Pelicans pitcher Mason McGwire was named Minor League Pitcher of the Week. That’s for all the minors.
Catcher Owen Ayers was named Midwest League Player of the Week. He was also promoted to Double-A Knoxville.
For the second-straight week, Smokies right-hander Grant Kipp was named Southern League Pitcher of the week.
Corner infielder Cole Mathis was promoted from Low-A Myrtle Beach to High-A South Bend.
Shortstop Geuri Lubo was promoted to South Bend from rookie ball Mesa Cubs.
Right-handed pitchers Daniel
Avitia and Connor Knox were both promoted to South Bend from Mesa.
Catcher Miguel Useche was demoted from Knoxville to South Bend.
South Bend third baseman Brian Kalmer was released.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were battered by the Louisville Bats (Reds), 10-3.
Starter Paul Campbell took the loss after getting knocked around for seven runs, six earned, on nine hits over 4.2 innings. He struck out two and walked one.
All three I-Cubs runs came on a three-run home run by left fielder Dylan Carlson in the fourth inning. Carlson was 1 for 4.
Third baseman BJ Murray went 3 for 4 with a double.
Right fielder Chas McCormick was 2 for 3 with a double and one run scored.
Carlson’s home run.
Knoxville Smokies
The Knoxville Smokies were spotted by the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), 4-0.
All four runs in this game scored in the top of the second inning off of Smokies starter Nick Dean. Dean allowed four runs on five hits over three innings. He walked two and struck out three.
Dawson Netz tossed three innings of scoreless relief, giving up just one hit and one walk. Netz struck out four.
DH Andy Garriola went 2 for 4 with a double.
Shortstop Karson Simas was 2 for 4.
Owen Ayers’ Double-A debut was rough. He was 0 for 4 with one strikeout, but the worst part was that he was called for catcher’s interference twice.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs slew the Dayton Dragons (Reds), 16-10.
Kevin Valdez started and put the Cubs in an early hole by surrendering five runs on eight hits over three innings. He struck out four and walked one.
South Bend fought back and took a 10-6 lead after scoring five runs in the top of the eighth. But Nate Williams came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth and couldn’t retire a batter. So Ethan Bell relieved Williams and allowed two inherited runners to score, which tied the game up 10-10. But Bell got the win after South Bend scored six runs in the top of the ninth.
The final line on Williams was four runs, two earned, on three walks. For Bell, it was no runs on one hit over two innings. He struck out two and walked one.
Shortstop Miguel Olivo hit his first South Bend home run, a solo home run in the third. Olivo went 2 for 3 with two walks. He scored five times and drove in two.
Right fielder Kade Snell was 2 for 4 with a walk and three RBI.
Third baseman Matt Halbach went 2 for 6 with an RBI double and a two-run single in the ninth.
Left fielder Reginald Preciado was 2 for 4 with two walks and two runs scored.
First baseman Cole Mathis was 1 for 6 in his South Bend debut, but he hit a three-run double in the eighth.
Olivo’s home run.
Mathis’ three-run double.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were hammered by the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Astros), 6-2.
Dominick Reid started for the Birds and took the loss after he gave up three runs on five hits over three innings. All three runs came in the second inning. Reid walked two and struck out one.
Right fielder Josiah Hartshorn was 2 for 5 with an RBI single in the seventh inning.
First baseman Michael Carico was 1 for 4 with a hit-by-pitch and a stolen base. He also drove in a run in the seventh with a single.
