The Cubs acquired left-hander Antoine Kelly in a trade with the Dodgers for cash. Kelly was assigned to Triple-A Iowa.
The Cubs claimed right-hander Eduarniel Núñez off waivers from the Orioles. They assigned him to rookie ball Mesa, where I presume he’ll work in the pitch lab and not pitch. Núñez was in the Cubs system from 2017 to 2024.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs shattered the Louisville Bats (Reds), 10-2.
Iowa got four good innings out of starter Doug Nikhazy, who gave up two hits but no runs. Nikhazy walked
two and struck out two.
Because Nikhazy didn’t go five innings, the win went to reliever Christian Roa. Roa pitched 1.1 innings of relief and surrendered no runs and just one hit. He did not walk anyone and struck out two.
The I-Cubs jumped all over Bats starter Darren McCaughan. Third baseman BJ Murray hit a two-run home run in the first inning, his seventh on the season. Murray was 2 for 5 with a double and the homer.
In the fourth inning, catcher Christian Bethencort extended the I-Cubs lead with a three-run home run. It was Bethencourt’s fifth of the season. He finished the game 1 for 5.
One inning later, in the fifth, left fielder James Triantos clubbed a two-run home run, also his fifth. Triantos was also 1 for 5.
The fourth and final I-Cubs home run came in the seventh inning off the bat of first baseman Jonathon Long with the bases empty. It was his fourth home run this year. Long went 1 for 4 with a walk and he scored twice.
Shortstop Ben Cowles went 3 for 5 with a double and a run scored.
Second baseman Owen Miller was 2 for 5 with an RBI double in the first inning and an RBI single in the seventh. Miller also scored on Murray’s home run.
Owen Miller’s RBI double.
They measured Murray’s blast at 458 feet.
Don’t have a distance on Bethencourt’s home run. It must have broken Statcast.
Triantos’ home run “only” went 360 feet, but it was oppo taco so he gets extra credit for that.
Finally, Jonathon Long’s home run was 426 feet.
Knoxville Smokies
The Knoxville Smokies got burnt by the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 6-5.
Grant Kipp allowed four runs on four hits over the first four innings. All four runs came on two home runs—a solo home run and a three run home run. Kipp struck out four, hit one batter and walked one.
The loss went to Marino Santy, who gave up two runs on four hits over two innings. Santy struck out two and walked no one.
DH Owen Ayers was named Southern League Player of the Week and he celebrated by hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning. It was Ayers’ tenth home run and third in four games. Ayers went 2 for 4 with a double and the home run.
Left fielder Carter Trice hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, also his tenth on the campaign. Trice went 2 for 4.
Shortstop Karson Simas doubled twice in a 2 for 4 night. He scored twice.
Catcher Ariel Armas was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI single.
Ayers’ home run.
Trice tied the game up 4-4 with his blast.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs demoted the Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals), 6-3. The win reduced South Bend’s magic number for clinching a first-half title down to four with eight games to play.
Starter Nazier Mulé gave up two home runs over 4.1 innings, but they were both solo home runs and those were the only two runs he allowed. Mulé allowed four hits. He walked just one and and struck out six. He did hit one batter.
Jackson Brockett threw the next 1.2 innings, permitted no runs on just one hit, and got the win. Brockett struck out three and walked no one.
Alfredo Romero went the rest of the way for the three-inning save. Romero allowed one run on three hits. He struck out five and walked two.
Left fielder Cole Mathis connected for a solo home run in the second inning. It was Mathis’ tenth home run this year and third with South Bend. Mathis went 1 for 4.
DH Kane Kepley was a perfect 2 for 2 with three walks and a three-run home run later in the second. Kepley also stole a base.
Catcher Justin Stransky went 2 for 2 with two walks and two steals. He scored once.
Center fielder Josiah Hartshorn was 2 for 5 with a double. Hartshorn scored one run.
The Mathis home run.
The Kepley home run was his third of the year.
RBI single for Matt Halbach, who went 1 for 5. But you can see that Hartshorn moves pretty well for a big guy here.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans got stung by the Augusta GreenJackets (Braves), 5-2.
David Bracho gave the Pelicans a good start, allowing just one run on two hits over four innings. Bracho struck out six and hit one batter and walked one.
Daniel Avita went the next four innings and gave up five hits, but no runs. Avita walked two and struck out seven.
Jhon Rosario entered the game in the top of the ninth, looking for the save with the Birds clinging to a 2-1 lead. But Rosario got rocked for four runs on five hits in the one inning he pitched. He neither walked nor struck anyone out.
Left fielder Gueri Lubo tied the game 1-1 with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh. It was Lubo’s fourth home run overall and third with Myrtle Beach. Lubo was 1 for 4.
Catcher Logan Poteet singled home right fielder Eli Lovich in the bottom of the eighth to give the Pelicans the lead. Poteet was 2 for 4 and Lovice went 1 for 3 with a double and a walk.
Highlights.
