Chicago Cubs Minor League Recap: Hartshorn Powers South Bend, Ayers Delivers Four-Hit Day

[Travis Klosinski]

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Cowles And Dean Drive Early, But Louisville Buries Iowa

The Iowa Cubs jumped ahead early but were overwhelmed in a 20-5 loss to the Louisville Bats.

Iowa built a lead in the second inning when Ben Cowles doubled home Kevin Alcántara, and Justin Dean followed with a single that scored Cowles to make it 3-1.

The cushion did not last. Starter Jordan Wicks struggled through three innings, allowing eight runs, four earned, on eight hits and three walks while striking out one. The Bats kept pouring it on against the Iowa bullpen, with Luke Little surrendering five runs while recording just two outs.

Offensively, Alcántara, James Triantos, Cowles, and Dean each collected two hits, and Cowles and Dean drove in two runs apiece. Iowa left six runners on base and could not keep pace once Louisville seized the lead in the fourth.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Brett Bateman	4	0	1	0	1	1
Owen Miller	5	0	0	0	0	0
BJ Murray	3	0	0	0	0	1
Casey Opitz	1	0	0	0	0	0
Jonathon Long	4	0	0	0	0	0
Kevin Alcántara	4	2	2	0	0	1
James Triantos	4	1	2	0	0	2
Ben Cowles	2	2	2	2	1	0
Eric Yang	2	0	0	1	0	1
Justin Dean	3	0	2	2	0	0

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Jordan Wicks	3	8	8	4	3	1	1
Ryan Jensen	1	2	1	1	0	1	1
Ty Blach	1	3	4	4	2	0	1
Luke Little	2/3	4	5	5	1	0	1
Luis Peralta	1 1/3	1	1	1	2	3	0
Casey Opitz	1	1	1	1	0	0	1

Ayers Collects Four Hits And Three Doubles In Knoxville Loss

The Knoxville Smokies fell 10-6 to the Montgomery Biscuits despite a standout afternoon from Owen Ayers, who went 4-for-4 with three doubles and three RBI.

Starter Connor Schultz could not find the strike zone, allowing seven runs, six earned, on five hits and four walks over 2 1/3 innings while striking out three. Knoxville trailed for most of the day before mounting a late push.

The Smokies plated two in the sixth on an Ayers double that scored Alex Ramírez and an Andy Garriola groundout. They added four more in the seventh, as Hayden Cantrelle singled home Ethan Hearn, Alex Ramírez reached on an error that scored Edgar Alvarez, and Ayers capped the rally with another double that brought in Cantrelle.

Jackson Kirkpatrick was the lone bright spot on the mound, working 1 1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Knoxville left four runners on base and could not overcome the early deficit.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Alex Ramírez	4	2	0	0	0	0
Jefferson Rojas	3	1	0	0	1	1
Owen Ayers	4	0	4	3	0	0
Andy Garriola	4	0	0	1	0	0
Carter Trice	3	0	0	0	0	2
Ethan Hearn	3	1	0	0	0	1
Karson Simas	2	0	1	0	0	1
Ed Howard	1	0	0	0	0	1
Edgar Alvarez	3	1	1	0	0	2
Hayden Cantrelle	2	1	1	1	1	0

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Connor Schultz	2 1/3	5	7	6	4	3	1
Frankie Scalzo Jr.	2 1/3	3	3	3	3	0	1
Jackson Kirkpatrick	1 1/3	1	0	0	1	2	0

Hartshorn And Valdez Lead South Bend Past Peoria

The South Bend Cubs earned a 5-3 win over the Peoria Chiefs behind a dominant relief outing from Kevin Valdez, who struck out eight and allowed one run on three hits across five innings without issuing a walk.

The Cubs broke through in the third inning when Josiah Hartshorn launched a two-run home run that scored Kane Kepley and tied the game at 2-2. 

South Bend took the lead for good in the fifth, when Hartshorn lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home Kepley and Jose Escobar doubled to score Ty Southisene, pushing the margin to 5-2.

Hartshorn finished with three RBI on the day. Starter Eli Jerzembeck worked two innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four. Kane Kepley reached three times with a triple and a walk and scored twice atop the lineup. South Bend left eight runners on base but got enough from Valdez to close it out.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Kane Kepley	3	2	1	0	1	1
Ty Southisene	2	1	1	0	1	1
Josiah Hartshorn	2	1	1	3	1	1
Matt Halbach	4	0	1	0	0	1
Cole Mathis	2	1	1	0	1	0
Jose Escobar	3	0	1	2	0	1
Justin Stransky	2	0	1	0	1	1
Alex Madera	3	0	1	0	0	1
Christian Olivo	3	0	0	0	0	1

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Eli Jerzembeck	2	4	2	2	2	4	1
Kevin Valdez	5	3	1	1	0	8	0

Mettert Slams The Door As Myrtle Beach Edges Augusta

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans pulled away for a 5-2 win over the Augusta GreenJackets, with the bullpen providing the difference.

Braylon Myers opened with three scoreless innings, striking out four while allowing one hit and three walks. The Pelicans struck first in the second inning when Jairo Diaz doubled to score Derniche Valdez.

Myrtle Beach broke the game open in the seventh, scoring three runs. Alexis Hernandez singled home Henniel Alcala, Eli Lovich followed with a single that scored Darlyn De Leon, and Logan Poteet grounded into a force out that plated another run to make it 5-1.

Sam Mettert closed the game with five strikeouts over two innings, allowing one run on one hit for his debut at the Pelican's ball park.

Eli Lovich led the offense with two hits and an RBI, and Hernandez also drove in a run. Myrtle Beach left seven runners on base but never trailed.

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

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Braylon Myers	3	1	0	0	3	4	0
Hayden Frank	4	3	1	1	2	1	1
Sam Mettert	2	1	1	1	2	5	0

Top-20 Prospect Performance

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

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