Chicago Cubs Minor League Recap: Iowa's Six-Run Fourth Slips Away, Knoxville Falls Late

[Travis Klosinski]

Chicago Cubs Transactions

• Chicago Cubs activated RHP Edward Cabrera from the 15-day injured list.
• Chicago Cubs placed RHP Trent Thornton on the 15-day injured list. Left ankle sprain.

Iowa Cubs: Six-Run Fourth Wiped Out By Six-Run Fifth In 9-7 Loss

Iowa scored six runs in the fourth inning, gave all of them back in the fifth, and lost 9-7 to the Toledo Mud Hens.

The Cubs led 1-0 after the second, and Toledo tied it in the third. The fourth was the big inning. Owen Ayers opened with a single, and Chas McCormick followed with a two-run home run, his 14th.

Owen Miller reached on an error, James Triantos doubled for the 30th time this season, and Jordan Nwogu tripled to left to bring home both runners.

 

Jackson Cluff walked, Justin Dean singled Nwogu home, and Kevin Alcántara singled Cluff in. Six runs crossed on six hits, and Iowa led 7-1.

 

The fifth undid it. Luis Peralta walked the first man he faced, gave up a single, then surrendered a three-run home run. Two more singles and a walk loaded the bases, and Antoine Kelly came on. A groundout brought in a run, and a two-out double drove in two more to tie the game 7-7.

Andrew Wantz started and went 3 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits with four walks and three strikeouts.

 

Doug Nikhazy struck out two over two scoreless innings. Tyler Ferguson gave up a two-run home run in the ninth, and that was the difference.

Nwogu finished 2-for-4 with three runs batted in, McCormick and Dean each had two hits, and Triantos reached twice with a double and a walk. Iowa left eight men on base.

 Iowa Cubs Notable Defense

Iowa played the game without an error. Kevin Alcántara performed a clean defensive pick.

Iowa Cubs Hitting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Justin Dean, CF	5	0	2	1	0	2
Kevin Alcántara, 1B	5	0	1	1	0	2
Owen Ayers, C	3	1	1	0	2	2
Chas McCormick, RF	5	1	2	2	0	0
Owen Miller, 3B	5	1	1	0	0	0
James Triantos, 2B	4	2	1	0	1	1
Jordan Nwogu, LF	4	1	2	3	0	1
Ethan Hearn, DH	4	0	0	0	0	2
Jackson Cluff, SS	2	1	1	0	2	0

Iowa Cubs Pitching

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Andrew Wantz	3 1/3	3	1	1	4	3	1
Luis Peralta	1	4	5	5	1	1	1
Antoine Kelly	1 2/3	1	1	1	2	1	0
Doug Nikhazy	2	1	0	0	1	2	0
Tyler Ferguson	1	3	2	2	0	2	1

Knoxville Smokies: Late Birmingham Rally Ends A Tie Game, 5-2

Knoxville tied the game in the sixth inning, then gave up three runs in the eighth and lost 5-2 to the Birmingham Barons.

Dawson Netz gave the Smokies a strong start, working 3 2/3 innings and allowing two runs on two hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Both runs came in the fourth, when a two-out walk, a double, and a two-run single put Birmingham ahead 2-0. Luis Martinez-Gomez followed with 3 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up one hit with three walks and five strikeouts.

The offense answered in the sixth. Ariel Armas was hit by a pitch to open the inning, and Carter Trice tripled him home for his third triple of the year. Alex Madera walked, and Angel Cepeda tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center. Edgar Alvarez then reached on a fielder's choice with Madera thrown out at the plate, and Karson Simas flied out in foul ground to end the threat.

Frankie Scalzo Jr. took over in the eighth and allowed a leadoff home run, a walk, and back-to-back singles before a force out brought in the fifth run. He finished with one inning, three runs on three hits, two walks, and two strikeouts.

Knoxville managed three hits, all of them by Trice and Cepeda. Trice was 2-for-3 with a triple, a double, a walk, and a run scored. The Smokies drew six walks, struck out ten times, and left nine men on base.

Knoxville Smokies Hitting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Alex Ramírez, RF	5	0	0	0	0	1
Josiah Hartshorn, 1B	4	0	0	0	1	2
Kane Kepley, CF	4	0	0	0	0	1
Ariel Armas, C	2	1	0	0	1	1
Carter Trice, LF	3	1	2	1	1	1
Alex Madera, 2B	2	0	0	0	2	2
Angel Cepeda, 3B	3	0	1	1	0	0
Edgar Alvarez, DH	3	0	0	0	1	1
Karson Simas, SS	4	0	0	0	0	1

Knoxville Smokies Pitching

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Dawson Netz	3 2/3	2	2	2	1	6	0
Luis Martinez-Gomez	3 1/3	1	0	0	3	5	0
Frankie Scalzo Jr.	1	3	3	3	2	2	1

South Bend Cubs: No Game Scheduled

South Bend did not play. No game was scheduled.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans: No Game Scheduled

Myrtle Beach did not play. No game was scheduled.

 

Top-20 Prospect Performance

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

View full article