Caple's Quality Start And Iowa's Five-Run Seventh Highlight Cubs Affiliate Action

Cubs Transactions

• Chicago Cubs designated 2B Nicky Lopez for assignment.
• Chicago Cubs recalled RF Kevin Alcántara from Iowa Cubs.

Iowa's Five-Run Seventh Pushes The Cubs Past Memphis

Iowa erupted for five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to overtake Memphis and win 6-4 at Principal Park. Trailing 3-1 entering the frame, the Cubs strung together a walk by Brett Bateman and back-to-back singles from leadoff hitter Justin Dean and Jonathon Long to load the bases. BJ Murray then delivered a two-run double to left, with Bateman and Dean both scoring. Cleanup hitter Owen Miller followed with another two-run double that brought Long and Murray home, and Chas McCormick capped the rally with an RBI double that plated Miller.

Paul Campbell turned in a steady starting effort, working six innings while allowing three runs on six hits, one walk, and one strikeout. He gave up a two-run home run in the fifth and an RBI double in the third. Gavin Hollowell earned the win after tossing a scoreless seventh. Collin Snider allowed a solo home run in the eighth but recorded a hold, and Christian Roa closed it out with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth for the save.

Dean led the offense with two hits, a run, an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base. Murray finished 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, and a walk. Miller went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, and McCormick added two hits and a double in a 2-for-4 effort. Ben Cowles also doubled. James Triantos went 0-for-4. Iowa banged out 12 hits and left eight runners on base.

Caple's Quality Start Lifts Smokies Past Biscuits In A 2-1 Win

Brooks Caple delivered a quality start to lead Knoxville to a 2-1 win over Montgomery at Smokies Stadium. Caple worked six innings, scattering five hits while allowing one earned run on a solo home run in the fourth. He did not walk a batter and struck out four to earn the win.

The Smokies scored both of their runs by bringing Alex Ramírez across the plate. In the first inning, Ramírez doubled and then came home on Owen Ayers' RBI single to center. With the game tied at one in the bottom of the eighth, Ramírez singled, eventually moved into scoring position, and scored on cleanup hitter Jefferson Rojas' RBI single to right.

Ramírez led the offense, going 3-for-4 with a double, two runs, and a stolen base. Ayers, Rojas, and Karson Simas each contributed a hit, with Simas also drawing a walk and stealing a base. Carter Trice, Andy Garriola, and Hayden Cantrelle each drew a walk as well. The Smokies struck out nine times as a team.

Jake Knapp got the start and turned in two scoreless innings, allowing one hit, one walk, and three strikeouts. Marino Santy closed the door in the ninth with a perfect inning and a strikeout to earn the save. Knoxville committed one error and left seven runners on base.

Four-Run Second And Useche's Power Carry South Bend To 5-3 Victory

South Bend struck for four runs in the top of the second inning and held on to beat West Michigan 5-3 in Comstock Park. The rally began when Cole Mathis singled and scored on Leonel Espinoza's RBI double to left. Alex Madera walked, and Miguel Useche followed with an RBI single to center to score Espinoza. After a fielder's choice and a walk to leadoff hitter Kane Kepley, Ty Southisene delivered a two-run single to right that brought Useche and Christian Olivo home. Useche later padded the lead with a solo home run in the sixth.

Jostin Florentino had a rough start, working two innings while allowing two earned runs on three hits and three walks, though he struck out three. Ben Johnson earned the win by tossing three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out four. Kenten Egbert worked a scoreless sixth for a hold, and Brayden Spears finished it by working three innings, allowing one run on two hits while striking out four to earn the save.

Useche led the offense, going 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs, and a home run. Southisene went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Espinoza added a 1-for-4 effort with a double, a run, and an RBI. Mathis chipped in a hit and a run, and Olivo went 1-for-4 with a stolen base. Kade Snell had a tough night, going 0-for-5 with five strikeouts. The Cubs collected nine hits, struck out 15 times, and left seven runners on base.

Hartshorn's Big Double Not Enough As Pelicans Fall To Cannon Ballers

Myrtle Beach put together a three-run rally in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game, but Kannapolis answered with three in the bottom of the frame and held on for a 5-4 win. Trailing 2-0, leadoff hitter Alexis Hernandez and Darlyn De Leon set the rally up with hits before Alexey Lumpuy's RBI single brought De Leon home. Josiah Hartshorn then doubled to right to score Hernandez and Lumpuy, knotting the score at three. Myrtle Beach added one more in the seventh on a Hernandez triple followed by a Lumpuy walk, but the Pelicans stranded the tying run.

Noah Edders started and worked two innings, striking out four while allowing one earned run on no hits and one walk. David Bracho took the loss after a rough three innings, allowing four earned runs on three hits and five walks while striking out four. Hayden Frank gave Myrtle Beach a chance to come back, tossing three scoreless innings on two hits and a walk with four strikeouts.

Hernandez led the offense, going 3-for-5 with two runs and a triple. Hartshorn finished 1-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, and a walk. De Leon went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, and a run, and Michael Carico added two hits and a double. Lumpuy walked twice, scored a run, and drove in another in a 1-for-3 effort. The Pelicans collected ten hits, but committed two errors and left seven runners on base.

Top-20 Prospect Performance

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

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