Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs desecrated the St. Paul Saints (Twins), 10-9 on a bases-loaded walk-off single by Owen Caissie.
Kenta Maeda made his Cubs debut in this game and it got off to a rough start. Maeda allowed four runs on three hits, two walks and a hit batsman in the first inning. His second inning went much better with just a two-out double. The final line on Maeda was four runs on four hits and two walks over two innings. He struck out one and hit that one batter.
Iowa trailed this game 7-0 in the middle of the fourth inning, but rallied to take a 9-7 lead going into the ninth. Tom Cosgrove coughed up the lead, allowing two runs on three hits in the top of the ninth, but got the win when Iowa walked it off in the bottom of the inning. Cosgrove walked one and struck out one.
Iowa loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth when right fielder Owen Caissie hit one into the gap to win the game. It would have been an easy double had it not ended the game. Caissie went 1 for 3 with three walks and two runs scored.
Right fielder Kevin Alcántara led the comeback for the I-Cubs. He had the first hit of the game for Iowa in the fourth inning with an RBI double. He then hit a two-run single in the fifth and a two-run home run in the eighth to give Iowa their first lead of the night. It was Alcántara’s third home run this year. Alcántara finished the night going 3 for 5 with the double and the home run. He totaled five RBI.
Center fielder Christian Franklin was 1 for 2 with three walks. He scored twice.
Alcántara’s double.
His two-run single.
The Jaguar’s two-run home run.
The walk-off.
Knoxville Smokies
The Knoxville Smokies pitted the Columbus Clingstones (Braves), 5-0.
Will Sanders was terrific as he picked up his third win, allowing just one hit and one walk over six innings.
Zac Leigh, Cayne Ueckert and Mitchell Tyranski each pitched one scoreles inning to finish out the five-hit shutout.
Second baseman Corey Joyce singled in a run in the third inning, the first run of the game. Joyce went 2 for 4.
Left fielder Parker Chavers hit a two-run double in the sixth inning. He went 1 for 3 with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly for three total runs batted in.
Will Sanders’ fastball.
Chavers’ double. It was Peanuts Night at Covenant Health Park, which is what those Charlie Brown-themed uniforms are about.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs got wrenched by the Lansing Lugnuts (Athletics), 6-5.
Starter Ryan Gallagher had a career-high 12 strikeouts tonight, but two two-run home runs did him in and earned him the loss. Gallagher’s final line was five runs, four earned, on five hits over six innings. He walked two.
Right fielder Ivan Brethowr singled in a run in the top of the ninth to get South Bend to within a run, but he was thrown out at second trying to stretch it into a double for the final out of the game. Brethowr went 2 for 4 with a double and one run scored. He was also hit by a pitch.
Catcher Miguel Pabon was 2 for 3 with a walk and one run scored.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans declawed the Lynchburg Hillcats (Guardians), 6-0.
Alfredo Romero allowed just one single over five scoreless innings on the way to a win. Romero walked two and struck out four.
Kevin Valdez pitched the next three innings and surrendered three singles and two walks while striking out eight.
Ethan Bell allowed a single and a walk in the ninth, but was able to close out the shutout in a non-save situation. He did not strike anyone out.
Catcher Owen Ayers was the big hero tonight, doubling in a run in the fourth inning and doubling in two more in the fifth. Ayers went 2 for 4 with a walk and the three RBI. He scored once.
Ayers’ first double.
A double-double for Ayers.
ACL Cubs