Chicago Cubs Minor-League Affiliate Recap: Kepley, Long Homer While Triantos Keeps Hitting

Chicago Cubs Transactions

• Chicago Cubs signed free agent RHP Jake Woodford.
• Chicago Cubs designated RHP Bryse Wilson for assignment.

Iowa Rallies To Tie, Falls On Late Walk-Off

The Iowa Cubs erased a four-run deficit only to lose 7-6 to the Toledo Mud Hens.

Starter Grant Kipp lasted four innings and was tagged for five runs, including three home runs, on five hits and two walks while striking out seven. Iowa's offense answered in the seventh.

Down 5-1, Jonathon Long launched a two-run homer. 

Owen Miller tripled home a run, and James Triantos followed with an RBI single to knot the score at 5-5. Iowa took the lead in the ninth when a Moisés Ballesteros sacrifice fly scored Owen Miller for a 6-5 edge, but the bullpen could not hold it.

Doug Nikhazy absorbed the loss after allowing two runs in the bottom half. Long finished 2-for-4 with the homer and two RBI, Triantos went 3-for-5, Miller added a triple among his two hits, and Brett Bateman homered and doubled. Iowa left 11 runners on base.

Knoxville's Early Lead Slips Away In Seventh

The Knoxville Smokies jumped ahead early but could not hold on in a 4-3 loss to the Columbus Clingstones.

Starter Jace Beck turned in a strong outing over four innings, allowing one run on four hits with four walks and eight strikeouts. Knoxville struck first in the opening inning when Carter Trice laced a two-run double to plate Alex Ramírez and Jefferson Rojas for a 2-1 lead. The Smokies added a run in the third as Rojas walked, moved to third, and scored on an Andy Garriola sacrifice fly to make it 3-1.

The lead disappeared in the seventh, when the bullpen surrendered three runs and Tyler Schlaffer was charged with the loss after allowing three runs over 2 2/3 innings. Tyler Santana followed with 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

Trice drove in two, Rojas reached twice on walks and stole a base, and Ariel Armas singled. Knoxville left six runners on base. 

South Bend Powers Past Beloit Behind Kepley's Blast

The South Bend Cubs collected 11 hits in a 7-3 win over the Beloit Sky Carp that was a continuation of the previous day's suspended game.

Ethan Flanagan carried the pitching, working 4 2/3 innings and giving up two runs on three hits with no walks and five strikeouts to earn the win. "Opener" Jaxon Wiggins allowed a solo home run in his lone inning, and Brayden Spears closed with 3 1/3 scoreless innings for the save.

South Bend broke through in the second when Kane Kepley crushed a three-run homer for a 3-1 lead.

The Cubs pulled away in the eighth, scoring three times as Matt Halbach drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run and Christian Olivo delivered a two-run single. Jose Escobar led the way at 4-for-5 with a triple and a stolen base, Angel Cepeda went 3-for-4 with a steal, Kepley drove in three, and Olivo added two RBI. South Bend stranded 17 runners on base.

Myrtle Beach's Lead Unravels In Bullpen Loss

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans built an early lead but fell 7-4 to the Hickory Crawdads.

Starter Brody McCullough was sharp across five innings, allowing one run on two hits with no walks and five strikeouts. Alexey Lumpuy tied the game in the third with a solo home run, and Myrtle Beach surged ahead in the fourth.

Jose Silva ripped a two-run single, and Lumpuy followed with an RBI single to build a 4-1 cushion. The lead did not last. Henry Cone was charged with the loss and a blown save after allowing four runs, one earned, over 1 2/3 innings, and Emilio Ramos gave up two more runs across 2 1/3 innings as Hickory rallied.

Lumpuy paced the offense at 4-for-5 with the homer and two RBI, Silva went 2-for-4 with two RBI, and Edward Vargas reached three times. Three Myrtle Beach errors helped the opposition, and the Pelicans left 11 runners on base.

Top-20 Prospect Performance

1. Jefferson Rojas: 0-for-2, 2 BB, SB, K
2. Pedro Ramirez: DNP
3. Jaxon Wiggins: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR
4. Josiah Hartshorn: 1-for-6, 2 K
5. Kevin Alcantara: DNP
6. Ethan Conrad: DNP
7. Kane Kepley: 1-for-6, HR, 3 RBI, 2 K
8. Owen Ayers: 0-for-4, K
9. Jonathon Long: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB
10. Kaleb Wing: DNP
11. James Triantos: 3-for-5, RBI
12. Brooks Caple: DNP
13. Mason McGwire: DNP
14. Ty Southisene: DNP
15. Will Sanders: DNP
16. Juan Cabada: DNP
17. Eli Lovich: 1-for-4, BB
18. Ariel Armas: 1-for-3, BB, K
19. Jostin Florentino: DNP
20. Grant Kipp: 4 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 3 HR

Interested in learning more about the Chicago Cubs' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!