Right-hander Kaleb Wing was promoted from rookie ball ACL Cubs to Low-A Myrtle Beach.
Right-hander Luis A. Reyes went from the Pelicans down to Mesa.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs lost their eighth-straight game, 6-3 to the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals).
If you want some more bad news, Iowa starter Connor Noland had to be carted off the mound in this game after he was hit in the ankle by a line drive comebacker. Noland’s line on the game was one run on four hits over 1.1 innings. Noland struck out two and walked one.
If you want some good news, Ryan Jensen relieved Noland, stranded two runners and went on to pitch 2.1 scoreless innings. Jensen allowed two hits and walked two while striking out four.
The loss went to Yacksel Rios, who pitched two innings of relief and gave up one run on two hits. Rios walked two and struck out two.
Iowa pitchers walked a season-high 13 batters. Memphis got two runs with bases-loaded walks and two on sacrifice flies.
Left fielder Justin Dean hit a solo home run in the eighth inning, his third on the year. Dean was 1 for 3 with a walk.
James Triantos tripled in a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game 2-2. Triantos went 2 for 4.
Pedro Ramirez missed this game because of illness.
A Jensen strikeout.
The Triantos triple.
Dean goes 366 feet to right-center
Knoxville Smokies
The Knoxville Smokies were fried by the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 3-1.
Starter Yenrri Rojas took the loss after allowing three runs on six hits over five innings. He struck out four and walked no one.
Jace Beck tossed the next three innings, gave up no runs and struck out seven. He allowed one hit and walked two.
The Smokies had just five hits. First baseman Edgar Alvarez went 1 for 2 with an RBI double in the seventh inning. He also walked once.
Alvarez’s double.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs were taken out with the tide by the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers), 6-4.
Nazier Mulé made his first start since returning from the Development List and got the loss. Mulé allowed one run on one hit over 1.1 innings. He walked four batters and struck out three.
Center fielder Kane Kepley was most of South Bend’s offense tonight as he hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning. It was Kepley’s second home run this year. Kepley went 1 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored.
Shortstop Ty Southisene continued to hit for average in South Bend. Tonight he went 3 for 5 with a stolen base. Southisene is hitting .373 over 13 games in the Midwest League.
Kepley’s three-run home run.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
‘The Myrtle Beach Pelicans got splashed on by the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (White Sox), 3-1.
Pierce Coppola was terrific for the Birds even if his final line doesn’t completely show it. He no-hit the Cannon Ballers through five innings, although he did give up a run in the fourth inning on a walk, two stolen bases and a sac fly. He came out to pitch the sixth and exited after giving up a one-out walk and a single. Both of those runs scored off of reliever Mason McGwire, although to be honest, it was more an issue with the Pelicans defense than McGwire.
So Coppola ended up getting the loss after being charged with three runs on one hit over 5.1 innings. He walked three and struck out nine.
McGwire pitched 1.2 innings and allowed two hits and no runs of his own. He walked one and struck out one. But the two runs scored because of a high infield chopper that both shortstop Alexis Hernandez and third baseman Derniche Valdez just whiffed on, so it rolled into shallow left field for a double.
The only Pelicans run came on a single in the seventh inning by second baseman Jose Escobar. Escobar was 2 for 3 with a double.
Here’s that double by Kannapolis’ Javier Mogollon that I was talking about [VIDEO]. Low-A ball at its finest.
Some Coppola highlights.
ACL Cubs
Tied 6-6 with the Diamondbacks in the 7th inning.
Will Sanders made a rehab start in this game and got battered for five runs on six hits over 1.2 innings. Sanders struck out two and walked one. That’s not good, but as I always say, the only thing that matters about a rehab appearance is how the player feels afterwards. It’s about health, not results.