Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs outran the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 4-3. It was Iowa’s sixth-straight win.
Jameson Taillon made a rehab start this afternoon and the results on the field could have been better, but overall it was a successful return from the Cubs point of view. Taillon gave up a two-run home run in the first inning and a solo home run in the fourth. But the important thing is that he threw 68 pitches and declared himself ready to return to the majors afterwards. He also got 17 whiffs on those 68 pitches,
so he was missing bats.
Taillon’s final line was three runs on six hits over 3.2 innings. He struck out six and walked just one.
Luke Little took over for Taillon and allowed just one hit and no runs over 2.1 innings. Little struck out five and didn’t walk anyone.
Zach Pop threw the top of the seventh inning and got the win. He gave up two hits but no runs. Pop struck out two and walked no one.
Ethan Roberts gave up a hit and a walk in the eighth to no damage. He struck out one.
Finally, Nate Pearson pitched the ninth and got the save. Pearson allowed a walk and a hit with one out, but with runners on the corners and the tying run on third, Pearson struck out the next two batters to end the game. Pearson struck out three.
Iowa pitchers struck out 17 Storm Chasers in this game.
Iowa scored three of their four runs in this game on bases-loaded walks or hit batsmen. Third baseman Chase Strumpf had an RBI single in the fourth, the only run driven in by a hit. Strumpf went 1 for 4.
First baseman Jonathon Long was 2 for 3 with a double and walk. He scored once.
DH Moisés Ballesteros went 0 for 1 with three walks. He also scored one run.
Strumpf’s RBI single.
Knoxville Smokies
The Knoxville Smokies gave the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels) a major malfunction, 3-0.
Connor Schultz had the best start of his career, throwing a career-high seven innings and allowing no runs on just one hit. Schultz walked two, hit two batters and struck out a career-high eight batters.
Zac Leigh and Tyler Santana finished the one-hit shutout. Leigh pitched the eighth and retired the side in order, striking out two. Santana pitched the ninth, walked one, struck out one and got the save.
Second baseman Pedro Ramirez had five hits tonight and three of them were doubles. Ramirez was 5 for 5 with one RBI and two runs scored.
Left fielder Jordan Nwogu was 2 for 4. He singled home Ramirez in the fifth inning.
Shortstop Corey Joyce went 2 for 5.
The Ramirez RBI double.
Nwogu’s bloop RBI single.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs swept a doubleheader from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), winning the continuation of yesterday’s game 5-3 and the regularly-scheduled seven-inning contest 7-4.
However, Beloit best Peoria 8-7, eliminating South Bend from playoff contention with three games to play.
Kevin Valdez threw four innings yesterday. He gave up two runs on five hits. Valdez walked three and struck out three.
Jackson Kirkpatrick pitched the eighth and ninth innings and got the win after the Cubs took the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Kirkpatrick allowed one hit. He walked two and struck out three.
First baseman Brian Kalmer cranked a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth, his tenth of the year. Kalmer was 1 for 3 with the home run, a walk and a stolen base. Kalmer scored twice.
Catcher Ariel Armas went 3 for 4 and scored one run.
Kalmer’s home run.
Nazier Mulé started the nightcap and allowed two runs on four hits over 3.2 innings. Mulé walked two and struck out three.
Mulé was relieved by Luis Rujano, who got the win because Mulé didn’t go five innings. Rujano pitched 1.1 innings and gave up no runs and one hit. He walked one and struck out one.
Grayson Moore came on to get the save. Moore surrendered one run on one hit and one walk over 1.1 innings. Moore struck out one.
DH Ariel Armas had a two-run double in the fourth inning. Armas went 2 for 3 with the double and a walk. He scored one run.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were blinded by the Columbia Fireflies (Royals), 4-3.
Pierce Coppola pitched the first three innings and allowed two runs on four hits. Coppola walked three, hit one batter and struck out five.
Ethan Bell pitched the top of the ninth and got the loss after surrendering one run on two hits. Bell did not have a walk or a strikeout.
Shortstop Angel Cepeda went 2 for 3 with a walk and an RBI single in the third inning.
The Pelicans had just four hits in this game, all singles. However, the walked nine times. But The Birds also struck out 16 times.
