Five days after he was released, the Cubs have signed outfielder Chas McCormick and assigned him to Triple-A Iowa. If you want to know what that’s about, McCormick invoked his opt-out at the beginning of the month, became a free agent, and then re-signed with the Cubs after he didn’t get a better offer from another team.
Outfielder Ethan Conrad was promoted from the ACL Cubs to Low-A Myrtle Beach. He did not play tonight.
Outfielder Derik Alcantara was also promoted to Myrtle Beach from Mesa.
Left-hander
Doug Nikhazy went sent to the ACL Cubs from Triple-A Iowa.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cub deconsecrated the St. Paul Saints (Twins), 3-1.
Andrew Wentz started and got the win after he allowed just one run on three hits over 5.2 innings. Wentz struck out seven and walked two.
Phil Maton entered the game on a rehab assignment to start the seventh inning, faced five batters and retired all five of them. Maton struck out three of the five.
Vince Reilly pitched the final 1.1 innings and got the save. He only allowed one baserunner, a two-out walk in the ninth. Reilly did not strike anyone out.
All three Iowa runs came on a home run by catcher Christian Bethancourt in the second inning. It was Bethancourt’s ninth home run this year. He was 1 for 3.
Third baseman Owen Miller doubled three times today in a 3 for 4 afternoon.
Second baseman James Triantos was 2 for 4 with one run scored.
Center fielder Chas McCormick went 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored on the Bethancourt home run.
Bethancourt’s home run.
Knoxville Smokies
The Knoxville Smokies pried open the Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers), 9-6.
Brooks Caple got the win with a quality start of six innings and three runs. Caple allowed the three runs on three hits and two walks. He struck out six.
Luke Little pitched a clean ninth inning for the save, retiring the side in order. Little struck out one.
Catcher Owen Ayers hit a two-run home run in the third inning. It was Ayers’ 22nd home run on the year and 16th with Knoxville. Ayers went 2 for 5 with four overall RBI.
Left fielder Carter Trice tacked on an insurance run with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh. Trice now has 11 home runs this season. Trice was a perfect 2 for 2 with two walks. He scored twice.
Second baseman Alex Madera was 2 for 4. He scored once and had one run batted in.
Ayers’ home run.
Highlights of a six-run sixth inning.
Trice with the solo shot off the batter’s eye.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs were harvested by the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins), 3-2.
Nazier Mulé gave the Cubs a solid start, giving up just one run on one hit over four innings. Mulé struck out two and walked two.
Eli Jerzembeck gave up a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth and took the loss. Jerzembeck’s final line was two runs on two hits over one inning. He walked one and struck out one.
South Bend managed just three hits. Third baseman Matt Halbach doubled home shortstop Christian Olivo in the third inning. Halbach was 1 for 4. Olivo was 0 for 2 with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning for the other run.
Halbach’s double.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans killed the Fredericksburg Nationals in committee, 11-8.
Luis Martinez-Gomez started this game on a rehab assignment and just dominated. Martinez-Gomez pitched six scoreless innings and allowed just one hit as he got the win. He struck out seven and walked just one. He did hit one batter.
Third baseman Derniche Valdez homered for the second-straight night. His seventh home run of the year was a solo home run in the second inning. Valdez went 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored twice and had two overall runs batted in.
In the third inning, catcher Ivan Cespedes homered with the bases empty. It was Cespedes’ first Low-A home run and sixth overall this year. Cespedes went 1 for 3 with two walks.
Finally, first baseman Jairo Diaz connected for a two-run home run in the seventh, his second on the season. Diaz went 1 for 3 with two walks. He scored twice and had three overall RBI.
The Pelicans scored 11 runs on just five hits. It helped that three of the hits were home runs and that they drew 13 walks and were hit by three pitches.
Martinez-Gomez highlights.
The Cespedes home run.
Jairo Diaz adds on insurance runs.
ACL Cubs
Off day.
