I’m sure we’ll have an official post on this when the Cubs issue a press release, but 2B/OF James Triantos has been promoted to the Cubs for his major-league debut. Outfielder Kevin Alcántara has been sent down to Iowa.
Right-hander Jacob Wallace moves from the rookie ball ACL Cubs to Double-A Knoxville. The Cubs signed Wallace as a free agent on July 2.
Left-hander Drew Pomeranz has cleared waivers and has been assigned to Triple-A Iowa. We’ll see if Pomeranz reports or elects free agency soon enough.
The Iowa Cubs let the Gwinnett Stripers (Braves) off the hook, 4-2 in a game that ended after five innings because of rain.
Jaxon Wiggins started this game and took the loss. Wiggins allowed three runs on five hits over 2.2 innings. Wiggins struggled to find the plate as he walked three and struck out two.
Right fielder Brett Bateman went 2 for 3 with a double. He scored both Iowa runs.
The Knoxville Smokies were left on the launching pad by the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels), 5-4.
Starter Brody McCullough did not allow a hit over 4.2 innings. Unfortunately, he exited in the fifth and Frankie Scalzo Jr. let an inherited runner score on the first Trash Panda hit of the game, so McCullough was charged with one run. McCullough walked three and struck out three.
Scalzo gave up three more runs in the sixth, but the Smokies came back and tied the game. However, Tyler Santana entere the game in the bottom of the ninth with the score still tied 4-4. Santana allowed three hits and the walk-off run in just one-third of an inning to get the loss. Santana did not have a walk or a strikeout.
Catcher Ethan Hearn put the Smokies up 1-0 with a home run in the fourth inning, his fourth on the season. Hearn went 1 for 4.
Center fielder Andy Garriola tied the game up 4-4 with a three-run home run in the seventh inning. it was Garriola’s 18th home run this year. Garriola went 2 for 4 with the home run and a walk.
Third baseman Jefferson Rojas was 2 for 5 with a double. He scored on Garrioila’s home run.
Second baseman Alex Madera went 2 for 4 with a stolen base.
The South Bend Cubs skinned the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 4-2.
Ethan Flanagan started and got the win with five strong innings, allowing just one run on three hits. The one run came on a third-inning home run. Flanagan struck out four and walked one.
Ben Johnson gave the Cubs two good innings of relief after Flanagan, allowing no runs on one hit. He walked one and struck out one.
Luis Rujano started the ninth and got into trouble. After Rujano gave up a run, Ethan Bell came into the game with a man on first and one out. The runner on first got thrown out trying to steal second base and being down two in the ninth, that seems like a dumb decision. Then Bell got a fly out to center to end the game and get the save.
First baseman Josiah Hartshorn cranked a massive two-run home run in the seventh inning. It was Hartshorn’s first home run in two weeks. It was also his 16th on the year and 11th with South Bend. Hartshorn went 2 for 3 with a double, the home run and a walk. He scored three times.
Right fielder Jose Escobar was 2 for 4 with an RBI triple.
Shortstop Angel Cepeda was 2 for 4.
Center fielder Kane Kepley went 0 for 3 with two walks and his 46th stolen base. Kepley scored on Hartshorn’s blast.
RBI double for left fielder Kade Snell, who was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Rained out again in Hickory. Doubleheader on Sunday. They’re also playing a doubleheader on Friday.
This ends the Arizona Complex League for the year. The Mesa Cubs finished at 20-39. Believe it or not, that’s not even last place. They finished above the Athletics in their division and had a better overall record than the White Sox as well.