I’m running out of things to say about Josiah Hartshorn. The only thing I can really compare him to is Kris Bryant, but Bryant was coming out of college and was 22 when he hit .355 with 22 home runs in 68 games for Double-A Tennessee in 2014.
Left-hander Luke Little was demoted to Double-A Knoxville from Triple-A Iowa.
Nobody lost! I can’t say everyone won.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were fit to be tied by the Louisville Bats (Reds), 4-4.
Before I get into the stats, let me explain that Iowa scored five runs in the top
of the tenth and James Triantos hit a three-run home run. But the rains came and washed out the bottom of the tenth, so the score reverted to a 4-4 tie.
Starter Doug Nikhazy went four innings and allowed two runs on three hits. He struck out six and walked no one. Both runs off Nikhazy came on a fourth-inning home run by Héctor Rodríguez.
Center fielder James Triantos was 2 for 4 with two runs batted in. It would have been five if it hadn’t rained when it did.
Right fielder Justin Dean went 2 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. He also had a two-run single in the tenth that didn’t count.
Here’s a two-run single by Triantos that counted.
And here’s his home run that didn’t count.
Knoxville Smokies
The Knoxville Smokies ate the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 4-3. The win and the Lookouts’ loss moved the Smokies into sole possession of first place in the Southern League North Division. The Smokies and the Lookouts start a six-game series in Knoxville on Tuesday to end the first half.
Brooks Caple allowed three runs on just two hits over the first five innings. All three runs were unearned, although it was his own throwing error that opened the gates to a three-run bottom of the third. Caple walked three and struck out one.
Next, Yenrri Rojas threw two scoreless innings, giving up just one hit. He struck out one and walked no one.
Luke Little pitched the bottom of the eighth inning and got the win in his first game with the Smokies since 2023. Little walked a batter with one out, but then he picked him off first base. The he allowed a two-out single before finishing off the inning with his only strikeout.
Erian Rodriguez pitched the ninth and got his first professional save. He gave up a two-out single, but no other baserunners. Rodriguez struck out two.
DH Andy Garriola hit a sacrifice fly that scored catcher Owen Ayers in the top of the ninth that ended up being the winning run. Garriola went 1 for 4 with a triple and the sac fly. He scored once.
Ayers doubled twice and walked once in a 2 for 4 afternoon.
First baseman Cameron Sisneros hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth to tie the score. It was Sisneros’ first Double-A home run and seventh overall. Sisneros was a perfect 2 for 2 with two walks.
Third baseman Jefferson Rojas was 3 for 5 and scored once.
Right fielder Alex Ramírez went 2 for 5 with three steals.
Sisneros’ home run.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs turned the hoses on the Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals), 10-3.
Alfredo Romero pitched the first three innings, allowing three runs on three hits. All three runs came on a home run in the top of the third. Romero walked two and struck out four.
Nazier Mulé handled the next three innings and got the win. Mulé allowed just one hit and no runs. He struck out four and walked two.
Kenton Egbert, Nate Williams and Ethan Bell each threw a scoreless inning to close out the game in non-save situations.
DH Josiah Hartshorn did it again with a solo home run in the eighth inning. It was Hartshorn’s eighth home run in 18 games in South Bend and 13th overall. Hartshorn went 3 for 4 with a walk, the home run and a stolen base. He scored twice and had two overall runs batted in.
Back in the fifth inning, right fielder Miguel Useche hit a three-run home run, his seventh with South Bend and eighth overall. Useche went 1 for 4 and he was hit by a pitch.
Left fielder Jose Escobar hit a two-run triple in the bottom of the first inning. Escobar went 1 for 3 with two walks and the triple.
Second baseman Alex Madera was 2 for 5 with three steals. He scored one run.
Third baseman Matt Halbach went 2 for 5 and scored twice.
Escobar’s triple just missed going out.
Useche’s home run.
A nice catch by center fielder Kane Kepley.
RBI single for Hartshorn.
Hartshorn goes deep.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans mocked the fashion choices of the Augusta GreenJackets (Braves), 6-5.
Starter Pierce Coppola went four innings and allowed just one run on three hits. Coppola walked two and struck out three.
David Bracho gave up a three-run home run in the seventh, but he got the win because Coppola didn’t go five innings. Bracho’s final line was three runs on one hit over four innings. Bracho walked four and struck out four.
Jordan Henriquez came on in the ninth to get the save with a 6-4 lead. After retiring the first two batters of the inning, he gave up a solo home run. Then Henriquez got a ground out to end the game and record the save. He struck out one.
Right fielder Alexey Lumpuy led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run, his third of the year. Lumpuy was 1 for 3 with a walk and a hit by pitch.
In the fourth inning, left flieder Geuri Lubo homered with the bases empty. It was Lubo’s fourth home run of the season. Lubo was 2 for 4.
Catcher Logan Poteet hit the Pelicans third and final home run of the game with a man on in the fifth. Poteet now has ten home runs this year. Poteet also had an RBI double in the third inning, giving him three RBI on the game. Poteet went 3 for 4 with the double and the home run.
Lumpuy homers to lead off the bottom of the first.
Poteet’s RBI double.
Lubo knocks the ball way deep.
Poteet hits it even farther.
ACL Cubs
Off day.
