Chicago Cubs Minor League Report: Rojas Homers Twice, South Bend Launches Four More

[Travis Klosinski]

Chicago Cubs Transactions

• Chicago Cubs signed free agent RHP Andrew Wantz to a minor league contract.
• Chicago Cubs recalled RHP Javier Assad from Iowa Cubs.
• Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Ethan Roberts to Iowa Cubs.

Iowa Breaks Through With Four-Run Third To Top Toledo

The Iowa Cubs scored seven runs on 10 hits to beat the Toledo Mud Hens, 7-5. The game was tied 3-3 entering the bottom of the third, when Iowa took control.

Ben Cowles singled home James Triantos, Justin Dean doubled to score Ben Cowles and Scott Kingery. Brett Bateman followed with a double that brought in Dean, putting Iowa ahead 7-3.

Bateman finished 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI, Triantos went 2-for-3 with two RBI, and Dean went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. 

Matthew Boyd took the start and worked five innings, allowing seven hits and five runs, all earned, including three home runs, while walking one and striking out five. Tyler Ferguson followed with two scoreless innings, allowing two hits, walking none, and striking out three. Iowa left four runners on base.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Brett Bateman	4	1	3	1	0	1
Matt Shaw	3	1	1	1	1	1
BJ Murray	3	0	0	0	0	0
Owen Miller	3	0	0	0	0	1
James Triantos	3	1	2	2	0	0
Christian Bethancourt	3	0	0	0	0	0
Ben Cowles	3	1	1	1	0	1
Scott Kingery	3	1	1	0	0	0
Justin Dean	3	2	2	2	0	1

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Matthew Boyd	5	7	5	5	1	5	3
Tyler Ferguson	2	2	0	0	0	3	0

Jefferson Rojas And Knoxville Pour It On In 14-Run Night

The Knoxville Smokies scored 14 runs on 15 hits to defeat the Birmingham Barons, 14-5. After Knoxville trailed early, the bottom of the fifth turned the game into a rout as the Smokies plated eight runs.

Carter Trice homered to score Andy Garriola, Alex Ramirez walked with the bases loaded to push home a run, Jefferson Rojas added a sacrifice fly, and Andy Garriola capped the inning with a three-run home run, making it 12-5.

Rojas finished 3-for-3 with two home runs, three runs, and three RBI, Garriola went 2-for-5 with three RBI, and Ariel Armas collected four hits. 

Tyler Schlaffer took the start and pitched four innings, allowing seven hits and five runs, all earned, while walking three and striking out seven. Jace Beck followed with three scoreless innings, walking two and striking out three, and Tyler Ras added two scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Knoxville left seven runners on base.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Alex Ramírez	3	1	0	2	1	2
Jefferson Rojas	3	3	3	3	1	0
Owen Ayers	4	2	3	2	1	0
Andy Garriola	5	2	2	3	0	0
Carter Trice	3	1	1	2	1	1
Devin Ortiz	1	0	0	0	0	1
Edgar Alvarez	4	1	1	1	1	0
Karson Simas	4	2	1	0	1	2
Ariel Armas	5	1	4	0	0	0
Hayden Cantrelle	4	1	0	0	1	2

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Tyler Schlaffer	4	7	5	5	3	7	0
Jace Beck	3	0	0	0	2	3	0
Tyler Ras	2	0	0	0	0	2	0

South Bend Launches Four Homers In 13-2 Romp

The South Bend Cubs scored 13 runs on 12 hits to beat the Quad Cities River Bandits, 13-2.

South Bend blew the game open in the top of the fourth with three home runs. Christian Olivo homered to score Drew Bowser, Josiah Hartshorn followed with a solo home run, and Miguel Useche added a two-run home run to make it 8-0.

The Cubs tacked on three more in the seventh, when Drew Bowser walked with the bases loaded, a run scored on a double play, and Kane Kepley singled home another.

Hartshorn finished 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI. 

Useche homered and drove in two, and Bowser went 2-for-4 with a double.

Will Sanders took the start and worked four scoreless innings, allowing two hits, walking three, and striking out three. JP Wheat added a scoreless inning, and Koen Moreno pitched four innings, allowing six hits and two runs, both earned, with one home run and six strikeouts. South Bend left 11 runners on base.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Kane Kepley	4	2	1	1	2	0
Ty Southisene	5	2	2	0	1	0
Josiah Hartshorn	5	1	3	3	0	1
Cole Mathis	5	2	1	2	1	0
Miguel Useche	3	2	1	2	2	1
Alex Madera	5	1	0	0	1	1
Justin Stransky	4	1	1	1	0	0
Drew Bowser	4	1	2	1	1	0
Christian Olivo	4	1	1	2	0	0

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Will Sanders	4	2	0	0	3	3	0
JP Wheat	1	2	0	0	0	0	0
Koen Moreno	4	6	2	2	0	6	1

Myrtle Beach Bats Go Quiet In 4-2 Loss At Charleston

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans managed just two hits and fell to the Charleston RiverDogs, 4-2.

The Pelicans trailed 2-0 before mounting their only offense in the top of the sixth. Alexis Hernandez singled home Edward Vargas, and Eli Lovich grounded out to bring in Darlyn De Leon, tying the game at 2-2.

Charleston pulled away with two runs in the bottom of the eighth. Hernandez and Darlyn De Leon accounted for the only two hits, and De Leon also drew a walk.

Dominick Reid took the start and pitched five innings, allowing five hits and two runs, both earned, while walking one and striking out one. Edwardo Melendez followed with three innings, allowing one hit and two runs, both earned, with one walk and one strikeout. Myrtle Beach left four runners on base.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Alexis Hernandez	4	0	1	1	0	0
Eli Lovich	4	0	0	1	0	2
Logan Poteet	4	0	0	0	0	2
Michael Carico	2	0	0	0	2	1
Derniche Valdez	4	0	0	0	0	0
Yahil Melendez	4	0	0	0	0	3
Geuri Lubo	3	0	0	0	0	1
Edward Vargas	2	1	0	0	1	1
Darlyn De Leon	2	1	1	0	1	0

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Dominick Reid	5	5	2	2	1	1	0
Edwardo Melendez	3	1	2	2	1	1	0

Top-20 Prospect Performance

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

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