The day after he started for Iowa, right-hander Tommy Romero goes back on the developmental list.

Game two of the doubleheader was the game of the year so far in the minor league system.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs swept a doubleheader from the St. Paul Saints (Twins), 8-2 and 8-7 in eight innings.

Other than a two-run home run he gave up to Jair Camargo in the fifth inning, starter Connor Noland dominated the Saints on the way to his fourth win. Noland’s final line was two runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out eight and walked two.

Catcher Carlos Pérez and second baseman James Triantos did most of the damage in game one. Triantos hit a three-run double in the first inning and an RBI single in the fourth for four total RBI. Triantos went 2 for 3.

Pérez hit a RBI double in the fourth inning and a solo home run in the sixth. Perez went 3 for 4 with two doubles, the home run and the two RBI. He scored twice.

Triantos’ three-run double.

Owen Caissie has one steal this year. It’s a steal of home.

Keegan Thompson started game two and put Iowa in an early hole with two runs in the second and two more in the third. Thompson finished with four runs on five hits over 2+ innings. He walked two and struck out four.

Tom Cosgrove tossed two scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit. He did walk two and didn’t strike anyone out.

The I-Cubs were trailing 5-1 in the bottom of the seventh when they rallied for four runs to send it into extras. Frankie Scalzo Jr. had to get ready in a hurry when the I-Cubs tied it and it showed in that he gave up two runs, one earned, on one hit and one hit batsman. He struck out one and walked no one.

But Scalzo got the win when Iowa rallied again for three runs in the eighth, capped off by a walk-off home run with two outs by third baseman Matt Shaw. It was Shaw’s second home run of the game, as he had led off the bottom of the first with a home run. That gives him four home runs on the minor league season.

Shaw went back-to-back in the eighth with second baseman Chase Strumpf, who tied the game with a two-run home run. Strumpf was a perfect in game two, going 2 for 2 with a double, the home run and two walks. He now has seven home runs this year.

The eighth-inning heroics would not have been possible without the seventh-inning heroics. Trailing 5-1, Iowa got one run back on back-to-back doubles by right fielder Owen Caissie and first baseman Jonathon Long. Next, catcher Reese McGuire got Iowa to within a run with a two-run home run. It was McGuire’s third home run of the year.

Caissie went 1 for 4 with one run scored. Long was 3 for 4 with one run batted in and one run scored. McGuire was went 1 for 4.

After Ben Cowles hit a hard line drive right at the center fielder and James Triantos grounded out, Iowa was down to their final out when pinch-hitter Carlos Pérez came to bat. On an 0-2 count, Pérez tied the game when he connected for his second home run of the day and fifth overall.

Triantos went 2 for 4. Cowles was 1 for 4.

Shaw’s first home run was opp taco.

Long’s RBI double.

Carlos Pérez sends the game to extras as a pinch-hitter.

Shaw ends the game.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies were pulped by the Columbus Clingstones (Braves), 4-1 in 11 innings.

Jaxon Wiggins made his Double-A debut tonight and gave up just one run on three hits over four innings. Wiggins struck out four and walked one.

Antonio Santos threw the next four innings and the only baserunner he allowed came on an error. Santos struck out five.

Robert Kwiatkowski kept the Clingstones from scoring in the tenth, but he gave up three runs in the top of the 11th and took the loss. His final line was three runs on two hits and two walks over two innings. All three runs were unearned thanks to a dropped foul pop up error by first baseman BJ Murray Jr.

The Smokies managed just six hits over 11 innings. First baseman Ethan Hearn was 2 for 3 with a walk.

Catcher Casey Opitz drove pinch-runner Jaylen Palmer in the bottom of the ninth for Knoxville’s only run. Opitz went 0 for 3.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were hammered by the Lansing Lugnuts (Athletics), 6-2.

Starter Connor Schultz took the loss after getting battered for five runs on eight hits over four innings. Schultz walked on and struck out two.

Third baseman Drew Bowser hit a solo home run in the seventh inning, his first. Bowser went 2 for 4.

In the sixth inning, DH Jefferson Rojas tripled with two outs and left fielder Edgar Alvarez singled him home. Rojas went 1 for 4 and Alvarez was 2 for 4.

Catcher Miguel Pabon was 2 for 2 with two walks.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were scratched by the Lynchburg Hillcats (Guardians), 4-3.

Will Frisch pitched the first three innings and allowed just one run on two hits. Frisch walked two, hit one and struck out no one.

The Pelicans had a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the eighth when Charlie Hurley got rocked for three runs and the loss. His full line was three runs on two hits and two walks and a hit batsman over two innings. He struck out two.

Center fielder Alexey Lumpuy hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning. It was Lumpuy’s third home run this season. At the plate tonight, Lumpuy was a perfect 3 for 3 with an RBI double, the home run, giving him all three RBI for the Birds tonight. Lumpuy also stole a base.

Shortstop Yahil Melendez went 2 for 4 with a double in the second inning. Melendez scored twice.

Lumpuy’s double.

And his home run.

ACL Cubs

Losing to the Brewers, 2-1 in the fifth.

The ACL Cubs are still looking for their first win.