Chicago Cubs Minor League Recap: Noland's Five No-Hit Innings Carry Iowa, Smokies Eliminated From Playoffs

[Travis Klosinski]

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Iowa Cubs Score All Three Runs In The Fourth To Beat Omaha

Iowa won 3-2 at Omaha, and the Cubs scored all three of their runs in the fourth inning.

Owen Ayers opened the frame with a double to left, and Kevin Alcántara followed with a line-drive single to right that moved Ayers to third. Chas McCormick then doubled to left to score both runners. After James Triantos grounded out, Jordan Nwogu lifted a sacrifice fly to left that brought McCormick home for the third run. Iowa did not put another runner in scoring position the rest of the night, and the Cubs finished with four hits, no walks, and one runner left on base.

Connor Noland was the reason the lead held up. He did not allow a hit over five innings, walked two, and struck out six. Jordan Wicks followed with 2 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and two runs, both earned, with one walk and two strikeouts. Omaha got a solo home run in the sixth and pushed a run across in the eighth on a double-play ground ball that Ben Cowles started. Eduarniel Núñez recorded the last out of the eighth, walking one and striking out one over 1/3 of an inning, and Gabe Klobosits pitched a scoreless ninth with a strikeout for his fifth save.

Ayers and McCormick each doubled, and Alcántara and Cowles had the other two Iowa hits.

Iowa Cubs Notable Defense

Iowa played the game without an error and turned two double plays. Jackson Cluff started the first of them, throwing to Kevin Alcántara, and Ben Cowles started the second in the eighth inning, throwing to Cluff and on to Alcántara, which held Omaha to one run in the frame. Justin Dean recorded four putouts on fly balls in center field.

Iowa Cubs Hitting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Owen Miller, 3B	4	0	0	0	0	0
Owen Ayers, C	4	1	1	0	0	0
Kevin Alcántara, 1B	4	1	1	0	0	1
Chas McCormick, LF	4	1	1	2	0	1
James Triantos, DH	3	0	0	0	0	0
Jordan Nwogu, RF	2	0	0	1	0	1
Ben Cowles, 2B	3	0	1	0	0	0
Jackson Cluff, SS	3	0	0	0	0	2
Justin Dean, CF	3	0	0	0	0	1
Totals	30	3	4	3	0	6

Iowa Cubs Pitching

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Connor Noland (W, 4-5)	5	0	0	0	2	6	0
Jordan Wicks (H, 1)	2 2/3	5	2	2	1	2	1
Eduarniel Núñez (H, 1)	1/3	0	0	0	1	1	0
Gabe Klobosits (S, 5)	1	0	0	0	0	1	0
Totals	9	5	2	2	4	10	1

Knoxville Smokies Eliminated By Rocket City After Early Deficit

Knoxville lost 13-3 to Rocket City, and the visitors built the lead across the third and fourth innings.

Rocket City scored four times in the third. The inning began with a fielding error by shortstop Karson Simas, and the next four batters produced a double, a sacrifice fly, another double, a hit by pitch, and a two-run double, all of it charged to Brody McCullough. Rocket City added three more in the fourth on a solo home run, a two-run home run, and a walk in between, with two of those runs coming against Dawson Netz. The visitors then closed the scoring with four runs in the eighth against Jackson Brockett on three singles and a sacrifice fly.

Kane Kepley was the best of the Knoxville bats. He doubled in the eighth and tripled in the ninth to drive in Simas, and he also walked and was hit by a pitch. Ariel Armas went 2-for-3 with a walk and singled home Josiah Hartshorn in the sixth. Andy Garriola doubled home Kepley in the eighth, and Simas had two hits and a walk. Knoxville drew five walks and left 10 runners on base.

Brody McCullough allowed five runs, three earned, over 2 1/3 innings with no walks and six strikeouts. Dawson Netz gave up four runs over 1 2/3 innings with a walk and two strikeouts. Tyler Ras followed with two hitless, scoreless innings, allowing one walk and striking out two. Jackson Brockett gave up five hits and four runs in 1 1/3 innings. Frankie Scalzo Jr., Kevin Valdez, and Luis Rujano combined for the final 1 2/3 innings without a run.

Knoxville Smokies Notable Defense

Kane Kepley recorded four putouts in center field, including a sacrifice fly in the third, and he fielded two doubles and two singles hit his way. Alex Ramírez also recorded four putouts in right field, including a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Knoxville Smokies Hitting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Alex Ramírez, RF	5	0	1	0	0	2
Josiah Hartshorn, 1B	4	1	0	0	1	0
Kane Kepley, CF	3	1	2	1	1	1
Andy Garriola, DH	4	0	1	1	0	1
Ariel Armas, C	3	0	2	1	1	0
Carter Trice, LF	4	0	0	0	0	3
Alex Madera, 2B	3	0	1	0	1	1
Angel Cepeda, 3B	4	0	0	0	0	2
Karson Simas, SS	3	1	2	0	1	1
Totals	33	3	9	3	5	11

Knoxville Smokies Pitching

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Brody McCullough (L, 0-1)	2 1/3	5	5	3	0	6	1
Dawson Netz	1 2/3	3	4	4	1	2	2
Tyler Ras	2	1	0	0	1	2	0
Jackson Brockett	1 1/3	5	4	4	1	1	0
Frankie Scalzo Jr.	1/3	0	0	0	1	0	0
Kevin Valdez	1/3	0	0	0	0	1	0
Luis Rujano	1	0	0	0	0	1	0
Totals	9	14	13	10	4	13	3

Top-20 Prospect Performance

1. Josiah Hartshorn: 0-for-4, BB, R
2. Cade Townsend: DNP
3. Jaxon Wiggins: DNP
4. Owen Ayers: 1-for-4, 2B, R
5. Kane Kepley: 2-for-3, 2B, 3B, RBI, BB, HBP, R, K
6. Ethan Conrad: DNP
7. Caden Sorrell: DNP
8. Kaleb Wing: DNP
9. Myles Bailey: DNP
10. Brooks Caple: DNP
11. James Triantos: 0-for-3
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: 2-for-3, RBI, BB
19. Fernando Cruz: DNP
20. Brandon Birdsell: DNP

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