Cubs Minor League Report: Farm System Drops All Four As Alcántara, McGwire Stand Out

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Alcántara's Solo Shot The Lone Run In Iowa's Loss At Nashville

The Iowa Cubs fell 4-1 at Nashville. The Cubs' only run came on a solo home run from cleanup hitter Kevin Alcántara in the top of the second inning, his 14th of the season. The lead lasted until the bottom of the third, when the Sounds answered with a solo home run to tie the game.

Connor Noland (L, 2-3) started and allowed three runs on six hits over five innings, walking two and striking out two. The fifth inning broke the tie. After a leadoff lineout to Alcántara in left, Noland gave up a single to center, a walk, and a hit by pitch to load the bases. A force out scored the go-ahead run, and a single to center brought home another to make it 3-1.

Tyler Ferguson and Gavin Hollowell each threw a scoreless inning out of the bullpen. Collin Snider gave up a single and a triple in the eighth, allowing one run.

Jonathon Long led the offense by going 2-for-3 with a double and a walk. Christian Bethancourt, Scott Kingery, and Brett Bateman each added a single. Iowa stranded eight.

Smokies Drop High-Scoring Affair To Columbus

The Knoxville Smokies dropped a 9-5 decision at Columbus. Karson Simas opened the game with a leadoff double, advanced on a fly out, and scored on an RBI double from Alex Ramírez to give the Smokies a 1-0 lead. Columbus answered with three runs in the home half against Grant Kipp on a triple, a fielder's choice, and a double.

Knoxville tied the score in the third. Simas doubled again to lead off, and after a fly out and a strikeout, Andy Garriola lined a double to right that scored Simas. Ramírez followed with an RBI single to make it 3-3. Columbus pulled ahead 6-3 with a sacrifice fly in the fourth and a two-run home run in the fifth.

The Smokies got two back in the sixth. Carter Trice led off with his fourth home run, and Simas later added an RBI double that scored Ariel Armas. Columbus put the game away with three runs in the eighth.

Grant Kipp (L, 2-3) took the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings, walking two and striking out five. Tyler Santana followed with 2 2/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Jackson Kirkpatrick walked two and gave up the decisive hit in the eighth.

Simas finished 2-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, two runs scored, and an RBI. Ramírez added two hits and two RBI. Garriola reached three times on a double and two walks. The Smokies stranded eight.

Cubs Plate Three Early But Wisconsin Roars Back Past South Bend

The South Bend Cubs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers answered with five runs in the bottom of the second to take control of an eventual 11-6 win. The Cubs' opening rally produced RBIs from Ty Southisene on a double and Drew Bowser on a single, with another run scoring on a Leonel Espinoza double play.

Eli Jerzembeck (L, 0-1) lasted only 1 2/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out two. Jackson Brockett relieved with 3 1/3 innings, giving up one run on four hits and one walk. Alfredo Romero followed with three innings, surrendering four runs on three hits and five walks, including a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth that pushed Wisconsin's lead to five.

South Bend kept chipping. Southisene added an RBI single in the second and another in the fifth to finish 3-for-5 with three RBI, two stolen bases, and a double. Leadoff hitter Kane Kepley reached four times, drawing three walks, scoring twice, and stealing three bases. Christian Olivo grounded out for an RBI in the third.

Drew Bowser and Leonel Espinoza each added a hit. The Cubs stranded 12 runners and committed two errors.

Pelicans Pitching Strikes Out 15 In Loss To Augusta

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans collected only two hits in a 3-1 home loss to the Augusta GreenJackets. Augusta took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning on an RBI single and a bases-loaded walk against starter Pierce Coppola, and a solo home run in the seventh provided the eventual winning margin against Mason McGwire.

Coppola (L, 0-1) was charged with the loss after allowing two runs on four hits over 3 2/3 innings, walking two and striking out six on 72 pitches. McGwire followed with 4 1/3 innings, striking out eight without issuing a walk while allowing just the solo home run. Edwardo Melendez closed out the game with a scoreless ninth.

The Pelicans' lone run came in the bottom of the sixth. Leadoff hitter Alexis Hernandez reached on an error, stole second base, and came home on an RBI single by Michael Carico.

Carico finished 1-for-4 with the team's lone RBI, and Jose Escobar accounted for the only other hit. Josiah Hartshorn drew two walks, while Eli Lovich, Logan Poteet, and Hartshorn collectively reached five times on free passes. Myrtle Beach stranded six.

Top-20 Prospect Performance

1. Moises Ballesteros: DNP
2. Jaxon Wiggins: DNP
3. Jefferson Rojas: 0-for-5
4. Kevin Alcántara: 1-for-4, HR, RBI, R
5. Jonathon Long: 2-for-3, 2B, BB
6. Ethan Conrad: DNP
7. Pedro Ramírez: 0-for-3, K
8. Kane Kepley: 1-for-2, 2 R, 3 BB, 3 SB
9. Josiah Hartshorn: 0-for-2, 2 BB, K
10. James Triantos: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
11. Brandon Birdsell: DNP
12. Cole Mathis: DNP
13. Angel Cepeda: DNP
14. Kaleb Wing: DNP
15. Will Sanders: DNP
16. Juan Cabada: DNP
17. Jostin Florentino: DNP
18. Dominick Reid: DNP
19. Ty Southisene: 3-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 SB
20. Erian Rodriguez: DNP

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