Chicago Cubs Minor League Report: Pelicans Toss No-Hitter, Rojas Makes Double-A Debut

Cubs Affiliate Overview (July 18)

• Triple-A Iowa Cubs
Series vs. Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Guardians): Clippers lead 1-0
Season Record: 47–46

• Double-A Knoxville Smokies
Series at Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox): Barons lead 1-0
Season Record: 42-45

• High-A South Bend Cubs
Series vs. Beloit Sky Carp (Miami Marlins): Sky Carp lead 1-0
Season Record: 34–54

• Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Series vs. Augusta GreenJackets (Atlanta Braves): Pelicans lead 1-0
Season Record: 40–45

Triple-A: Iowa Cubs
Season Record: 47–46
Series Opponent: Columbus Clippers (44–47)
Series Standing: Trail 1-0

July 18: In the first game out of the all-star break, the Iowa Cubs fell to the Columbus Clippers, 5-4, in 10 innings on Friday. Ben Cowles (1-for-2) helped send the game to extras with a two-run single in the eighth, but the Cubs were unable to push runs across the plate in the ninth and the 10th. Moisés Ballesteros went 2-for-5 with a run, and Carlos Pérez launched his 20th home run of the campaign. Brandon Birdsell made his first start with Iowa this season, allowing two runs, one earned, over 2 2/3 innings of work, striking out four and walking five.

Double-A: Knoxville Smokies
Season Record: 42–45
Series Opponent: Birmingham Barons (50–38)
Series Standing: Trail 1-0

July 18: The Knoxville Smokies were blanked by the Birmingham Barons, 2-0, on Friday. Jefferson Rojas, the Cubs’ No. 3 prospect according to MLB.com, made his Double-A debut, going 1-for-4 with a double. Reivaj Garcia was the lone batter to post a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-4. Tyler Schlaffer suffered the loss in the start, allowing just one run on five hits over four innings of work, striking out five.

High-A: South Bend Cubs
Season Record: 34–54
Series Opponent: Beloit Sky Carp (43–44)
Series Standing: Trail 1–0

July 18: The South Bend Cubs were blanked by the Beloit Sky Carp, 1-0, on Friday in the team’s first game out of the all-star break. South Bend was held to just four hits, all singles, and went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Cristian Hernandez extended his hitting streak to seven games by going 1-for-4 and has now hit safely in 11 of his last 12. Brook Caple took the loss in the start, allowing one run on four hits over five innings, striking out five.

Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Season Record: 40–45
Series Opponent: Augusta GreenJackets (44–42)
Series Standing: Lead 1-0

July 18: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans tossed the fifth nine-inning no-hitter in franchise history to earn a 3-0 victory over the Augusta Green Jackets. Jostin Florentino improved to 2-2 on the season, starting the ballgame with six shutout innings, striking out nine while issuing just one walk. Kevin Camacho picked up his first save of the season, working the final three innings of the ballgame, retiring all nine batters he faced, whiffing four, to complete the no-hitter. The Pelicans got all the offense they needed in the first inning, with Owen Ayers (1-for-3) launching a three-run shot, his fifth of the season. Alexey Lumpuy went 1-for-3 with a double to extend his hitting streak to five games.

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