Smokies catcher Owen Ayers was named Southern League Player of the Week.
Right-hander Kenten Egbert went back to High-A South Bend after a brief trip to Triple-A Iowa.
Right-hander Frankie Scalzo Jr. went back to Double-A Knoxville from Iowa.
Right-handers Corbin Martin and Yacksel Rios joined Iowa.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were deafened by the Nashville Sounds (Brewers), 9-3.
Paul Campbell started and took the loss. He was tagged for five runs on seven hits over 3.2 innings. Campbell walked four and struck out
four.
Most of the I-Cubs offense came from third baseman BJ Murray, who was a perfect 3 for 3 and was hit by a pitch. He scored one run.
Not much in the way of highlights here—no extra base hits and the three runs scored on a passed ball, sac fly and an error. But here’s a nice bit of defense from second baseman Pedro Ramírez.
Knoxville Smokies
The Knoxville Smokies baked the Columbus Clingstones (Braves), 8-2.
Starter Yenrri Rojas gave the Smokies 74 pitches and 3.1 innings. In that time he allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits. Rojas struck out four, walked one and hit one batter.
Tyler Ras pitched the next 1.2 innings and earned the win, since Rojas didn’t go five. Ras retired all five batters he faced, striking out two of them.
After Marino Santy pitched two innings of scoreless relief, Vince Reilly took it home the rest of the way with a two-inning save. Reilly allowed no hits and two walks. He struck out four.
Second baseman Karson Simas drove the first pitch of the game over the left field wall for his fourth home run this season. Simas was 1 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored.
After the Clingstones tied it up in the bottom of the first, right fielder Alex Ramirez put the Smokies up for good with a solo home run in the top of the second inning. It was his second home run this season. Ramirez went 2 for 4 with a sac fly. He scored twice and had four runs batted in, thanks to a two-run single in the ninth.
DH Andy Garriola clubbed his eighth home run this year with no one one in the top of the eighth. Garriola was 2 for 5 with a double and the home run.
First baseman Edgar Alvarez had a pair of doubles in a 2 for 5 game. He had one RBI.
Center fielder Carter Trice was 3 for 5 with a double.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs skinned the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 10-1.
Koen Moreno started and did not allow a single hit over four innings. He did give up one run thanks to three walks, a hit batter and a balk. Moreno struck out six.
Grayson Moore threw the next two innings, didn’t allow a run and got the win. Moore gave up one hit. He struck out two and walked no one.
Center fielder Kane Kepley hit his first South Bend home run in the top of the second inning with two men on. Kepley finished the game 2 for 5 with a walk and a steal. He scored twice.
First baseman Cole Mathis doubled twice in a 3 for 5 night. He scored once and had one run batted in.
Catcher Justin Stransky was 2 for 3 with two walks. He scored twice.
DH Cameron Sisneros was 2 for 5 with two runs batted in. He also scored one run.
RBI double for Mathis. He’s slugging .535 in 19 games since his promotion from Myrtle Beach.
Kepley’s first Midwest League home run.
Two-run single for Sisneros.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were stung by the Augusta Green Jackets (Braves), 4-3.
David Bracho gave the Pelicans a strong start. Bracho allowed just one unearned run on two hits over four innings. Bracho walked three and struck out five. He also pitched an immaculate inning in the third.
Hayden Frank pitched the next three innings and coughed up the lead after allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out six and walked two.
Victor Zarraga gave up a run in the top of the ninth and got the loss. Zarraga’s final line was one run on one hit and three walks over two innings. He struck out two.
The game-tying home run and go-ahead RBI single in the ninth were hit by Augusta’s Tate Southisene, the younger brother of the Cubs’ Ty, who was just promoted from Myrtle Beach to South Bend.
First baseman Michael Carico was 2 for 4 with an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning.
DH Josiah Hartshorn was a perfect 1 for 1 with four walks. Hartshorn scored once.
Bracho’s immaculate inning.
ACL Cubs
First baseman Henniel Alcala was 3 for 4 with three doubles.
