Some movement in the system today as outfielder Josiah Hartshorn and right-hander Mason McGwire were promoted from Low-A Myrtle Beach to High-A South Bend. Both players have been among the best performers in the Cubs minors so far this season.
Also, shortstop Alex Madera and first baseman Cameron Sisneros were promoted to Double-A Knoxville from South Bend.
Right-hander Henry Cone moves to Myrtle Beach from rookie ball Mesa.
Second baseman Nicky Lopez elected free agency.
Iowa Cubs
Off day.
Knoxville Smokies
The Knoxville Smokies
were spotted by the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), 12-3.
Yenrri Rojas started this game and gave up three runs on two home runs in the first inning. He pitched the second and third innings without incident, retiring the side in order in both frames, but then came out to pitch the fourth inning. All six batters he faced in the sixth reached and he was pulled after the sixth one hit a two-run home run.
The final line on Rojas was nine runs on eight hits over 3+ innings. Three of those eight hits were home runs. Rojas walked two, hit one batter and struck out three.
The Smokies only managed six hits today but two of them were home runs. The first was a solo home run in the seventh inning by third baseman Jefferson Rojas. It was Rojas’ fifth home run of the season. Rojas was a perfect 2 for 2 with two walks.
The other home run came in the top of the ninth by center fielder Andy Garriola, his ninth. Garriola was 2 for 4.
Second baseman Alex Madera went 1 for 2 with an RBI single in his Double-A debut. Madera also walked once.
Here’s the Rojas home run.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs cleaned up the Ft. Wayne TinCaps (Padres), 5-2. South Bend has won six in a row and nine of their last ten games.
It was a strong start for Alfredo Romero, who got the win after allowing just one run on four hits over 5.2 innings. Romero struck out two and walked one.
Jackson Brockett went the rest of the way for the 3.1 inning save. He also allowed just one run on three hits. Brockett struck out five and walked one.
Both TinCaps runs scored on solo home runs by Jake Cunningham.
First baseman Josiah Hartshorn hit a sacrifice fly in his first High-A at-bat. Later on, he hit an RBI double off the left field wall for his first South Bend hit. Hartshorn finished the game going 1 for 2 with a walk and the sacrifice fly. He scored once and had the two runs batted in. Those were also the only two South Bend RBI for the game, as the other three runs scored either on one of two double plays or an error.
Center fielder Kade Snell went 1 for 2 with a double before leaving the game after colliding with second baseman Miguel Olivo. I don’t have any report on Snell’s condition but he was back in the dugout before the end of the game.
Olivo was 1 for 2 and was hit by a pitch.
Here’s Hartshorn’s sac fly. It really could have been a double.
And here is Hartshorn’s actual double that was a few feet shy of a home run.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were strafed by the Wilson Warbirds (Brewers), 4-1. It was the Pelicans ninth-straight loss.
Pierce Coppola didn’t have a bad start, but he got tagged with the loss anyways. Coppola allowed two runs on three hits over four innings. One of those hits was a solo home run. Coppola struck out eight and walked one, which is impressive. Coppola has now struck out 28 batters and walked six over 17 innings.
The only Birds run came on a solo home run in the eighth inning by right fielder Eli Lovich. Lovich had four of Myrtle Beach’s eight hits, going 4 for 4 with a double and the home run.
Three of the other four hits came from DH Edward Vargas. Vargas was 3 for 4.
Lovich’s home run.
Some Coppola highlights.
ACL Cubs
Losing to the Brewers, 2-0 in the second.
Will Sanders started this game in a rehab assignment.
