Travis Klosinski

Chicago Cubs Transactions None Iowa Falls To Indianapolis After Late Collapse The Iowa Cubs lost 14-5 to the Indianapolis Indians, undone by a string of big innings allowed by the bullpen. Iowa had taken a 5-2 lead, building it on RBI from Scott Kingery, Brett Bateman, BJ Murray, and a pair of run-scoring singles from Chas McCormick, who finished 2-for-5 with two RBI. Ben Cowles added two hits, and Owen Miller scored twice with two stolen bases. The game turned in the fifth inning, when Indianapolis scored five runs to take the lead for good, then added three in the sixth and four in the eighth. Christian Roa was charged with four runs, three walks, and a home run while recording two outs. Zac Leigh took the loss after allowing five runs, four walks, and a home run while retiring one batter. The lone bright spot on the mound was Connor Noland, who allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits over four innings, walking one and striking out six. Player AB R H RBI BB K Brett Bateman 3 0 1 1 1 0 Justin Dean 3 1 0 0 1 2 BJ Murray 4 0 0 1 1 1 Owen Miller 4 2 1 0 0 1 Chas McCormick 5 0 2 2 0 2 Ben Cowles 5 1 2 0 0 2 James Triantos 4 1 1 0 0 0 Eric Yang 1 0 0 0 3 1 Scott Kingery 3 0 1 1 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Ryan Jensen 1/3 0 0 0 2 0 0 Christian Roa 2/3 1 4 4 3 1 1 Collin Snider 1 2/3 5 3 3 0 1 0 Zac Leigh 1/3 1 5 5 4 0 1 Gavin Hollowell 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Connor Noland 4 3 2 1 1 6 0 Knoxville Powers Past Chattanooga With Four Homers The Knoxville Smokies hit four home runs to beat the Chattanooga Lookouts 7-5. Owen Ayers, batting second, finished 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, and Jefferson Rojas, Ethan Hearn, and Edgar Alvarez each added a homer. Alex Madera went 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI, and a run, and Hayden Cantrelle reached base twice with two hits. Knoxville scored three times in the third inning, the most decisive frame of the game. Ethan Hearn led off the second with a solo home run, then in the third Alex Madera doubled home Hayden Cantrelle before Owen Ayers homered to bring in Madera, putting Knoxville ahead 4-1. Edgar Alvarez added a two-run homer in the sixth, and Jefferson Rojas homered in the seventh to provide the final margin. Starter Dawson Netz allowed one run on two hits over 3 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out two, to earn the win. Evan Taylor surrendered three runs in one inning of relief, and Jake Knapp settled things down with 2 2/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alex Ramírez 4 0 0 0 0 1 Owen Ayers 4 1 1 2 0 0 Jefferson Rojas 4 1 1 1 0 1 Andy Garriola 4 0 2 0 0 1 Ethan Hearn 4 1 1 1 0 1 Carter Trice 2 1 0 0 1 1 Edgar Alvarez 3 1 1 2 0 0 Hayden Cantrelle 3 1 2 0 0 0 Alex Madera 3 1 2 1 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Dawson Netz 3 1/3 2 1 1 1 2 1 Evan Taylor 1 4 3 3 2 1 0 Jake Knapp 2 2/3 3 1 1 1 2 0 South Bend Shuts Out Fort Wayne Behind Bowser's Grand Slam The South Bend Cubs blanked the Fort Wayne TinCaps 7-0 on the strength of a combined three-pitcher shutout and a four-run sixth inning. Drew Bowser drove in all four runs with a grand slam to left field, scoring Josiah Hartshorn, Matt Halbach, and Justin Stransky to break the game open. It was South Bend’s second grand slam of May, a new single-month record for the affiliate. South Bend had built its lead earlier with two runs in the second, when Jose Escobar and Justin Stransky hit back-to-back doubles, the first scoring Matt Halbach and the second scoring Escobar. Halbach added an RBI single in the third to bring home Ty Southisene. Bowser finished 1-for-4 with the grand slam and four RBI, and Escobar, Stransky, Halbach, and Southisene each collected a hit. Starter Eli Jerzembeck worked two scoreless innings, walking two and striking out two, to earn the win. Mason McGwire was dominant in relief, striking out six over three hitless and scoreless innings while earning a save. Koen Moreno closed it out with four scoreless innings, allowing two hits and four walks with four strikeouts. Player AB R H RBI BB K Kane Kepley 5 0 0 0 0 1 Ty Southisene 4 1 1 0 0 1 Josiah Hartshorn 3 1 1 0 1 1 Matt Halbach 1 2 1 1 2 0 Miguel Useche 3 0 0 0 1 3 Jose Escobar 4 1 1 1 0 0 Justin Stransky 3 1 1 1 1 1 Drew Bowser 4 1 1 4 0 2 Christian Olivo 4 0 0 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Eli Jerzembeck 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 Mason McGwire 3 1 0 0 0 6 0 Koen Moreno 4 2 0 0 4 4 0 Lubo And Melendez Homer As Myrtle Beach Holds Off Wilson The Myrtle Beach Pelicans beat the Wilson Warbirds 7-5, pulling away with a three-run eighth inning. Geuri Lubo led the offense, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, and three RBI, and his three-run homer in the eighth, which scored Eli Lovich and Jairo Diaz, provided the winning margin. Yahil Melendez went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in the fifth, and Alexey Lumpuy reached base twice with two hits, a run, and two stolen bases out of the leadoff spot. Myrtle Beach also scratched out runs early, taking a sacrifice fly from Henniel Alcala in the second that scored Derniche Valdez and a run in the third when Lovich scored on a wild pitch. Noah Edders gave up four runs on five hits over 3 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out three. Braylon Myers picked up the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and Riely Hunsaker worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alexey Lumpuy 4 1 2 0 0 1 Alexis Hernandez 4 0 1 0 0 2 Eli Lovich 3 2 0 0 1 2 Yahil Melendez 4 1 1 2 0 1 Derniche Valdez 4 1 0 0 0 0 Jairo Diaz 2 1 0 0 1 0 Geuri Lubo 4 1 2 3 0 0 Henniel Alcala 3 0 0 1 0 2 Edward Vargas 3 0 0 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Noah Edders 3 1/3 5 4 4 2 3 0 Braylon Myers 1 1/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 Riely Hunsaker 4 1/3 3 1 1 3 2 0 Cubs Transactions No Roster Moves Top-20 Prospect Performance Jefferson Rojas: 1-for-4, HR, RBI, K Jaxon Wiggins: DNP Pedro Ramirez: DNP Kevin Alcantara: DNP Josiah Hartshorn: 1-for-3, BB, R, K Ethan Conrad: DNP Kane Kepley: 0-for-5, K Jonathon Long: DNP James Triantos: 1-for-4, R, SB Cole Mathis: DNP Owen Ayers: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R Brooks Caple: DNP Juan Cabada: DNP Kaleb Wing: DNP Angel Cepeda: DNP Dominick Reid: DNP Jostin Florentino: DNP Ty Southisene: 1-for-4, R, K Will Sanders: DNP Brandon Birdsell: DNP View full article

Chicago Cubs Transactions No Roster Moves Iowa Cubs Blanked By Indianapolis Despite Assad's Strong Start Iowa was shut out 3-0 at Indianapolis, stranding 12 runners on base despite collecting seven hits and drawing six walks. The Cubs went without an RBI on the night. Javier Assad turned in the start of the night, working 4 1/3 innings while allowing four hits, one earned run, and one walk with five strikeouts on 78 pitches. Assad retired the first batter of the fifth before walking Shawn Ross and being lifted with one out and a runner aboard. Luis Peralta entered and allowed Assad's runner to score on a single, then surrendered a two-run home run that broke the game open and accounted for all of Indianapolis's offense. Peralta finished with 1 1/3 innings, two hits, two earned runs, one walk, three strikeouts, and the lone home run allowed by Iowa pitching. Tyler Ferguson followed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and Corbin Martin added one scoreless inning with two strikeouts. BJ Murray led the offense with a 2-for-3 effort and a walk. Owen Miller drew two walks. Justin Dean added two walks and a stolen base. James Triantos, Brett Bateman, Jonathon Long, Ben Cowles, and Eric Yang each added a base hit. Player AB R H RBI BB K Brett Bateman 4 0 1 0 0 0 James Triantos 4 0 1 0 0 0 BJ Murray 3 0 2 0 1 1 Jonathon Long 3 0 1 0 1 1 Owen Miller 2 0 0 0 2 0 Ben Cowles 4 0 1 0 0 0 Scott Kingery 4 0 0 0 0 2 Eric Yang 4 0 1 0 0 2 Justin Dean 1 0 0 0 2 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Javier Assad 4 1/3 4 1 1 1 5 0 Luis Peralta 1 1/3 2 2 2 1 3 1 Tyler Ferguson 1 1/3 0 0 0 1 1 0 Corbin Martin 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Smokies Drop One-Run Decision To Chattanooga Knoxville fell 3-2 at Chattanooga, leaving 15 runners on base despite reaching base 12 times via eight hits and four walks. Connor Schultz delivered five strong innings as the starter, allowing two earned runs on five hits with no walks and eight strikeouts. He left with the game tied 2-2. The Smokies struck first in the top of the first. Alex Ramírez led off with a double, then Jefferson Rojas singled to put runners on the corners. Ramírez scored on a throwing error during the play, and Rojas advanced to second on the same miscue. Rojas stole third and later scored on another defensive lapse during Ethan Hearn's at-bat. Both Knoxville runs were unearned. Chattanooga answered with two runs of its own in the bottom half on a two-run double, tying the score at 2-2. Nick Dean took the loss after a rough sixth inning. He retired the first batter, then surrendered two singles and walked two consecutive hitters, the second of which forced in the eventual winning run. Dean finished with two innings, three hits, one earned run, two walks, and two strikeouts. Evan Taylor closed with one scoreless inning, one walk, and one strikeout. Ramírez led the offense at 3-for-5 with a double and two stolen bases. Rojas added a hit, a stolen base, and a run scored. Cameron Sisneros, Alex Madera, Carter Trice, and Ethan Hearn each picked up a hit. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alex Ramírez 5 1 3 0 0 1 Owen Ayers 3 0 0 0 1 2 Jefferson Rojas 3 1 1 0 0 1 Andy Garriola 4 0 0 0 0 3 Ethan Hearn 4 0 1 0 0 1 Carter Trice 4 0 1 0 0 1 Cameron Sisneros 3 0 1 0 1 0 Hayden Cantrelle 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ed Howard 3 0 0 0 1 0 Alex Madera 3 0 1 0 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Connor Schultz 5 5 2 2 0 8 0 Nick Dean 2 3 1 1 2 2 0 Evan Taylor 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 Halbach's Bases-Clearing Double Lifts South Bend Past Fort Wayne South Bend rallied from a 2-0 hole with four runs in the bottom of the fifth and never looked back, beating the Fort Wayne TinCaps 6-3. Starter Cole Reynolds turned in five innings, giving up four hits, two earned runs, one walk, and striking out five. The damage came on solo home runs in the second and the fifth, accounting for both runs charged to his line. The decisive frame came in the bottom of the fifth. Justin Stransky was hit by a pitch, and after a fly-out, leadoff hitter Kane Kepley, Ty Southisene, and Josiah Hartshorn drew consecutive walks, the third of which forced in Stransky to put the Cubs on the board. Matt Halbach then cleared the bases with a double to left, scoring Kepley, Southisene, and Hartshorn to push South Bend ahead 4-2. The Cubs added a run in the sixth when Miguel Useche singled and later scored on Kepley's triple to right, and Useche tacked on a solo home run in the eighth. Adam Stone followed with three innings, allowing one earned run on a solo home run with three strikeouts. Ethan Bell closed with a scoreless ninth. Kepley finished 2-for-3 with a triple, a walk, a run, an RBI, and a stolen base. Useche went 2-for-4 with the home run, two runs, and an RBI. Halbach added the three-RBI double, and Hartshorn drew two walks and scored. Player AB R H RBI BB K Kane Kepley 3 1 2 1 1 0 Ty Southisene 2 1 0 0 2 0 Josiah Hartshorn 2 1 1 1 2 1 Matt Halbach 3 0 1 3 1 1 Leonel Espinoza 3 0 0 0 0 1 Drew Bowser 1 0 0 0 0 1 Jose Escobar 4 0 0 0 0 3 Miguel Useche 4 2 2 1 0 1 Justin Stransky 3 1 0 0 0 2 Christian Olivo 4 0 0 0 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Cole Reynolds 5 4 2 2 1 5 2 Adam Stone 3 1 1 1 0 3 1 Ethan Bell 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 Pelicans Drop Tight Ninth-Inning Decision To Wilson Myrtle Beach gave up the lead late and fell 4-3 to the Wilson Warbirds, falling just short despite a Logan Poteet home run in the bottom of the ninth. Kaleb Wing started and tossed three scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Edwardo Melendez followed with four innings of work, giving up two earned runs on four hits with one walk and three strikeouts, including the two runs that tied the game in the seventh on a two-run double. Jordan Henriquez surrendered the go-ahead and insurance runs across his two innings, allowing one earned run on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Eli Lovich opened the scoring in the bottom of the second with a solo home run to right center, and the Pelicans extended their lead in the fifth when Derniche Valdez came around to score on a fielder's choice and a Wilson throwing error, an unearned run. Wilson tied it 2-2 with the two-run double in the seventh and took the lead in the eighth on a run-scoring double off Henriquez. The Warbirds added an insurance run in the ninth when Henriquez induced a fielder's choice and a Pelicans throwing error allowed a run to come home. Poteet led off the bottom of the ninth with a solo home run to right center to make it 4-3, but Myrtle Beach could not push the tying run across. Valdez finished 2-for-4. Lovich and Poteet both went 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alexey Lumpuy 3 0 0 0 1 2 Alexis Hernandez 3 0 0 0 1 2 Michael Carico 2 0 0 0 2 1 Logan Poteet 4 1 1 1 0 1 Eli Lovich 4 1 1 1 0 1 Derniche Valdez 4 1 2 0 0 0 Yahil Melendez 3 0 0 0 0 1 Geuri Lubo 3 0 0 0 0 2 Darlyn De Leon 3 0 0 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Kaleb Wing 3 3 0 0 2 4 0 Edwardo Melendez 4 4 2 2 1 3 0 Jordan Henriquez 2 3 2 1 2 3 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Jefferson Rojas: 1-for-3, R, K, SB Jaxon Wiggins: DNP Pedro Ramirez: DNP Kevin Alcantara: DNP Josiah Hartshorn: 1-for-2, R, RBI, 2 BB, K Ethan Conrad: DNP Kane Kepley: 2-for-3, 3B, R, RBI, BB, SB Jonathon Long: 1-for-3, BB, K James Triantos: 1-for-4 Cole Mathis: DNP Owen Ayers: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K Brooks Caple: DNP Juan Cabada: DNP Kaleb Wing: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K Angel Cepeda: DNP Dominick Reid: DNP Jostin Florentino: DNP Ty Southisene: 0-for-2, R, 2 BB Will Sanders: DNP Brandon Birdsell: DNP View full article

Chicago Cubs Transactions Chicago Cubs signed free agent LHP Ty Blach to a minor league contract. Ty Blach And Bullpen Blank Indianapolis As Iowa Wins 1-0 Iowa scored the game's only run in the top of the first inning and then leaned on its pitching staff to hold off the host Indianapolis Indians, 1-0. With one out, Jonathon Long singled and BJ Murray followed with a single to push Long to third. Owen Miller was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Long came home on a wild pitch for the lone run. Iowa managed five hits, played errorless defense, and stranded eight runners, but it never needed more offense. Long led the lineup with two hits and a run scored, Christian Bethancourt added two hits, including a double, and Murray reached twice on a single and a walk. Ty Blach set the tone, allowing two hits over 4 2/3 scoreless innings while walking three and striking out six. The bullpen finished the shutout in order. Gavin Hollowell struck out two over 1 1/3 scoreless innings, Collin Snider worked a scoreless inning with a strikeout, and Christian Roa closed with two scoreless innings, one hit allowed, and three strikeouts. Roa retired the side in both the eighth and the ninth to finish the combined three-hitter, and the four Iowa arms together allowed three hits and struck out 12 while issuing just three walks. Player AB R H RBI BB K James Triantos 4 0 0 0 0 1 Jonathon Long 4 1 2 0 0 1 BJ Murray 3 0 1 0 1 1 Owen Miller 3 0 0 0 0 2 Chas McCormick 4 0 0 0 0 3 Ben Cowles 3 0 0 0 1 1 Christian Bethancourt 4 0 2 0 0 0 Scott Kingery 3 0 0 0 1 0 Brett Bateman 2 0 0 0 2 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Ty Blach 4 2/3 2 0 0 3 6 0 Gavin Hollowell 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 Collin Snider 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Christian Roa 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 Carter Trice's Tenth-Inning Single Lifts Knoxville Past Chattanooga 5-4 Knoxville and the host Chattanooga Lookouts traded the lead through regulation before the Smokies pulled out a 5-4 win in 10 innings. The decisive run came in the top of the tenth, when zombie runner Andy Garriola scored on a leadoff single from Carter Trice. Marino Santy then worked a scoreless bottom of the tenth, striking out two, to seal it. Knoxville had built its earlier cushion in the sixth. Cameron Sisneros singled home Jefferson Rojas to break a 1-1 tie (his first AA hit of his career), and Devin Ortiz followed with an RBI single, aided by a throwing error, to make it 3-1. The Lookouts answered with a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth and a solo shot in the seventh to even the score again. Trice finished 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, including a solo blast in the second inning. Owen Ayers homered, drew two walks, and scored a run. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alex Ramírez 5 0 2 0 0 1 Owen Ayers 2 1 1 1 2 0 Jefferson Rojas 5 1 1 0 0 2 Andy Garriola 5 1 0 0 0 0 Carter Trice 5 1 2 2 0 1 Cameron Sisneros 3 1 1 1 1 1 Hayden Cantrelle 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ariel Armas 4 0 1 0 0 1 Devin Ortiz 5 0 1 0 0 2 Alex Madera 4 0 1 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Grant Kipp 5 4 1 1 0 8 0 Jace Beck 2 6 3 3 0 2 2 Vince Reilly 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 Marino Santy 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Josiah Hartshorn Drives In Five As South Bend Routs Fort Wayne 13-5 South Bend pounded out 15 hits and pulled away from the Fort Wayne TinCaps for a 13-5 win. The home team broke through in the first when Leonel Espinoza tripled home Ty Southisene and Josiah Hartshorn for a 2-0 lead, then blew the game open with a five-run third inning. That third inning began with a Hartshorn sacrifice fly that scored Kane Kepley. Espinoza followed with an RBI single, Dilan Granadillo drew a bases-loaded walk, and Christian Olivo capped the rally with a two-run single, pushing the lead to 7-1. South Bend tacked on two more in the fourth on a Hartshorn single and four runs in the fifth, the last two coming on Hartshorn's home run. Hartshorn finished 3-for-4 with a homer, two runs, and five RBI. Southisene also went 3-for-4 and scored four times, while Espinoza added three hits, a triple, and three RBI. Kepley, batting leadoff, had two hits, two runs, and an RBI, and Olivo chipped in two hits and two RBI. South Bend left just four runners on base. Kevin Valdez covered the most ground on the mound, allowing one run on five hits over 4 1/3 innings with two walks and two strikeouts. The bullpen was mostly steady, though Fort Wayne pushed across four runs in the eighth. Kenten Egbert recorded the final outs, working 1 1/3 innings and allowing no runs while striking out two. Player AB R H RBI BB K Kane Kepley 4 2 2 1 0 1 Ty Southisene 4 4 3 0 0 0 Josiah Hartshorn 4 2 3 5 0 1 Matt Halbach 4 1 1 0 1 1 Leonel Espinoza 5 1 3 3 0 0 Miguel Useche 4 1 1 0 0 1 Drew Bowser 4 0 0 0 0 2 Dilan Granadillo 2 1 0 1 2 0 Christian Olivo 4 1 2 2 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Kevin Valdez 4 1/3 5 1 1 2 2 0 Kenyi Perez 1 2/3 0 0 0 1 3 0 JP Wheat 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 Ben Johnson 2/3 0 4 2 3 0 0 Kenten Egbert 1 1/3 1 0 0 3 2 0 Logan Poteet's Three-Run Homer Powers Myrtle Beach Over Wilson 6-2 Myrtle Beach used a three-run fifth inning to break open a tight game and beat the Wilson Warbirds, 6-2. After Yahil Melendez's RBI single in the fourth put the Pelicans ahead 1-0, Wilson tied it in the top of the fifth. Myrtle Beach answered immediately in the bottom half, when Logan Poteet launched a three-run homer to make it 4-1. The Pelicans added two insurance runs in the seventh. Michael Carico and Poteet came around to score on a two-run single by Derniche Valdez, stretching the lead to 6-2. Poteet led the offense, going 2-for-2 with a double, the home run, three RBI, two runs, and two walks. Valdez added two hits, a double, and two RBI. Carico reached base four times on a hit and three walks and scored twice, and Melendez drove in a run. Alexey Lumpuy and Darlyn De Leon each chipped in a hit, and Myrtle Beach drew eight walks as a team to keep the pressure on. Dominick Reid was excellent in the start, striking out nine over five innings while allowing one run on two hits and two walks. Daniel Avitia closed it out with three scoreless innings, giving up two hits, walking three, and striking out two. Myrtle Beach stranded seven runners. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alexey Lumpuy 5 1 1 0 0 1 Alexis Hernandez 3 0 0 0 1 1 Michael Carico 1 2 1 0 3 0 Logan Poteet 2 2 2 3 2 0 Eli Lovich 3 0 0 0 1 1 Derniche Valdez 4 1 2 2 0 1 Yahil Melendez 3 0 1 1 1 1 Darlyn De Leon 4 0 1 0 0 2 Edward Vargas 4 0 0 0 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Dominick Reid 5 2 1 1 2 9 0 Henry Cone 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 Daniel Avitia 3 2 0 0 3 2 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Jefferson Rojas: 1-for-5, 2 K Jaxon Wiggins: DNP Pedro Ramirez: DNP Kevin Alcantara: DNP Josiah Hartshorn: 3-for-4, HR, 1 K Ethan Conrad: DNP Kane Kepley: 2-for-4, 1 K Jonathon Long: 2-for-4, 1 K James Triantos: 0-for-4, 1 K Cole Mathis: DNP Owen Ayers: 1-for-2, HR Brooks Caple: DNP Juan Cabada: DNP Kaleb Wing: DNP Angel Cepeda: DNP Dominick Reid: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K Jostin Florentino: DNP Ty Southisene: 3-for-4 Will Sanders: DNP Brandon Birdsell: DNP View full article

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. Player AB R H RBI BB K Justin Dean, RF 4 1 2 1 1 1 Jonathon Long, 1B 4 1 1 0 1 1 BJ Murray, LF 3 1 2 2 1 0 Owen Miller, 3B 4 1 2 2 0 0 Chas McCormick, DH 4 0 2 1 0 1 Christian Bethancourt, C 4 0 1 0 0 1 James Triantos, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 1 Ben Cowles, SS 4 1 1 0 0 2 Brett Bateman, CF 3 1 1 0 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Paul Campbell 6.0 6 3 3 1 1 1 Gavin Hollowell (W, 1-0) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Collin Snider (H, 2) 1.0 1 1 1 1 2 1 Christian Roa (S, 1) 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 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. Player AB R H RBI BB K Carter Trice, LF 3 0 0 0 1 1 Alex Ramírez, RF 4 2 3 0 0 0 Owen Ayers, DH 4 0 1 1 0 1 Jefferson Rojas, 3B 4 0 1 1 0 1 Andy Garriola, CF 3 0 0 0 1 0 Edgar Alvarez, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 1 Karson Simas, SS 2 0 1 0 1 1 Ariel Armas, C 3 0 0 0 0 2 Hayden Cantrelle, 2B 2 0 0 0 1 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jake Knapp 2.0 1 0 0 1 3 0 Brooks Caple (W, 1-0) 6.0 5 1 1 0 4 1 Marino Santy (S, 2) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 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. Player AB R H RBI BB K Kane Kepley, DH 4 0 0 0 1 1 Ty Southisene, SS 5 0 2 2 0 0 Kade Snell, LF 5 0 0 0 0 5 Matt Halbach, 3B 4 0 1 0 0 2 Cole Mathis, 1B 4 1 1 0 0 1 Leonel Espinoza, RF 4 1 1 1 0 1 Alex Madera, 2B 3 0 1 0 1 1 Miguel Useche, C 4 2 2 2 0 1 Christian Olivo, CF 4 1 1 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jostin Florentino 2.0 3 2 2 3 3 0 Ben Johnson (W, 1-0) 3.0 1 0 0 1 4 0 Kenten Egbert (H, 1) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Brayden Spears (S, 1) 3.0 2 1 1 0 4 1 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. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alexis Hernandez, SS 5 2 3 0 0 2 Alexey Lumpuy, RF 3 1 1 1 2 1 Josiah Hartshorn, CF 3 0 1 2 1 2 Jose Escobar, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 0 Michael Carico, 1B 4 0 2 0 0 1 Derniche Valdez, 3B 4 0 0 0 0 2 Yahil Melendez, DH 4 0 1 0 0 2 Henniel Alcala, C 4 0 0 0 0 1 Darlyn De Leon, LF 4 1 2 0 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Noah Edders 2.0 0 1 1 1 4 0 David Bracho (L, 0-1) 3.0 3 4 4 5 4 0 Hayden Frank 3.0 2 0 0 1 4 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Jefferson Rojas: 1-for-4, RBI, K Jaxon Wiggins: DNP Pedro Ramirez: DNP Kevin Alcantara: DNP Josiah Hartshorn: 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K Ethan Conrad: DNP Kane Kepley: 0-for-4, BB, K Jonathon Long: 1-for-4, R, BB, K James Triantos: 0-for-4, K Cole Mathis: 1-for-4, R, K Owen Ayers: 1-for-4, RBI, K Brooks Caple: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR (W) Juan Cabada: DNP Kaleb Wing: DNP Angel Cepeda: DNP Dominick Reid: DNP Jostin Florentino: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K Ty Southisene: 2-for-5, 2 RBI Will Sanders: DNP Brandon Birdsell: DNP View full article

Cubs Transactions No Roster Moves Wicks Brilliant, But Iowa Bats Go Cold In 1-0 Loss To Memphis The Iowa Cubs, playing as the Iowa Oaks for the night, dropped a 1-0 decision to the Memphis Redbirds at Principal Park, falling despite outhitting the visitors 6-4. Starter Jordan Wicks was excellent across five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while walking two and striking out two. Luis Peralta took the loss after surrendering the game's lone run over two innings of relief, allowing one hit, walking one, and striking out two. Tyler Ferguson worked a hitless eighth, and Corbin Martin tossed a clean ninth with a strikeout. The game's only run came in the top of the sixth off Peralta. Memphis opened the inning with a hit-by-pitch and a walk to put runners on, then a single loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly to center field plated the runner from third before a 5-4-3 double play ended the threat. Iowa nearly answered in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, Kevin Alcántara drew a walk, James Triantos followed with a single to center, and Owen Miller laced a single to left field. Alcántara was thrown out at home plate on the throw from left field, ending the game with the tying run dying ninety feet from home. Miller led Iowa with two hits, while BJ Murray, Triantos, Chas McCormick, and Brett Bateman each added one. Bateman's double was the team's lone extra-base hit. Iowa drew three walks but struck out eight times and stranded six runners. Player AB R H RBI BB K Justin Dean 3 0 0 0 1 3 BJ Murray 4 0 1 0 0 2 Jonathon Long 4 0 0 0 0 0 Kevin Alcántara 2 0 0 0 2 2 James Triantos 4 0 1 0 0 0 Owen Miller 4 0 2 0 0 0 Chas McCormick 3 0 1 0 0 1 Eric Yang 3 0 0 0 0 0 Brett Bateman 3 0 1 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jordan Wicks 5 1 0 0 2 2 0 Luis Peralta 2 1 1 1 1 2 0 Tyler Ferguson 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 Corbin Martin 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Knoxville Smokies: No Game Scheduled The Double-A Smokies did not play. Halbach Homers, Four-Run Fifth Carries South Bend Past West Michigan The South Bend Cubs rolled past the West Michigan Whitecaps 7-1 at LMCU Ballpark, breaking the game open with a four-run fifth inning. Starter Ethan Flanagan allowed one unearned run on three hits over four innings, walking none and striking out three. Kenyi Perez followed with a perfect inning of relief and two strikeouts. Kevin Valdez tossed four scoreless innings on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts to earn his second win. After West Michigan scratched out an unearned run in the bottom of the first, the Cubs answered with two in the third. Leadoff man Kane Kepley singled home Christian Olivo, and Cameron Sisneros followed with a single that scored Kepley to give South Bend a 2-1 lead. Matt Halbach launched his fourth home run of the season in the fourth to push it to 3-1. The fifth inning was the difference. Olivo and Kepley both walked to start the frame, Leonel Espinoza laced a two-run double to left, and cleanup hitter Kade Snell singled home Espinoza. South Bend pushed one more run across before the inning was through to make it 7-1. Espinoza led the offense with two hits and three RBI. Sisneros and Snell each added two hits and an RBI, and Kepley reached base three times with a hit and a walk, scoring twice and driving in one. Halbach contributed a hit and the home run. South Bend collected nine hits and drew five walks. Player AB R H RBI BB K Kane Kepley 4 2 1 1 1 0 Leonel Espinoza 5 1 1 2 0 1 Cameron Sisneros 4 0 2 1 1 0 Kade Snell 5 1 2 1 0 1 Matt Halbach 4 1 1 1 0 0 Alex Madera 3 0 1 0 1 0 Justin Stransky 4 0 0 0 0 1 Drew Bowser 4 0 0 0 0 3 Christian Olivo 2 2 1 0 2 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Ethan Flanagan 4 3 1 0 0 3 0 Kenyi Perez 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Kevin Valdez 4 4 0 0 1 2 0 Lovich Homer Lone Bright Spot As Rain Ends Pelicans' Night The Myrtle Beach Pelicans dropped a rain-shortened 3-1 decision to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers at Atrium Health Ballpark, with the game called in the bottom of the fifth. Starter Daniel Avitia took the loss despite a strong strikeout effort, going four innings with seven strikeouts on three hits, three runs, two earned, and three walks. He surrendered a two-run home run in the third that proved to be the decisive blow. Edwardo Melendez followed with a third of an inning, allowing one hit and striking out one before the game was called. Kannapolis took an early 1-0 lead in the first when a Pelicans throwing error allowed an unearned run to score. The home side made it 3-0 in the third on the two-run home run off Avitia. The Pelicans finally got on the board in the fifth. Eli Lovich led off the inning with a solo home run, his fourth of the season, to cut the deficit to 3-1. That was the only run Myrtle Beach pushed across, as the next two batters were retired, and play was halted with one out in the bottom of the inning due to rain. Myrtle Beach finished with four hits and one extra-base hit, Lovich's homer. Josiah Hartshorn, Derniche Valdez, Lovich, and Edward Vargas each had one hit. The Pelicans drew two walks but struck out seven times against Kannapolis pitching. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alexis Hernandez 2 0 0 0 1 1 Alexey Lumpuy 2 0 0 0 1 2 Josiah Hartshorn 2 0 1 0 0 0 Jose Escobar 2 0 0 0 0 1 Yahil Melendez 2 0 0 0 0 1 Derniche Valdez 2 0 1 0 0 0 Jairo Diaz 2 0 0 0 0 2 Eli Lovich 2 1 1 1 0 0 Edward Vargas 2 0 1 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Daniel Avitia 4 3 3 2 3 7 1 Edwardo Melendez 1/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Jefferson Rojas: DNP Jaxon Wiggins: DNP Pedro Ramirez: DNP Kevin Alcantara: 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 K Josiah Hartshorn: 1-for-2 Ethan Conrad: DNP Kane Kepley: 1-for-4, RBI, BB Jonathon Long: 0-for-4 James Triantos: 1-for-4 Cole Mathis: DNP Owen Ayers: DNP Brooks Caple: DNP Juan Cabada: DNP Kaleb Wing: DNP Angel Cepeda: DNP Dominick Reid: DNP Jostin Florentino: DNP Ty Southisene: DNP Will Sanders: DNP Brandon Birdsell: DNP View full article

Chicago Cubs Transactions No Roster Moves Kevin Alcántara Goes Deep As Iowa Walks Off Memphis Doug Nikhazy delivered five innings of one-hit ball with two walks and five strikeouts, helping set up a tight game at Principal Park. Iowa scratched its first run across in the sixth, when Chas McCormick led off the inning with his sixth double, Eric Yang followed with a single to move McCormick to third, and Brett Bateman lifted a sacrifice fly to left to bring McCormick home. Cleanup hitter Kevin Alcántara made it 2-0 in the seventh with his 15th home run of the season, a solo shot to right-center. Memphis answered in the top of the ninth against Collin Snider, tying the game on a Nelson Velázquez sacrifice fly and a Bligh Madris RBI single. In the bottom half, leadoff hitter Justin Dean drew a walk, BJ Murray reached on a fielding error, Jonathon Long laid down a sacrifice bunt that advanced both runners, and Alcántara plated Dean on a fielder's choice for the winning run. Iowa managed just three hits in the victory, but the bullpen carried the load. Opener Gabe Klobosits worked two scoreless innings with four strikeouts, Christian Roa added a clean inning, and Snider picked up the win despite allowing two runs in the ninth. Iowa stranded just three runners on the night. Player AB R H RBI BB K Justin Dean, DH 3 1 0 0 1 0 BJ Murray, 3B 4 0 0 0 0 0 Jonathon Long, 1B 3 0 0 0 0 0 Kevin Alcántara, RF 4 1 1 2 0 1 James Triantos, 2B 3 0 0 0 0 1 Owen Miller, SS 3 0 0 0 0 1 Chas McCormick, LF 3 1 1 0 0 0 Eric Yang, C 3 0 1 0 0 1 Brett Bateman, CF 2 0 0 1 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Gabe Klobosits 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 Doug Nikhazy 5 1 0 0 2 5 0 Christian Roa 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 Collin Snider 1 3 2 2 1 1 0 Owen Ayers Homers But Smokies Fall To Montgomery 6-5 Cleanup hitter Owen Ayers gave Knoxville an early jolt in the first, depositing his fifth home run of the season to right-center to score Carter Trice for a 2-0 lead. Starter Grant Kipp went 4 2/3 innings for the Smokies, allowing one run on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Knoxville pushed across another run in the fourth on an Edgar Alvarez RBI single that brought home Jefferson Rojas, making it 3-1. The game tilted on the seventh. Montgomery struck for two runs off Luis Rujano, including a two-run home run, to grab a 4-3 edge. Knoxville responded in the bottom half. Ariel Armas worked a walk, Ed Howard ripped his third double of the year to score Armas, and Howard came home on a Karson Simas triple to right that put the Smokies back in front 5-4. The lead did not last. Rujano left the bases loaded with two outs in the eighth, and Evan Taylor surrendered a two-run single that gave Montgomery a 6-5 lead. Vince Reilly closed the door with a perfect ninth featuring two strikeouts, but Knoxville could not answer in the bottom half. Ayers finished 1-for-4 with two RBI, Rojas added a double, Howard tallied two hits, and the Smokies stranded just three runners on the night. Player AB R H RBI BB K Karson Simas, CF 4 0 1 1 0 2 Alex Ramírez, RF 4 0 0 0 0 1 Carter Trice, LF 3 1 1 0 1 1 Owen Ayers, C 4 1 1 2 0 1 Jefferson Rojas, 3B 3 1 1 0 1 0 Edgar Alvarez, 1B 4 0 1 1 0 2 Ariel Armas, DH 3 1 0 0 1 0 Hayden Cantrelle, 2B 4 0 1 0 0 2 Ed Howard, SS 3 1 2 1 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Grant Kipp 4 2/3 4 1 1 3 6 0 Frankie Scalzo Jr. 1 1/3 2 1 1 0 1 0 Luis Rujano 1 2/3 5 4 4 1 2 1 Evan Taylor 1/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 Vince Reilly 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Late Rally Carries South Bend Past West Michigan Alfredo Romero set the tone for South Bend, working 3 2/3 innings on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts. He surrendered the only West Michigan run in the fourth on an RBI single, but the Cubs bullpen took the game from there. Nate Williams covered 2 1/3 hitless innings with four strikeouts, and Jackson Brockett closed with three scoreless innings, allowing one hit, no walks, and two strikeouts. Trailing 1-0 entering the eighth, South Bend pieced together a rally. Kade Snell drew a leadoff walk, Leonel Espinoza moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt, and Alex Madera walked to put two runners on. Miguel Useche then drilled a single to left that scored Snell, and Madera came around to score on a fielding error by the left fielder. The 2-1 lead held into the ninth, when leadoff hitter Kane Kepley drew a walk, advanced to second on a groundout, and came home on a Cameron Sisneros RBI single to right taking his on base streak to 17 straight. South Bend managed just four hits and worked four walks but turned them into the runs that mattered. The Cubs struck out seven times, stranded three runners according to the line score, and saw the bullpen post 5 1/3 scoreless innings in relief to wrap up a 3-1 victory. Player AB R H RBI BB K Kane Kepley, CF 3 1 0 0 1 1 Ty Southisene, SS 4 0 0 0 0 1 Cameron Sisneros, 1B 4 0 1 1 0 1 Kade Snell, LF 3 1 1 0 1 0 Leonel Espinoza, RF 3 0 0 0 0 1 Alex Madera, 3B 3 1 1 0 1 2 Miguel Useche, C 2 0 1 1 1 0 Drew Bowser, DH 3 0 0 0 0 1 Christian Olivo, 2B 3 0 0 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Alfredo Romero 3 2/3 3 1 1 2 6 0 Nate Williams 2 1/3 2 0 0 0 4 0 Jackson Brockett 3 1 0 0 0 2 0 Pelicans Shut Out By Kannapolis Dominick Reid had a tough start for Myrtle Beach, allowing four runs on eight hits over four innings with two walks, two strikeouts, and a home run. Kannapolis built the lead inning by inning. The hosts scored once in the first on an RBI single, added two more in the second on a solo home run and a sacrifice fly, and tacked on another run in the third on an RBI single to make it 4-0. Braylon Myers followed Reid out of the bullpen with two innings, giving up one run on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts in the sixth that pushed the lead to 5-0. Connor Knox closed out the night with two innings, allowing a two-run home run in the eighth that capped the scoring at 7-0. The Pelicans bats went quiet, mustering just seven hits and drawing no walks. Josiah Hartshorn led the way with a 2-for-4 night that included a double, Yahil Melendez chipped in two hits, and Jose Escobar, Derniche Valdez, and Jairo Diaz each added a single. Leadoff hitter Alexis Hernandez went hitless in four at-bats, and Myrtle Beach struck out nine times and stranded seven runners on the night, never able to push a runner across the plate. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alexis Hernandez, SS 4 0 0 0 0 1 Josiah Hartshorn, CF 4 0 2 0 0 1 Alexey Lumpuy, RF 4 0 0 0 0 2 Jose Escobar, 2B 4 0 1 0 0 0 Eli Lovich, DH 4 0 0 0 0 1 Derniche Valdez, 3B 4 0 1 0 0 2 Yahil Melendez, 1B 4 0 2 0 0 1 Jairo Diaz, C 3 0 1 0 0 0 Darlyn De Leon, LF 3 0 0 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Dominick Reid 4 8 4 4 2 2 1 Braylon Myers 2 3 1 1 2 3 0 Connor Knox 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 Top-20 Prospect Performance Jefferson Rojas: 1-for-3, 2B, BB Jaxon Wiggins: DNP Pedro Ramirez: DNP Kevin Alcantara: 1-for-4, HR, K Josiah Hartshorn: 2-for-4, 2B, K Ethan Conrad: DNP Kane Kepley: 0-for-3, BB, K Jonathon Long: 0-for-3 James Triantos: 0-for-3, K Cole Mathis: DNP Owen Ayers: 1-for-4, HR, K Brooks Caple: DNP Juan Cabada: DNP Kaleb Wing: DNP Angel Cepeda: DNP Dominick Reid: 4 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 2 K, HR Jostin Florentino: DNP Ty Southisene: 0-for-4, K Will Sanders: DNP Brandon Birdsell: DNP View full article

Cubs Transactions Chicago Cubs sent LHP Caleb Thielbar on a rehab assignment to South Bend Cubs. Iowa Cubs Buried By Sounds' First-Inning Onslaught The Iowa Cubs fell 12-1 to the Nashville Sounds, with the home club doing most of its damage in the first inning. Starter Vince Velasquez (L, 1-1) recorded just two outs while allowing five earned runs on one hit, four walks, and one home run, with two strikeouts. With the bases loaded, Velasquez issued an RBI walk to make it 1-0, then served up a grand slam that pushed the lead to 5-0. Collin Snider relieved Velasquez and immediately surrendered a three-run home run, capping an eight-run frame. Nashville tacked on three more runs in the third on a home run off Tyler Ferguson, and pushed across a final run in the eighth. Iowa managed only five hits, left seven runners on base, and scratched out its only run in the top of the ninth. Pedro Ramírez went 1-for-2 with a double, two walks, and a run scored, while Owen Miller added two hits and a walk. Cleanup hitter Kevin Alcántara reached safely twice with a single and a walk. James Triantos drove in Iowa's only run with an RBI single in the ninth. Casey Opitz worked three innings of one-run relief, while Gavin Hollowell added 1 1/3 hitless innings with two strikeouts and a walk. Player AB R H RBI BB K Justin Dean 4 0 0 0 0 3 Pedro Ramírez 2 1 1 0 2 0 Jonathon Long 4 0 0 0 0 0 Kevin Alcántara 3 0 1 0 1 1 James Triantos 4 0 1 1 0 2 Christian Bethancourt 4 0 0 0 0 2 Owen Miller 3 0 2 0 1 0 Scott Kingery 4 0 0 0 0 1 Brett Bateman 3 0 0 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Vince Velasquez (L, 1-1) 2/3 1 5 5 4 2 1 Collin Snider 1 1/3 2 3 3 1 1 1 Tyler Ferguson 1 2/3 2 3 3 1 1 1 Casey Opitz 3 4 1 1 0 0 0 Gavin Hollowell 1 1/3 0 0 0 1 2 0 Smokies' Bats Quiet In Loss At Columbus The Knoxville Smokies dropped a 6-2 decision at Columbus, managing just a brief third-inning rally for their only runs of the night. Starter Tyler Schlaffer worked four innings, allowing two runs on five hits with two walks, two strikeouts, and one home run. The Smokies tied the game at one in the top of the third when Karson Simas scored on a throwing error by the Clingstones' catcher, then took a brief 2-1 lead on a sacrifice fly from cleanup hitter Owen Ayers that plated Alex Ramírez. Columbus answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the third to even the score, pushed across two runs in the fifth off Luis Rujano (L, 1-1) on a pair of singles, and added two more in the seventh off Tyler Santana on a double to right field. Jordan Nwogu paced the Knoxville offense with a 2-for-4 night and a stolen base. Simas reached three times on a hit, a walk, and a run scored, while Carter Trice and Alex Ramírez each added a hit and a run scored. Jefferson Rojas chipped in with a hit and a walk in three at-bats. Santana finished with four strikeouts over two innings of relief. Knoxville left seven runners on base in the loss. Player AB R H RBI BB K Karson Simas 3 1 1 0 1 2 Alex Ramírez 4 1 1 0 0 2 Carter Trice 4 0 1 0 0 1 Owen Ayers 3 0 0 1 0 2 Jefferson Rojas 3 0 1 0 1 1 Jordan Nwogu 4 0 2 0 0 1 Ethan Hearn 4 0 0 0 0 3 Ed Howard 4 0 0 0 0 2 Hayden Cantrelle 4 0 0 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Tyler Schlaffer 4 5 2 2 2 2 1 Luis Rujano (L, 1-1) 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 Tyler Santana 2 3 2 2 0 4 0 South Bend Cubs Pummel Timber Rattlers In 24-Run Rout South Bend overwhelmed Wisconsin 24-4 behind a 24-hit attack and a pair of seven-run innings. Leadoff hitter Kane Kepley went 4-for-7 with three runs scored, five RBIs, and a walk, while Ty Southisene added four hits in six trips with four RBIs and a run scored. Miguel Useche crossed the plate five times on a 4-for-5 night with a double, two walks, and two RBIs, and Christian Olivo matched the run total on two hits, two doubles, two walks, and two RBIs. Alex Madera and Leonel Espinoza each added three hits and three runs scored, with Madera driving in two and Espinoza one. Cameron Sisneros chipped in two hits and three RBIs. The Cubs broke open the game with seven runs in the second on bases-loaded walks from Useche and Olivo, followed by RBI singles from Kepley, Sisneros, cleanup hitter Kade Snell, and Espinoza. They piled on with another seven-run frame in the seventh, highlighted by a two-run single from Madera. Jostin Florentino started and worked four innings, allowing one earned run on one hit with two walks, four strikeouts, and a home run. Brayden Spears (W, 3-1) followed with three innings of one-run ball on one hit, three walks, two strikeouts, and a home run. Caleb Thielbar, on a rehab assignment from the Cubs, tossed one inning of one-hit relief with two strikeouts and a walk. South Bend stranded 15 runners despite the lopsided result. Player AB R H RBI BB K Kane Kepley 7 3 4 5 1 1 Ty Southisene 6 1 4 4 1 1 Cameron Sisneros 5 1 2 3 3 0 Kade Snell 6 1 1 3 1 3 Leonel Espinoza 5 3 3 1 2 0 Alex Madera 5 3 3 2 2 0 Drew Bowser 6 2 1 0 0 2 Miguel Useche 5 5 4 2 2 0 Christian Olivo 4 5 2 2 2 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jostin Florentino 4 1 1 1 2 4 1 Brayden Spears (W, 3-1) 3 1 1 1 3 2 1 Caleb Thielbar 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 Kenten Egbert 1 4 2 2 0 2 0 Pelicans Pounded By GreenJackets In Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach managed only one run in an 11-1 loss to Augusta, falling behind early after the GreenJackets put up four runs in the first inning on a pair of bases-loaded walks and a two-run single. Riely Hunsaker absorbed the bulk of the work for the Pelicans, going four innings while allowing three earned runs on six hits with one walk, two strikeouts, and a home run. The Pelicans broke up the shutout in the bottom of the second when Jose Escobar singled, advanced to third on an Eli Lovich single, and scored on an RBI groundout from Derniche Valdez. Valdez also doubled in the fourth, finishing 1-for-3 with the team's only extra-base hit. Starter Edwardo Melendez surrendered three hits and two earned runs over two innings, fanning four with two walks. Luis A. Reyes (L, 0-2) absorbed the worst stretch, allowing four earned runs on four walks while recording just two outs. The GreenJackets piled on with a solo home run and an RBI single in the fourth, a sacrifice fly in the fifth, a double in the sixth, two runs in the eighth, and one more in the ninth. Darlyn De Leon, Eli Lovich, and Yahil Melendez each contributed singles in the loss. Cleanup hitter Jose Escobar finished 1-for-3 with a run scored. Myrtle Beach finished with five hits and four runners left on base. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alexis Hernandez 4 0 0 0 0 2 Darlyn De Leon 4 0 1 0 0 0 Josiah Hartshorn 4 0 0 0 0 1 Jose Escobar 3 1 1 0 0 0 Henniel Alcala 1 0 0 0 0 0 Eli Lovich 4 0 1 0 0 2 Derniche Valdez 3 0 1 1 0 0 Yahil Melendez 3 0 1 0 0 0 Geuri Lubo 3 0 0 0 0 2 Jairo Diaz 3 0 0 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Edwardo Melendez 2 3 2 2 2 4 0 Daniel Avitia 1 3 1 1 0 1 0 Victor Zarraga 1 1/3 1 1 1 3 1 0 Luis A. Reyes (L, 0-2) 2/3 0 4 4 4 1 0 Riely Hunsaker 4 6 3 3 1 2 1 Top-20 Prospect Performance Jefferson Rojas: 1-for-3, BB, K Jaxon Wiggins: DNP Pedro Ramírez: 1-for-2, 2B, R, 2 BB Kevin Alcántara: 1-for-3, BB, K Josiah Hartshorn: 0-for-4, K Ethan Conrad: DNP Kane Kepley: 4-for-7, 3 R, 5 RBI, BB, K Jonathon Long: 0-for-4 James Triantos: 1-for-4, RBI, 2 K Cole Mathis: DNP Owen Ayers: 0-for-3, RBI, 2 K Brooks Caple: DNP Juan Cabada: DNP Kaleb Wing: DNP Angel Cepeda: DNP Dominick Reid: DNP Jostin Florentino: 4 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, HR Ty Southisene: 4-for-6, R, 4 RBI, BB, K Will Sanders: DNP Brandon Birdsell: DNP View full article

Chicago Cubs Transactions No Roster Moves Late Push Falls Short In Iowa Cubs' 6-5 Loss At Nashville The Iowa Cubs jumped on top in Nashville before the Sounds chipped back inning by inning, eventually taking the lead late and holding on for a 6-5 win. Pedro Ramírez had the standout day at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a stolen base. BJ Murray added three hits in four at-bats with a double, an RBI, and a walk. Jonathon Long collected two hits, leadoff hitter James Triantos doubled and drove in a run, and Christian Bethancourt added two hits. Iowa took the lead in the third. Triantos doubled to left, scoring Justin Dean. Murray followed with a single to center to plate Triantos, putting the Cubs ahead 2-1. The fifth produced two more runs. Cleanup hitter Kevin Alcántara grounded out to score Murray, then Scott Kingery drew a bases-loaded walk to score Ramírez, pushing the lead to 4-2. Starter Doug Nikhazy worked 3 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits while walking seven and striking out four. Iowa pitching issued 11 walks in all. Nashville scored single runs in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth, with one run unearned after a Bethancourt throwing error. Justin Dean's ninth-inning sacrifice fly scored Long to cut the deficit to 6-5, but the Cubs could not pull even. Iowa stranded 12 baserunners. Player AB R H RBI BB K James Triantos, 2B 5 1 1 1 0 0 BJ Murray, 3B 4 1 3 1 1 1 Owen Miller, LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pedro Ramírez, 3B 5 1 4 0 0 0 Kevin Alcántara, DH 4 0 0 1 1 2 Jonathon Long, 1B 5 1 2 0 0 2 Christian Bethancourt, C 4 0 2 0 1 2 Scott Kingery, SS 4 0 0 1 1 2 Justin Dean, RF 4 1 1 1 0 1 Brett Bateman, CF 4 0 0 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Doug Nikhazy 3 1/3 2 2 2 7 4 0 Yacksel Ríos 1 1/3 1 1 1 1 0 1 Corbin Martin 1 1/3 2 1 1 0 4 0 Luis Peralta 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 Gabe Klobosits 1 1 1 1 2 1 0 Three Home Runs Power Smokies Past Columbus 5-1 The Knoxville Smokies hit three home runs and got nine scoreless innings of relief on the way to a 5-1 win in Columbus. Right fielder Alex Ramírez had the biggest day, going 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and an RBI single for three runs batted in. Carter Trice and Ethan Hearn each added solo home runs. Leadoff man Karson Simas reached three times on a single and two walks, scored twice, and stole two bases. Cleanup hitter Jefferson Rojas added a hit and a walk, and Hearn finished 2-for-4. Trice opened the scoring in the first with a solo shot to right. Hearn went deep to right in the second, putting Knoxville ahead 2-0. The fifth was the biggest inning. Simas singled to right and stole second, then Ramírez launched a two-run home run to right that opened the game up at 4-0. Knoxville added another in the seventh when Simas walked and came home on a Ramírez single to center. Right-hander Jake Knapp started and worked 2 2/3 hitless innings with one walk and five strikeouts. Jace Beck followed with three innings, surrendering one unearned run on two hits with a walk and three strikeouts to pick up the win. Frankie Scalzo Jr. held the lead with 2 1/3 scoreless innings and three more strikeouts, and Evan Taylor finished with a scoreless ninth. Knoxville pitching combined for 13 strikeouts. Columbus scored its only run in the sixth, an unearned run set up by a throwing error. Player AB R H RBI BB K Karson Simas, CF 3 2 1 0 2 0 Alex Ramírez, RF 5 1 2 3 0 0 Carter Trice, LF 5 1 1 1 0 1 Jefferson Rojas, 3B 4 0 1 0 1 0 Ethan Hearn, C 4 1 2 1 0 0 Ariel Armas, DH 4 0 1 0 0 1 Edgar Alvarez, 1B 3 0 0 0 0 3 Devin Ortiz, 2B 3 0 1 0 0 0 Ed Howard, SS 3 0 0 0 1 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jake Knapp 2 2/3 0 0 0 1 5 0 Jace Beck 3 2 1 0 1 3 0 Frankie Scalzo Jr. 2 1/3 1 0 0 0 3 0 Evan Taylor 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 South Bend Cubs Erupt For 25 Runs In Rout Of Wisconsin After falling behind 3-0 in the first, the South Bend Cubs answered with a 19-run flurry over the final three innings to bury the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 25-6. Matt Halbach led the way with a 5-for-5 night that included a three-run home run, six runs batted in, five runs scored, and two walks. Leadoff hitter Kane Kepley reached six times with four hits, two walks, five runs scored, two RBI, and four stolen bases. Justin Stransky drove in five runs on a grand slam and a sacrifice fly. Alex Madera reached five times and drove in three. Cleanup hitter Kade Snell scored four times with two hits and two walks. Christian Olivo tripled and drove in two from the bottom of the order, and Leonel Espinoza added two hits and two RBI. South Bend trailed 6-4 heading to the seventh before the offense broke open. Kepley scored on a Snell forceout, and Halbach launched a three-run shot to left to make it 10-6. The eighth produced the biggest haul. Olivo and Kepley singled to start the inning, with Olivo scoring on Kepley's hit. After back-to-back walks, bases-loaded passes to Snell and Halbach forced in two more runs. A wild pitch scored Cole Mathis, Espinoza added a sacrifice fly, Madera doubled in another, Olivo tripled in two, and Kepley capped it with a second RBI single. Nine runs in all. Stransky's grand slam highlighted a six-run ninth. Starter Ethan Flanagan worked four innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Kevin Valdez followed with three innings, two runs, one earned, two hits, and seven strikeouts to earn the win. Here's a recap of the wild last two innings of the game. You'll want to take a minute and check this out: Player AB R H RBI BB K Kane Kepley, LF 5 5 4 2 2 0 Ty Southisene, DH 5 2 1 0 2 3 Cole Mathis, 1B 5 1 1 1 1 1 Kade Snell, CF 5 4 2 2 2 1 Matt Halbach, 3B 5 5 5 6 2 0 Leonel Espinoza, RF 5 2 2 2 1 1 Alex Madera, 2B 3 2 2 3 3 0 Justin Stransky, C 3 2 1 5 2 1 Christian Olivo, SS 6 2 2 2 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Ethan Flanagan 4 5 3 3 2 5 0 Kenyi Perez 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 Kevin Valdez 3 2 2 1 2 7 0 JP Wheat 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 Hartshorn's Four RBI And Reid's Quality Start Lift Pelicans Past Augusta The Myrtle Beach Pelicans cruised to a 6-1 win over the Augusta GreenJackets behind a four-RBI day from Josiah Hartshorn and six strong innings from right-hander Dominick Reid. Hartshorn went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, four runs batted in, and a run scored. Leadoff hitter Alexis Hernandez reached three times with two hits, a double, a walk, and two runs scored. Geuri Lubo went deep for two more RBI, Yahil Melendez singled, walked, and stole a base, and Darlyn De Leon chipped in a hit and a run. Myrtle Beach broke through in the second when Lubo launched a two-run home run to left center to score Melendez, putting the Pelicans up 2-0. The third doubled the advantage. After Hernandez and De Leon reached, Hartshorn ripped a two-run double to left that plated both runners for a 4-0 lead. Hartshorn closed the scoring in the seventh, lining a two-run home run to right center that brought home Hernandez and pushed the lead to 6-0. Reid turned in a quality start, throwing six innings of one-hit ball with no runs, no walks, and four strikeouts to earn the win. Aiden Moffett followed with two scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and a walk while striking out three. Daniel Avitia closed out the ninth and surrendered an unearned run on two hits. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alexis Hernandez, SS 3 2 2 0 1 0 Josiah Hartshorn, RF 4 1 2 4 0 0 Logan Poteet, C 3 0 0 0 0 1 Jairo Diaz, C 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jose Escobar, 2B 3 0 0 0 1 1 Derniche Valdez, DH 4 0 0 0 0 2 Yahil Melendez, 3B 3 1 1 0 1 0 Geuri Lubo, LF 4 1 1 2 0 1 Edward Vargas, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 3 Darlyn De Leon, CF 3 1 1 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Dominick Reid 6 1 0 0 0 4 0 Aiden Moffett 2 1 0 0 1 3 0 Daniel Avitia 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Jefferson Rojas: 1-for-4, BB Jaxon Wiggins: DNP Pedro Ramirez: 4-for-5, R, SB Kevin Alcantara: 0-for-4, RBI, BB, 2 K Josiah Hartshorn: 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI Ethan Conrad: DNP Kane Kepley: 4-for-5, 5 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 4 SB Jonathon Long: 2-for-5, 2 K James Triantos: 1-for-5, 2B, RBI Cole Mathis: 1-for-5, RBI, BB, K Owen Ayers: DNP Brooks Caple: DNP Juan Cabada: DNP Kaleb Wing: DNP Angel Cepeda: DNP Dominick Reid: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, W Jostin Florentino: DNP Ty Southisene: 1-for-5, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K Will Sanders: DNP Brandon Birdsell: DNP View full article