Cubs Minor League Recap: Netz Dominates, Ayers Homers as Smokies, Pelicans Earn Wins

Chicago Cubs Transactions

• Chicago Cubs activated LHP Matthew Boyd from the 15-day injured list.
• Chicago Cubs designated RHP Yosver Zulueta for assignment.
• Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Gavin Hollowell to Iowa Cubs.
• Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Tyler Ferguson to Iowa Cubs.
• New York Mets traded LHP David Peterson to Chicago Cubs for 3B Cole Mathis.

Pitching Collapse Sinks Iowa Against Buffalo

Starter Corbin Martin lasted one and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on one hit with one walk and two strikeouts to take the loss and fall to 0-2. The game unraveled from there.

Doug Nikhazy followed with two and two-thirds innings, surrendering four runs on three hits while walking five and striking out four. The fifth inning was the back-breaker, as the Buffalo Bisons plated eight runs. Tyler Beede recorded just two outs in the frame and gave up six runs on five hits, including two home runs, as the deficit ballooned.

Iowa's offense managed only six hits and stranded eight runners. James Triantos led the way, going 2-for-4 with the club's lone RBI, a ninth-inning single that scored Kevin Alcántara for the only Iowa run. Moisés Ballesteros, BJ Murray, Scott Kingery, and Ben Cowles each added a hit, and Alcántara reached on a walk and scored.

Antoine Kelly offered two scoreless innings of relief and Eric Yang added a scoreless frame, but the damage was long done. Catcher Casey Opitz finished the game on the mound and allowed three runs in the ninth.

Netz Spins Six Scoreless As Smokies Handle Birmingham

Dawson Netz turned in a quality start, working six scoreless innings on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts to earn the win and improve to 5-1.

The Smokies gave him an early cushion. Owen Ayers opened the scoring with a leadoff home run, his 14th, in the first inning, and Hayden Cantrelle doubled home Ariel Armas in the second to make it 2-0.

Knoxville broke it open in the seventh when Ed Howard launched a two-run homer, his first of the year, scoring Cantrelle. Birmingham answered with a run in the eighth, but the Smokies tacked on an insurance run in the ninth when Karson Simas grounded out to bring home Cantrelle. Cantrelle was the offensive standout, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI, and two runs scored. Ayers added a 2-for-3 day with a walk, and Howard drove in two. The bullpen finished the job behind Netz.

Marino Santy fired one and two-thirds scoreless innings with three strikeouts, and Luke Little closed it with a scoreless ninth and two strikeouts. Tyler Ras allowed the only Birmingham run. Knoxville stranded six.

Bats Go Quiet As South Bend Falls To Quad Cities

Mason McGwire took the loss in a four-inning start, allowing four runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts to fall to 1-1.

The Quad Cities River Bandits did most of their damage early, scoring three times in the second inning and adding a run in the third to build a 4-0 lead.

South Bend's offense never found a rhythm, managing just four hits and stranding only four runners. The Cubs scratched across their lone run in the fifth, when Jose Escobar doubled home Matt Halbach. Halbach had doubled and scored, while Kane Kepley and Josiah Hartshorn each singled, and Angel Cepeda drew a walk.

The bullpen had mixed results. JP Wheat was excellent, striking out three in a perfect inning, and Grayson Moore recorded the final out with a strikeout. Nate Williams allowed a run over two innings. Luis Rujano struggled, giving up three runs on two hits and four walks while recording five outs, as Quad Cities pulled away with three runs in the ninth to put the game out of reach.

All in all there were still some good defensive plays through out the night. 

Hernandez Delivers In Ninth As Pelicans Edge Salem

The Pelicans rallied for a one-run win, and Alexis Hernandez was the catalyst, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI, including the go-ahead double in the ninth that scored Alexey Lumpuy for the decisive run.

Myrtle Beach and Salem traded blows all afternoon. Jairo Diaz tied the game at two with an RBI single in the fourth, and the Pelicans took the lead in the fifth on a Logan Poteet groundout that scored Lumpuy and a Michael Carico single that scored Hernandez for a 4-3 edge.

Salem answered with a tying run in the bottom of the fifth, and the score held until Hernandez broke it open in the ninth. Starter Kaleb Wing opened with a scoreless first, allowing no hits with a walk and two strikeouts. David Bracho followed with three innings and gave up three runs.

Edwardo Melendez blew a save, allowing one run over three innings while striking out three, before Emilio Ramos slammed the door with two scoreless innings and two strikeouts to pick up the win and move to 1-0. Diaz finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Lumpuy scored twice. Myrtle Beach stranded eight.

Top-20 Prospect Performance

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

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