Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs got battered by the Louisville Bats (Reds), 20-3. It’s the second-straight game Iowa gave up 20 runs.
Starter Connor Noland got the loss after allowing four runs on six hits over four innings. Noland neither walked nor struck anyone out.
Casey Opitz gave up three runs and allowed three inherited runners to score as part of an 11-run bottom of the eighth. But cut the I-Cubs third-string catcher a break—he was pitching on back-to-back nights.
Shortstop Scott Kingery hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning. He was 2 for 4.
Center fielder Kevin Alcántara went 2 for 5 with an RBI double in the fourth inning.
First baseman BJ Murray went 2 for 3 with two walks and scored on Alcántara’s double.
Rigth fielder Justin Dean was 2 for 5 with a double.
The Jaguar’s double.
Kingery’s first home run of the year.
Knoxville Smokies
The Knoxville Smokies cooked the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 14-5.
Starter Dawson Netz gave up four runs in the third inning on two home runs, a solo home run and then a three-run shot. Netz finished the night giving up four runs on four hits over 3.1 innings. He walked four and struck out three.
Tyler Ras went the next 3.2 innings, did not allow a run and went home with the win. Ras allowed three hits. He struck out four and walked one. Ras, whom the Cubs signed this past winter after the Rockies released him, has a 1.72 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 31.1 innings with Knoxville.
Right fielder Alex Ramírez hit a solo home run in the eighth inning. It was his fifth on the campaign. Ramírez finished 1 for 5.
Shortstop Jefferson Rojas was 3 for 5 with three RBI and one run scored. He was also hit by a pitch. Rojas is hitting .350 in the month of June.
DH Owen Ayers isn’t slowing down. Tonight he was 3 for 4 with a walk and a hit by pitch. He scored once and drove in one.
Center fielder Karson Simas went 2 for 4 with two walks and a steal. Simas scored three runs.
Second baseman Hayden Cantrelle was 2 for 3 with two walks. Cantrelle had three RBI and two runs scored.
Left fielder Carter Trice went 2 for 6 with a double and a two-run single.
A two-run single for Rojas.
A two-run single by Rojas plus an error scores three.
The Ramírez home run.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs were blown away by the Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals), 16-7 in a game that ended in the seventh inning after a tornado warning.
Cole Reynolds got rocked for eight runs on five hits over the first 3+ innings. Reynolds walked three, hit one batter and struck out one.
DH Drew Bowser hit his fourth home run of the year in the second inning with two men on. Bowser was 2 for 3 with a double and the home run.
First baseman Josiah Hartshorn continues to impress. Tonight he hit an RBI single in the third inning and a two-run home run in the fifth. It was Hartshorn’s sixth home run in just 15 games in South Bend and 11th overall. Hartshorn went 2 for 3 and scored twice.
Catcher Miguel Useche was 2 for 3 with one RBI and one run scored.
Wisconsin’s doubleheader was rained out, so South Bend’s magic number remains at three to clinch a first-half title.
Bowser’s home run.
RBI singles for Hartshorn and Useche.
We need to find a nickname for Hartshorn. Here’s his home run. Admittedly it was a fat pitch, but he didn’t miss it.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were four under par against the Augusta GreenJackets (Braves), 11-7.
Starter Noah Edders allowed four runs over four innings, but only one of the four runs was earned. Edders surrendered four hits (one of which was a solo home run) and one walk. He struck out a career-high eight.
Henry Cone relieved Edders, pitched the next three innings and got the win. Cone gave up one run on three hits. He walked three and struck out three.
First baseman Michael Carico clubbed a two-run home run in the fifth inning, his fifth on the year. Carico sent 3 for 4 with a double and the home run. He had four total runs batted in and scored twice.
Third baseman Derniche Valdez then went back-to-back with Carico with his fourth home run of 2026. Valdez was 2 for 4 with a double and the home run.
Center fielder Darlyn De Leon was 2 for 4 with four stolen bases. He scored twice. De Leon had five steals all season before tonight.
Catcher Logan Poteet drove in three runs with a two-run double and a bases-loaded walk. He finished the night 1 for 4 with the walk and the run scored.
Left fielder Edward Vargas went 2 for 4 and scored once.
Highlights.
ACL Cubs
Lost to the Giants, 5-0.
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