Shelby Miller threw live batting practice in Mesa.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs got all dirty against the Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers), 7-6.
Starter Grant Kipp lasted four innings and gave up five runs on five hits. Three of those five hits were home runs, which accounted for all five runs. Kipp walked two and struck out seven.
Colin Snider, Aaron Bummer and Liam Hendriks each threw a scoreless inning after that. Doug Nikhazy did likewise in the bottom of the eighth and was in line for the win when the I-Cubs took the lead in the top of the ninth. Unfortunately, Nikhazy came out to pitch the ninth, faced five batters and all five batters reached on four hits and an intentional walk. So instead, Nikhazy got the loss after giving up two runs on five hits over 1+ innings. Nikhazy struck out one and had that one intentional walk.
Center fielder Brett Bateman hit a solo home run in the fifth inning, his second on the season. Bateman went 2 for 4 with a double, the home run, a walk and two runs scored.
Jonathon Long drove home both Bateman and himself in the the seventh inning with a two-run home run, his ninth on the year. Long went 2 for 4 with a walk.
DH James Triantos went 3 for 5 with a game-tying single in the seventh.
Owen Miller was 2 for 5 with an RBI triple. He scored twice.
Shortstop Ben Cowles was 2 for 4.
Bateman’s home run.
Good defense by Long saves a single.
And then Long hits a home run.
Miller’s triple.
Knoxville Smokies
The Knoxville Smokies were pulped by the Columbus Clingstones (Braves), 4-3.
Jace Beck gave the Smokies a solid start, allowing just one run on four hits over four innings. Beck did walk four, but he also struck out eight.
Tyler Schlaffer took over for Beck in the fifth and got the loss. Schlaffer surrendered three runs on five hits over 2.2 innings. He struck out four, walked two and hit one batter.
Left fielder Carter Trice hit a two-run double in the top of the first inning. He was 1 for 4.
The Smokies only managed five hits.
Trice’s double.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs grounded the Beloit Sky Carp (Marlins), 7-3 in the completion of a game started yesterday. The regularly scheduled game was postponed. They’ll try to play a doubleheader tomorrow.
Jaxon Wiggins started yesterday’s game on a rehab assignment. He gave up one run on two hits in one inning before the rains came. One of those hits was a home run. Wiggins did not have a strikeout or a walk.
Ethan Flanagan took the mound to start today’s game and got the win. Flanagan pitched 4.2 innings and allowed two runs on three hits—although both runs came on a home run in the third inning. Flanagan struck out five and walked no one.
Brayden Spears tossed the final 3.1 innings and got his second save. Spears allowed no runs on two hits. He struck out three and walked no one.
Center fielder Kane Kepley hit a three-run home run in the second inning, It was his fifth on the season. Kepley went 1 for 5.
Left fielder Jose Escobar has been on fire lately, and he threw fuel onto that fire tonight as he went 4 for 5 with a triple and a walk. He also stole a base. Escobar scored twice. In 28 games since his promotion from Myrtle Beach, Escobar is hitting .340/.417/.590.
Shortstop Angel Cepeda was 3 for 4 with a stolen base. He scored one run.
Right fielder Miguel Olivio went 2 for 3 with two walks. He scored one run and drove home two.
Kepley’s home run.
A two-run single for Olivo.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were pinched by the Hickory Crawdads (Rangers), 7-4.
It was a great start for Brody McCullough on a rehab assignment. McCullough allowed just one run on two hits over five innings. He struck out five and walked no one, although he did hit a batter.
Henry Cone pitched next and got the loss. Cone got rocked for four runs on one hit over 1.2 innings. Three of the four runs were unearned, however. Cone walked four and hit one batter while striking out no one.
Centerfielder Alexy Lumpuy hit a solo home run in the third inning, his sixth on the season. Lumpuy went 4 for 5 with two runs batted in.
DH Jose Silva went 2 for 4 with two RBI.
Lumpuy provides some defense as well.
And then he hits a home run.
Full highlights.
ACL Cubs
Last year’s first round pick Ethan Conrad played left field for the first time as a professional. He also hit his first home run as a pro. Conrad was 1 for 3.
