyn De Leon	3	1	1	1	1	0

 

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Mason McGwire	4	6	3	1	1	7	0
Braylon Myers	3	4	4	4	1	4	0
Riely Hunsaker	2	0	0	0	0	1	0

 

Top-20 Prospect Performance

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

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