The Cubs officially put Iowa left-hander Jordan Wicks on the injured list. We still don’t know what’s wrong.

Three doubleheaders today. Or at least they tried.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs dropped a doubleheader to the Syracuse Mets, 3-2 and 4-2.

Connor Noland was the hard-luck loser in game one, allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings. Only one of the three runs was earned. Noland struck out five and walked no one.

Catcher Moisés Ballesteros hit a solo home run in the sixth inning, his fifth on the year and first since returning to Iowa. Ballesteros went 1 for 3.

The Ballesteros home run.

A nice defensive play by first baseman Jonathon Long. Long was 0 for 2 with a walk in game one.

Here is a triple by Christian Franklin. Unfortunately he was stranded on third. Franklin went 1 for 2 with a walk in game one.

Tommy Romero started game two and turned in a good start, allowing just two runs on two hits over five innings. Romero walked three and struck out two.

Ethan Roberts got tagged by Donovan Walton for a two-run home run in the sixth inning and got the loss. Roberts’ final line was two runs on two hits over two innings. Roberts walked two and struck out four.

Second baseman Ben Cowles had a two-run single in the third inning to account for all of Iowa’s runs in game two. Cowles went 1 for 3.

Center fielder Christian Franklin continued to play well in game two, going 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored.

Here’s Cowles’ single.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies overthrew the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 2-0. Game two of the scheduled doubleheader was rained out.

Jaxon Wiggins was fairly dominating in game one, allowing just one hit and no runs over five innings. Wiggins only issue was walks, as he issued three free passes while striking out five.

After Cayne Ueckert pitched a scoreless sixth inning, A.J. Puckett completed the seven-inning shutout, but not without some drama. After striking out the first batter, Puckett got a fly ball to center field that Brett Bateman clanked for a two-base error. After the next batter walked, a ground ball to third loaded the bases after Jaylen Palmer tried and failed to get the runner going to second instead of getting the easy out at first base. But Palmer redeemed himself on the next play as he turned a sharp grounder into a 5-3 double play to end the game.

Shortstop Corey Joyce doubled in second baseman Pedro Ramirez for the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Joyce went 1 for 1 with two walks. Ramirez was 1 for 3.

Bateman was 1 for 3. He doubled in the sixth inning, stole third base and scored on a B.J. Murray Jr. sacrifice fly. Murray was 0 for 1 with two walks.

Here’s the Joyce double.

Left fielder Jordan Nwogu had to make almost identical catches on fly balls down the line on consecutive plays.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were held up by the Quad Cities River Bandits (Royals), 2-1 in ten innings.

South Bend wasted a brilliant start by Tyler Schlaffer, who pitched eight innings and allowed just one unearned run on one hit. He walked one and struck out seven. I can’t even remember the last Cubs minor league starter to go eight innings. Schlaffer retired the final 17 batters he faced.

Luis Rujano took over for Schaffer in the ninth. He held the River Bandits scoreless in that inning, but after South Bend failed to score in the top of the ninth, he took the loss when the winning run scored on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning.

The final line on Rujano was one unearned run on one hit over 1.1 innings. Rujano walked one and did not strike anyone out.

Second baseman Jefferson Rojas doubled in the only South Bend run of the game in the fifth inning. Rojas went 2 for 5.

Third baseman Reginald Preciado went 2 for 4 with a double.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans split a doubleheader with the Augusta GreenJackets (Braves), winning game one 11-2 and dropping the second one, 6-2.

Yenrri Rojas started game one and gave the Birds four scoreless innings on just three hits. Rojas walked one and struck out four.

Yoendris Gonzalez relieved Rojas and got the win because Rojas didn’t go five innings. Gonzalez allowed two runs on two hits and two walks over two innings. He did not strike anyone out.

The Pelicans pounded out 11 runs on eight hits, four walks and getting hit four times.

Left fielder Jose Escobar was 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored three times and tallied one RBI.

Center fielder Leonel Espinoza went 2 for 3 and was hit by a pitch. He also scored three runs and drove in one.

First baseman Matt Halbach hit a two-run double in the sixth inning. Halbach was 1 for 2 with a walk and he was hit by a pitch. He scored twice.

Shortstop Yahil Melendez got two RBI without swinging the bat—a bases-loaded walk and he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Melendez was 0 for 2 with a run scored.

Will Frisch started game two and got hammered for six runs in a disastrous third inning, which included a grand slam. Frisch was also hit in the hip with a line drive in that inning, but stayed in the game. Frisch’s final line was six runs on three hits and three walks over three innings. Frisch struck out two.

Brayden Spears kept Augusta scoreless over the next three innings, giving up two hits. He struck out two and walked no one.

Third baseman Eriandys Ramon drove in the Pelicans’ first run with a single in the second inning. Ramon went 1 for 2 with a walk and a run scored.

Second baseman Ty Southisene went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI single in the seventh inning.

ACL Cubs

Off day.