Chicago Cubs Minor League Recap: Knoxville's Arms Carry The Night As Iowa, South Bend Fall

[Travis Klosinski]

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Iowa Cubs Held To Four Hits In Loss To Toledo

The Iowa Cubs were held to four hits and lost 9-1 to the Toledo Mud Hens at Principal Park.

Iowa's only run came in the fourth. Owen Miller opened the inning with a single to center, Owen Ayers followed with a single to right, and Chas McCormick was called out on strikes. Kevin Alcántara then grounded out to third, scoring Miller and moving Ayers to third. Ayers was stranded there when Greg Jones struck out.

The game got away from Iowa in the eighth. Toledo opened with two singles and two walks, the second of which forced in a run. A double drove in another run, though two Toledo runners were thrown out at the plate on the same play, and a two-run home run followed to make it 9-1.

Connor Noland started and took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits over four innings with one walk and three strikeouts, including one home run. Justin Steele gave up two runs on four hits over two innings with no walks and three strikeouts.

Shelby Miller worked one scoreless inning with one hit and one strikeout. Jaxon Wiggins recorded two outs and allowed four runs on four hits and two walks. Grant Kipp followed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up one hit and one walk with three strikeouts.

Miller, Ayers, McCormick, and Alcántara had Iowa's four hits, with McCormick's going for a double. Iowa drew four walks, struck out eight times, and left six runners on base.

Iowa Cubs Notable Defense

Iowa played the game without an error. Owen Ayers threw out two runners attempting to steal marking that number 38 and 39 on his season.

Ayers was on the finish of the game's biggest defensive play, when Justin Dean caught a line drive in center and started a relay to Ben Cowles and then to Ayers that retired two Toledo runners at the plate in the eighth.

Owen Miller and Ben Cowles each recorded two assists for good measure.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
James Triantos, 3B	3	0	0	0	1	0
Owen Miller, 2B	4	1	1	0	0	2
Owen Ayers, C	3	0	1	0	1	1
Chas McCormick, LF	3	0	1	0	1	1
Kevin Alcántara, RF	4	0	1	1	0	0
Greg Jones, DH	4	0	0	0	0	1
Ben Cowles, SS	4	0	0	0	0	2
Austin Wynns, 1B	2	0	0	0	1	0
Justin Dean, CF	3	0	0	0	0	1
Totals	30	1	4	1	4	8

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Connor Noland (L, 3-5)	4	4	3	3	1	3	1
Justin Steele	2	4	2	2	0	3	0
Shelby Miller	1	1	0	0	0	1	0
Jaxon Wiggins	2/3	4	4	4	2	0	1
Grant Kipp	1 1/3	1	0	0	1	3	0
Totals	9	14	9	9	4	10	2

Brody McCullough And The Bullpen Carry Knoxville Past Birmingham

The Knoxville Smokies beat the Birmingham Barons 4-1 at Regions Field, collecting 10 hits and getting eight scoreless innings from their first two pitchers.

Knoxville broke through in the fifth. Alex Madera singled to center, moved to second on a groundout, and scored on Karson Simas's single to center.

The seventh was the decisive inning. Edgar Alvarez, Ariel Armas, and Madera opened with three straight singles to load the bases with nobody out. Carter Trice struck out and Simas flied out to right in foul territory, but leadoff man Kane Kepley walked to force in Alvarez, and Alex Ramírez followed with a single to short that scored Armas. Madera was thrown out at the plate to end the inning with Knoxville ahead 3-0.

Knoxville added a run in the ninth, when Madera walked, Carter Trice singled, and Ramírez singled to the catcher with two outs to bring Madera home.

Brody McCullough started and worked five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts. Jackson Brockett followed with three scoreless innings, giving up one hit and one walk while striking out four, and picked up a hold. Yenrri Rojas worked one inning, allowing one run on two hits and two walks with one strikeout.

Ramírez went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a walk, and Madera went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Knoxville drew three walks, struck out seven times, and left eight runners on base.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Kane Kepley, CF	4	0	0	1	1	1
Alex Ramírez, DH	4	0	3	2	1	0
Andy Garriola, RF	5	0	0	0	0	1
Miguel Useche, 1B	4	0	1	0	0	0
Edgar Alvarez, 3B	4	1	1	0	0	2
Ariel Armas, C	4	1	1	0	0	1
Alex Madera, 2B	3	2	2	0	1	0
Carter Trice, LF	4	0	1	0	0	2
Karson Simas, SS	4	0	1	1	0	0
Totals	36	4	10	4	3	7

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Brody McCullough (W, 2-4)	5	3	0	0	3	7	0
Jackson Brockett (H, 2)	3	1	0	0	1	4	0
Yenrri Rojas	1	2	1	1	2	1	0
Totals	9	6	1	1	6	12	0

Knoxville Smokies Notable Defense

Knoxville turned in an error-free game behind 12 strikeouts from the pitching staff. Alex Madera handled five assists at second base, including the final out of the game, and Ariel Armas threw out a runner attempting to steal.

South Bend Cubs Strike Out 14 Times In Loss To Quad Cities

The South Bend Cubs lost 3-1 to the Quad Cities River Bandits at Four Winds Field, managing five hits and striking out 14 times. Quad Cities scored on a double in the second and again on a double in the sixth to lead 2-0.

South Bend answered in the seventh. Reginald Preciado singled to left to open the inning, and after Logan Poteet struck out, Caden Sorrell lined a single to left to bring Preciado home.

Josiah Hartshorn grounded into a force out and Kade Snell flied out to left to end the inning with South Bend down 2-1.

Quad Cities restored the two-run margin in the eighth, loading the bases on a single, a double, a fielder's choice that cut down a runner at the plate, and a walk, before a hit by pitch forced in a run. South Bend went down in order in the ninth.

Nazier Mulé started and took the loss, allowing one run on two hits over three innings with two walks, one hit batter, and three strikeouts. Cole Reynolds gave up one run on two hits over 2 2/3 innings with one walk and three strikeouts. Yoendris Gonzalez worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up one hit and two walks with two strikeouts. Anhuar Garcia allowed one run on two hits over 1 2/3 innings with three walks and one strikeout. Adam Stone retired the only batter he faced.

Preciado went 2-for-4 and Sorrell went 2-for-4 with the run batted in. Matt Halbach had the other South Bend hit. South Bend drew three walks, stole two bases, and left eight runners on base.

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Josiah Hartshorn, 1B	3	0	0	0	1	0
Kade Snell, DH	4	0	0	0	0	3
Angel Cepeda, SS	3	0	0	0	1	2
Jose Escobar, LF	4	0	0	0	0	1
Matt Halbach, 3B	4	0	1	0	0	1
Alexey Lumpuy, RF	3	0	0	0	1	2
Reginald Preciado, 2B	4	1	2	0	0	1
Logan Poteet, C	3	0	0	0	0	2
Brennan Hudson, PH	1	0	0	0	0	1
Caden Sorrell, CF	4	0	2	1	0	1
Totals	33	1	5	1	3	14

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Nazier Mulé (L, 0-1)	3	2	1	1	2	3	0
Cole Reynolds	2 2/3	2	1	1	1	3	0
Yoendris Gonzalez	1 1/3	1	0	0	2	2	0
Anhuar Garcia	1 2/3	2	1	1	3	1	0
Adam Stone	1/3	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	9	7	3	3	8	9	0

South Bend Cubs Notable Defense

Logan Poteet threw out two runners attempting to steal and applied the tag at the plate in the eighth on Angel Cepeda's throw from shortstop, cutting down the lead runner with the bases loaded. Reginald Preciado recorded five assists at second base. Cepeda was charged with the only South Bend error.

Top-20 Prospect Performance

1. Josiah Hartshorn: 0-for-3, BB
2. Cade Townsend: DNP
3. Jaxon Wiggins: 2/3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, HR
4. Owen Ayers: 1-for-3, BB, K
5. Kane Kepley: 0-for-4, RBI, BB, K
6. Ethan Conrad: DNP
7. Caden Sorrell: 2-for-4, RBI, K
8. Kaleb Wing: DNP
9. Myles Bailey: DNP
10. Brooks Caple: DNP
11. James Triantos: 0-for-3, BB
12. Will Sanders: DNP
13. Juan Cabada: DNP
14. Jostin Florentino: DNP
15. Derniche Valdez: DNP
16. Grant Kipp: 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
17. Jose Escobar: 0-for-4, K
18. Ariel Armas: 1-for-4, R, K
19. Fernando Cruz: DNP
20. Brandon Birdsell: DNP

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