Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs sunk the Columbus Clippers (Guardians), 9-3.

It was a bullpen game for Iowa today and Nate Pearson pitched the first two innings without allowing a run or a hit. He walked two and struck out two.

Riley Martin pitched the next two innings and got the win after retiring all six batters he faced. Martin struck out four of them.

Designated hitter Carlos Pérez was named the Player of the Game after going 2 for 3 with two sacrifice flies and three total runs batted in.

Catcher Moisés Ballesteros went 3 for 4 with a double and a walk. Ballesteros scored twice.

Right fielder Owen Caissie was 3 for 6. He scored two runs.

Shortstop Hayden Cantrelle went 2 for 5 with a steal. He scored two runs and drove in one.

Left fielder Greg Allen was 2 for 5 with one RBI and one run scored.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies were put out by the Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers), 7-6.

Starter Sam Armstrong surrendered four runs on four hits over 5+ innings. He walked three, hit one batter and struck out four.

Two errors did in closer A.J. Puckett in the bottom of the ninth, although the run he allowed was considered earned. A leadoff hitter reached on an error, then was thrown out at second on a grounder but a bad relay throw sent the runner to second. Next up was a weak infield single to put runners on the corners. After Puckett intentionally walked the next batter, the runner on third scored on a grounder to shortstop.

Catcher Ethan Hearn cranked a two-run home run in the sixth inning to give the Smokies a 6-1 lead at the time. It was his second home run this season. Hearn went 2 for 4 with a double and the home run.

DH Haydn McGeary was 3 for 4 with a stolen base. He drove in three runs and scored once.

Second baseman Pedro Ramirez was 2 for 4 with a stolen base and one run scored.

First baseman Pablo Aliendo went 2 for 4.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs defanged the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 8-3. It was South Bend’s first back-to-back wins since April 22-23.

Kenten Egbert had his best (and longest) start of the year and his first win. Egbert gave up just one run on five hits over five innings. He walked one and struck out four.

Shortstop Cristian Hernandez was a home run shy of the cycle, going 4 for 5 with a double and a triple. He also stole three bases, giving him 20 on the still-young season. Hernandez drove in three and scored one run.

Second baseman Reginald Preciado went 1 for 3 with a walk and a two-run single in the third inning.

DH Jefferson Rojas went 1 for 4 with a walk. He scored once and drove in one.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans came up empty against the Hickory Crawdads (Rangers), 8-7.

Cole Reynolds pitched the first three innings and gave up three runs on three hits. He walked two and struck out five.

Charlie Hurley gave up a run in the seventh inning that earned him the loss, although he was probably the Birds’ best pitcher of the game. Hurley’s final line was one run on two hits and two walks over 2.1 innings. He did not have a strikeout.

Shortstop Yahil Melendez hit his first Pelicans home run in the third inning with the bases empty. Melendez went 1 for 5.

Right fielder Leonel Espinoza went a perfect 2 for 2 with three walks. Espinoza scored one run and drove in one.

Third baseman Eriandys Ramon opened the scoring with an RBI triple in the second inning. Ramon next scored on a single by catcher David Avitia. Ramon went 2 for 5 with the triple and two runs scored. Avitia was 2 for 4 with a walk and two runs batted in. Avitia scored once.

Ramon’s triple.

The Melendez home run.

ACL Cubs

Off day. The Mesa Cubs’ record currently stands at 1-14.