Cubs Minor League Recap: South Bend Clinches First-Half Crown as Rojas, Alcántara, and System Arms Break Out Across Affiliates

[Travis Klosinski]

Let's review all that happened down on the Chicago Cubs' farm system on Saturday (June 13).

Alcántara Drives In Two But Iowa Falls Late In Louisville

Iowa scratched across three runs in the sixth inning but could not hold on, dropping a 4-3 decision to the Louisville Bats.

With one out in the sixth, Owen Miller singled home a run, and Kevin Alcántara followed with a two-run double to put the Cubs ahead 3-0. Alcántara finished 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs batted in, and Jonathon Long added two hits including a double. 

Louisville answered with a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth, then took the lead in the seventh on a run-scoring double and an RBI single.

Vince Velasquez allowed two runs on three hits over four innings, walking two and striking out five. Ty Blach opened with two scoreless, hitless innings and two strikeouts.

Luis Peralta surrendered two runs in the seventh to take the loss, and Christian Roa struck out three in a scoreless eighth. Iowa left seven runners on base.

For the folks interested in defense here's a nice grab by Alcántara to go along with the bat. 

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Brett Bateman	3	1	1	0	2	2
Jonathon Long	4	1	2	0	0	1
Scott Kingery	0	0	0	0	0	0
BJ Murray	2	0	0	0	2	1
Owen Miller	4	1	1	1	0	0
Kevin Alcántara	4	0	2	2	0	2
James Triantos	4	0	0	0	0	1
Chas McCormick	4	0	1	0	0	3
Justin Dean	0	0	0	0	0	0
Christian Bethancourt	3	0	0	0	0	0
Ben Cowles	4	0	0	0	0	1

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Ty Blach	2	0	0	0	0	2	0
Vince Velasquez	4	3	2	2	2	5	1
Luis Peralta	1	3	2	2	1	2	0
Christian Roa	1	0	0	0	1	3	0

Rojas Homers As Knoxville Erupts For 12 In Montgomery

Knoxville scored in double digits to beat the Montgomery Biscuits 12-5.

Trailing 3-0, the Smokies seized the lead with a six-run third inning. Jefferson Rojas got it started with a two-run homer, Alex Ramírez doubled in a run, and a string of hits and a Cameron Sisneros sacrifice fly capped the rally. Rojas finished 3-for-5 with three runs batted in, Ramírez went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two runs batted in, and Hayden Cantrelle added three hits.

Owen Ayers reached three times and scored twice. Knoxville pulled away with a five-run ninth. Frankie Scalzo Jr. provided the key relief work, allowing no runs on three hits over three innings with one strikeout. Jackson Kirkpatrick followed with two hitless, scoreless innings and six strikeouts.

Starter Tyler Schlaffer was charged with three runs on four hits across two innings, walking two and striking out three. Knoxville left seven runners on base.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Karson Simas	6	1	2	0	0	0
Jefferson Rojas	5	2	3	3	0	0
Owen Ayers	4	2	2	0	1	0
Andy Garriola	4	2	1	1	1	2
Carter Trice	4	1	2	1	1	1
Alex Ramírez	5	2	3	2	0	1
Cameron Sisneros	3	0	2	2	0	0
Ed Howard	0	0	0	0	0	0
Edgar Alvarez	0	1	0	0	1	0
Ariel Armas	5	0	1	0	0	2
Hayden Cantrelle	5	1	3	1	0	1

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Tyler Schlaffer	2	4	3	3	2	3	0
Frankie Scalzo Jr.	3	3	0	0	0	1	0
Jackson Kirkpatrick	2	0	0	0	0	6	0
Vince Reilly	2	2	2	1	1	2	1

Three First-Inning Homers Lift South Bend To First-Half Crown

South Bend hit three home runs in the opening inning and held on to beat the Peoria Chiefs 6-4, clinching the first-half Midwest League Western Division title. It is the Cubs' first postseason berth since 2022, and their first first-half division title since 2016.

With one out in the first, Josiah Hartshorn launched a two-run homer, Jose Escobar followed with a two-run shot, and Justin Stransky added a solo blast to make it 5-0 before the inning was over.

Escobar finished 3-for-3 with a double, a home run, and three runs batted in, while Hartshorn drove in two.

South Bend tacked on a run in the fifth when Escobar singled home Matt Halbach.

Koen Moreno allowed two runs on five hits over five innings, striking out three without a walk. Jackson Brockett followed with four innings, surrendering two runs on three hits and striking out five. South Bend left eight runners on base.

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

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Koen Moreno	5	5	2	2	0	3	2
Jackson Brockett	4	3	2	2	0	5	0

Myrtle Beach Bullpen Shines In Loss To Augusta

Myrtle Beach received strong relief pitching but fell 4-3 to the Augusta GreenJackets.

The Pelicans trailed 3-1 after Augusta pushed across two runs in the third inning on a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly. Alexey Lumpuy cut the deficit with a solo home run in the fifth, his first hit in a 2-for-5 day, and Michael Carico doubled home a run in the eighth to make it 4-3, but Myrtle Beach could not complete the comeback. 

Kaleb Wing struggled in the start, charged with three runs, all earned, on one hit over 2 1/3 innings while walking four and striking out three. The bullpen was excellent behind him.

Yoendris Gonzalez struck out five over 2 2/3 scoreless innings, Jhon Rosario allowed one run across 2 2/3 innings, and Sam Mettert struck out three in 1 1/3 scoreless frames.

Myrtle Beach left eight runners on base.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Alexey Lumpuy	5	1	2	1	0	3
Alexis Hernandez	4	1	2	0	1	2
Eli Lovich	3	1	0	0	1	2
Logan Poteet	3	0	1	1	1	1
Michael Carico	3	0	1	1	1	1
Edward Vargas	0	0	0	0	0	0
Yahil Melendez	4	0	0	0	0	2
Darlyn De Leon	3	0	0	0	1	0
Henniel Alcala	4	0	0	0	0	1
Ezequiel Pena	3	0	0	0	1	0

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Kaleb Wing	2 1/3	1	3	3	4	3	0
Yoendris Gonzalez	2 2/3	0	0	0	0	5	0
Jhon Rosario	2 2/3	2	1	1	2	2	0
Sam Mettert	1 1/3	0	0	0	0	3	0

Top-20 Prospect Performance

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

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